Good Employment Charter The Good Employment Charter is a voluntary accreditation scheme that aims to improve employment standards in the West of England for organisations of all sizes and sectors, through characteristics that will raise the value and quality of work, allowing employers to become an ‘employer of choice’, leading them to higher staff retention rates, better productivity and contributing to a thriving economy. What is the Charter? The West of England Good Employment Charter will set the standard for working practices in the region. Supporting businesses of any size or sector to improve investment in their staff, enabling more inclusive, equitable and sustainable working practices, positively benefiting people, society, and the wider economy. These are just some of the ways joining the Charter and being an employer of choice could benefit you: Higher staff retention rates Better productivity Healthier workplace culture Top talent chooses you Why has it been introduced? The Mayor of the West of England is prioritising the creation of good quality jobs which are fair and accessible to all. A key element of this is the Good Employment Charter, which will help ensure good accessible jobs in the West of England paying the Real Living Wage and promote more sustainable business practices. Join the Good Employment Charter today The Good Employment Charter is a West of England Combined Authority initiative. We are on a mission to help employers provide a more rewarding, inclusive and sustainable work environment for all their employees. We want to improve and set the employment standard in our region by encouraging organisations of any size, and within any sector, to become supporters and members of the Charter. Find out more and become a supporter today: https://bit.ly/3xzh9rK

It's now less than a month until The Business Exchange South West Charity Conference & Expo in partnership with 3SG and our sponsors Milsted Langdon and Stone King. Have you booked your stand? Exhibition stands are priced at £50+VAT for charities and not-for-profits and £120+VAT for businesses - BOOK HERE (see the bottom of this article for organisations that already have stands). The expo will officially open at 10am after the networking breakfast. This part of the conference allows charities and not-for-profits to showcase their work and latest appeals and companies to demonstrate their third sector specialisms. Get planning and book onto the many seminars and talks planned for the day. The full seminar and talks schedule has been published; see below for more details: THE SEMINARS Charities Vital Signs Report with Quartet Community Foundation - 10:15am- 10:45am Quartet Community Foundation Quartet Community Foundation will deliver the findings of its latest Charities Vital Signs Report which focuses on Climate and Communities. BOOK HERE Social Media for Success – Engaging new audiences - 11:00-11:30am Natalie Sherman is Founder of local award-winning social-first agency Naturally Social, and Co-Founder of Community Interest Company, Wiltshire Digital Drive. Wiltshire Digital Drive was launched at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to enable education and bridge the digital divide, keeping people connected through the lockdowns. Natalie will share how Naturally Social uses social media to engage the community for Wiltshire Digital Drive, driving donations and finding those in need of devices. Through highly targeted social campaigns Wiltshire Digital Drive has received substantial media coverage on TV, in print and online and has also secured funding and won awards. This unmissable session will be packed with lots of takeaways to make a difference to your organisation enabling you to stand out on social media and new engage audiences.BOOK HERE Finance FAQs with Milsted Langdon - 11:45am-12:15pm Gill Freeman, Partner and Head of Charity and Not for Profit at award-winning accountancy practice Milsted Langdon, will explore the latest hot topics when it comes to opportunities and challenges for charities and not for profit organisations. The session will include a Q&A opportunity to discuss any burning finance and accountancy-related questions or issues affecting your organisation and to share experiences and best practice in a safe environment with supportive and like-minded peers in the Third Sector.BOOK HERE ESG – The Opportunities with Transform and Action Net Zero - 12:30-13:00 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) is a real-world challenge and opportunity for organisations. In this talk we will highlight how you can improve connections with your people and add value to the communities where you operate. Plus how to demonstrate accountability through being a better run organisation. Veronica Hannon from Transform ESG and Pam Barbato from Action Net Zero will highlight the broad issues. Demonstrating the small and big steps businesses and charities can take that will deliver tremendous impact and create value with employees, customers and wider stakeholders. We’ll focus on improving both profit and people engagement, all while benefiting the planet. This session will open your eyes to opportunities and will include plenty of time for discussion ideas. You’ll leave buzzing with inspiration of how you can transform your approach to ESG.BOOK HERE The Future of the Third Sector: How the South West can be pioneers for change - 13:15-13:45 Louise Harvey, Executive Director of The Foundation Fund at St John’s Foundation will discuss how the charity and not-for-profit sector in the South West can work collaboratively to be pioneers for change. Louise will talk about how change is needed in terms of access to funding and what we can learn from others nationally and internationally to help our communities thrive. In the 18 years Louise has worked for St John’s, she has developed an exceptional knowledge of both the Foundation and the local community. Louise has been a driving force for cross-sector working and collaboration, striving to continuously extend the reach and impact of St John’s core services, whilst also supporting its employees and local organisations to realise their potential. Louise uses her passion, energy and ‘no challenge too great’ attitude to break down barriers to bring the Third Sector, education and businesses together. She was recently invited to be part of a national Third Sector steering group organised by the Times newspaper to drive positive change. BOOK HERE Digital Wonderlab talk Digital Transformation - 14:45-15:15 Digital Wonderlab and guests will explore how to build a resilient and maturing digital charity by looking at why you exist and what purpose truly is. The session will look at how people, processes, culture and technological capabilities can shape and create the digital charity you want to be. Whether you're a technology expert or new to the digital world, this session will use real-life examples to challenge your thinking and provide practical steps for effective digital transformation.BOOK HERE Volunteering options in BaNES with 3SG - 15:30-16:00 3SG will discuss the many volunteering opportunities available in BaNES and how individuals can get involved. They will also be sharing the findings from their report on the 'Volunteering Landscape in BaNES' which is currently underway and looking at how volunteering has changed over the last few years for both charities and individuals. BOOK HERE THE TALKS Responsible Investing and ESG Time: 11:00-11:30 The team from Bath-based financial consultants, McKenzie & Co, a Senior Partner Practice of St. James's Place will discuss Responsible Investing and the opportunity to align your organisation's values with its financial objectives. BOOK HERE The Mindset for Change with Jim Hughes Time: 12:30-13.00 Being in a constant state of flux is never easy and the Third Sector has arguably had to adapt more than any other over the last few years. That’s why we’ve invited Jim Hughes from Untamed to help you get into the right mindset to conquer fears and get set for the next phase of growth. Jim provides transformative experiences to high performers and entrepreneurs around the world. He thrives on adventure and his unique speaking and coaching technique leverages on his life experience which encompasses everything from running a multimillion-dollar engineering business in Australia and canoeing the Yukon River, to skiing the world’s longest giant slalom race wearing only a g-string, and pretending to be an electrical engineer for eight months. He approaches his work how he approaches life with energy, commitment and fun. In this session Jim will inspire you to reach your full potential, allowing you to feel fulfilled and making a positive impact on the world. BOOK HERE Organisations that have secured a stand and are signed up to exhibit include: CloudHeroes, Metro Bank, Corsham Print, Milsted Langdon, Stone King, x Ledger, Mark Richard Insurance, Wiltshire Air Ambulance, West of England Sustainable Tech scale-up programme, Bath Mind, St John’s Foundation, 3SG, Rainforest Concern, People against Poverty, Youth Connect South West, British Heart Foundation , Trauma Breakthrough, Genesis Trust, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, Grow Batheaston, Julian House, Make a Move, CHSW, Forever Friends, Designability, Mentoring Plus, Share & Repair, Clean Slate , Peggy Dodd Centre, Voices Charity, Dorothy House Hospice, Ammerdown Org, Julia’s House and Nine Feet Tall. BOOK HERE Join us for the networking breakfast. The conference will begin at 8:30am with a networking breakfast. Hear from guest speaker Hamish Evans, Co-Founder of Community Interest Company, Middle Ground Growers who will share his experience of running a successful crowdfunding campaign which raised over £96,000 with 545 supporters in just 69 days, enabling them to build an ecological farm for Bath. Tickets are priced at £10 and include teas, coffees and pastries. Please note, exhibitors need to buy a networking breakfast ticket.BOOK TICKETS

Energy prices are increasing rapidly, driven by more demand on energy as economies recover from the effects of the pandemic, with supply unable to keep up. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also exacerbated the issue, with some countries stopping or limiting their purchase of Russia’s oil and gas. For that reason alone we all need to reduce our energy use and costs. However, climate change is the main reason that we need to decarbonise our economy and communities. This is about the survival of our people and planet. We need to limit greenhouse gas emissions and global temperature rises in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. Why are we in a Climate Emergency? Our planet’s climate is changing and warming at an accelerating rate. The last eight years have been the hottest on record. 2019 saw the UK’s hottest ever recorded temperature and the warmest winter temperature.1.2 The increased levels of greenhouse gasses (GHG) from human activities mean we are trapping more heat and causing our planet to warm at an unprecedented rate. The science is clear: we are in a climate emergency and need to act now to reduce carbon emissions to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5°C.3 Coping with climate change is likely to be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century as global heating makes its impact. The latest climate change projections for the UK indicate there are likely to be warmer wetter winters, hotter summers, more extreme weather events such as heat waves, torrential downpours of rain, extreme wind and storm events and rising sea levels. These changes in climate are likely to create significant impacts which will affect all aspects of the south west’s economy, society, infrastructure and the natural environment. What can you do? Sustainability is a big topic for all businesses. With increasing pressure on everyone to make changes to help the environment, it is important you consider how to include it as a priority for your business or organisation right from the start. This is why we have partnered with a range of local organisations to deliver a Decarbonisation workshop targeted at supporting Third Sector organisations (details below). Decarbonisation & the Third Sector Workshop - Friday 29th April (10am - 1pm) The workshop aims to help organisations start planning for how they can reduce their own carbon footprint and support the decarbonisation of Bath & North East Somerset. It will also provide an introduction to sustainability and its common terminology - see glossary of key words below - and how small changes to your operations can make a big difference for your local environment, community as well as your organisation. The workshop is part of the BaNES Social Entrepreneurs Programme* being run by 3SG in partnership with Williamstowe, Bath & West Community Energy & Transition Bath. A free lunch will be served after the workshop finishes at 1pm. How can I register a place? The workshop is free and open to all. It's taking place in-person on Friday 29th April (10am - 1pm) at Fairfield House in Bath (BA1 3QJ). To view the full workshop details and secure a place - Register Here Glossary of key terms - So what does it all mean? Climate Change: The rising average temperature of earth’s climate system, called global warming, is driving changes in rainfall patterns, extreme weather, arrivals of seasons, and more. Climate Emergency: A situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt Climate Change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it. Mitigation: Actions which will lead to the avoidance or reduction of emissions or will reduce the projected impacts of global heating. This means reducing our emissions of GHGs like carbon dioxide (CO2), through energy efficiency and using alternative forms of transport and energy. Adaptation: Refers to actions which are necessary to deal with the impacts that cannot be mitigated. Addresses the ways in which we act to manage the unavoidable risks and impacts of Climate Change, building resilience within, or adapting, our natural and built environment now and into the future. As irrespective of the success of mitigation efforts, there will still be some degree of climate change. This stems from our historic greenhouse gas emissions and the persistence of these gasses in the atmosphere. Net zero: Having an equal balance between the emissions produced and put into the atmosphere and the emissions removed. Emissions can be removed from the atmosphere through initiatives such as planting trees or restoring peat bogs, as plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air. This is often termed ‘offsetting.’ Offsetting: A way of compensating for emissions arising in one place, by taking action elsewhere. For instance, it may not be possible, feasible or viable to actually reduce emissions from a particular source any further, so instead money would be diverted to deliver additionality in mitigation/sequestration projects elsewhere to make up for the emissions that will remain. However this approach is the last resort, as we shouldn’t be creating emissions in the first place. Carbon emissions: All GHG emissions need to be reduced however carbon emissions are the major focus for action due to their prevalence and the opportunities for reduction that exist. Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is the principal contributor to global heating, however a number of other greenhouse gases contribute including methane, nitrous oxide and f-gases. Reducing methane, in particular,can have much quicker effects due to its shorter lifespan, so this must also be explored. *Bath and North East Somerset Social Entrepreneurs Programme is led by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) in partnership with 3SG. It is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, which is managed by the West of England Combined Authority within the Bath and North East Somerset region. This blog was produced by Traci Lewis , who is a social business consultant and coach supporting women & purpose-led businesses to save the world. She is currently working for SSE as the marketing and comms lead - alongside Alison Belshaw - in Bath & North East Somerset (BaNES). Connect with Traci here: Linkedin Twitter

BaNES Third Sector Group (3SG) and Bath & North East Somerset Council are setting up a series of ‘Let’s talk sessions’ for voluntary and community organisations across Bath and North East Somerset to help improve the dialogue between the sector and the Council. The sessions will be chaired by Kate Morton, Chair of the 3SG who will be joined by Mandy Bishop, Chief Operating Officer of the Council. The first meeting is going to be held virtually on Thursday 5th May at 12.30pm until 2pm and will focus on the results of the 3SG’s State of the Sector Survey as well as a presentation by the Council on its Commissioning Intentions and changes to the regulations and access to pro-contracts. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions relating to these topics or raise other issues that may be facing the sector. The meetings are intended to be very informal and to help open up a dialogue for positive engagement. It will also be an opportunity in the future to find out more about new initiatives, support available for the sector and new and changing legislation that may affect organisations as well as putting forward suggestions and topics for future discussions. It is hoped the meetings will be held quarterly throughout the year. Come along to the meeting and be part of the discussion. Register here to join the meeting.

DOT PROJECT is partnering with Okta and Charity Digital to launch The Digital Strategy Accelerator, a free 12-month programme supporting UK charities to develop your digital strategy. The programme will help you engage your stakeholders, navigate and understand your spend on technology, and ensure it is measured and is aligned to your strategy and goals. By the end of the accelerator you should have a strategy that is understood and approved by your organisation and stakeholders (including your board) and is in the process of being executed. Your new strategy will allow you to use digital optimally and cost-effectively across all of your organisation. Apply now ➡ deadline April 29th Midnight

Following the news of James Carlin BEM's departure from the role of Director at 3SG, we have been on the hunt for someone to fill his shoes. Whilst we're sad to see James go, we're also excited to announce that we have found our new Director, Rebecca Brooks, who will be taking the reigns at 3SG in mid-May. In anticipation of her joining the team, our Administrator Emma took the opportunity to ask a few questions to find out more about Becky and her motivations behind joining 3SG. You can read the full Q&A below: What are you most looking forward to doing as part of your role? I love meeting new people and learning about brilliant initiatives locally, so I’m really looking forward to getting out and about and meeting members. Tell us a little bit about yourself (Where you live or are from, studies, Hobbies etc) I’m originally from Midsomer Norton and now live in Bath - I studied locally at Bath Spa University, gaining a degree in English Literature; I was very fortunate to go straight from University to the Midsomer Norton & Radstock Journal as a young reporter. I was with the paper for eighteen years, around ten of those as Editor. I’m also a yoga teacher and have been holding classes locally since 2016. The best part of my role at the paper was working alongside the community and providing a voice for local charity groups and organisations. The paper also covers the same area as 3SG. Over such a long period of time I have built a wide range of contacts and a reputation for being trusted and hardworking. In terms of hobbies, I love travel and adventure - I am a qualified PADI scuba diver and have been lucky enough to enjoy some amazing diving in the Indian Ocean. I love running, although it doesn’t love me – and I am a keen gardener and cake baker. What interested you about working for 3SG? Have you had any previous involvement/experience with third sector organisations? I’ve always believed in the good that can be done in the Third Sector and 3SG in particular caught my eye with the amazing work that it did during the pandemic. In 2013 I started raising funds for charity by running the Bath Half Marathon; this then led to fundraising treks across the Great Wall of China, the foothills of the Himalayas and Machu Picchu in Peru, helping to raise thousands for the RUH’s Forever Friends Appeal. Due to my yoga studies I am very invested in Health and Wellbeing locally. I am a member of the partnership for Big Local Radstock and Westfield, which is responsible for distributing lottery funding locally and members may have seen me alongside James as a ‘Dragon’ at their ‘Dragon’s Den’ events! Tell Us a Fun Fact About Yourself? I seem to love all things beginning with the letter C. Cats, Cakes, Christmas and Cocktails! What is your favourite film or book? That’s a really hard question because I love to read. I think it would have to be Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres. I find it hard to have a favourite film because I can’t stay still long enough! What food could you not live without? Dark chocolate I suppose that counts as food… . You can get in touch with the 3SG team by emailing contact@3sg.org.uk or call us on 01225 683087

What is Dying Matters Awareness Week? Dying Matters Awareness Week is an annual event seeking to stimulate conversation within the community concerning questions of death, grief, and bereavement. Talking about death has traditionally been viewed as a taboo topic that prompts an uncomfortable reaction; however, as Hospice UK the organisers of Dying Matters believe, it needn't be this way. Their mission is to get communities talking about issues surrounding death in any way that works for them. This year, the University of Bath's Centre for Death and Society (CDAS) will further this mission by hosting a series of activities designed to encourage engagement and reflection on these issues together with the community. Dying Matters Awareness Week will take place from 2 - 6 May Events Tuesday, 3 May - 7PM - 8PM BST - 'Natural Death in Care Homes: The Line Between Non-Intervention and Neglect' Wednesday, 4 May - 6PM - 9PM BST - 'Home' Film Screening and Q&A with Sarah Outen MBE Thursday, 5 May - 5PM - 6PM BST - CDAS InConversation with Dr Kami Fletcher and George Gumisiriza

Bath & North East Somerset has welcomed its first refugees under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine (H4U) scheme with more families escaping the war due to arrive in the coming weeks. So far under the Homes for Ukraine five adults and two children have made the 1,700 mile journey from Ukraine to Bath. They are now settling into safe, secure accommodation provided by kind-hearted residents and are being supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council and other local partners. A further four adults and seven children are anticipated to arrive by the end of the Easter weekend. So far, the applications of residents from 67 households across Bath & North East Somerset are in the final stages of processing under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Over the coming weeks 89 more adults and an additional 50 children are expected to be granted visas and move to the district. Tamara Sturtz-Filby from Bath (pictured with Councillor Dine Romero) is waiting to welcome a 34-year-old mother forced to flee the fighting in Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv with her two-year-old son, leaving behind her husband. They are currently in temporary accommodation in Hungary and are desperate for the security Tamara Sturtz-Filby has offered them but have spent the past three weeks waiting for their visas to be processed. Tamara said: “The support we’ve had from the council has been amazing, within half an hour of registering to become a sponsor they’d emailed to arrange DBS checks and within days we had everything in place. We’re ready to welcome our guests and provide them with a safe home so it’s hugely frustrating that we are still waiting for their visa applications to be processed.” Over the past three weeks council officers have inspected 54 properties, carried out welfare and suitability checks and made plans to support families post arrival. Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children, Young People, Communities and Culture said: “It’s heart-breaking to see families torn apart by the conflict and fleeing their country with few possessions and little means of support, but the compassion shown by people across Bath & North East Somerset in offering up space in their homes to those escaping the horrors of the war has been overwhelming. “The council’s role is to ensure the Homes for Ukraine scheme is safe, runs as smoothly as possible and benefits all those involved. We appreciate the frustrations of sponsors over how long the Home Office is taking to process visa applications, but we are ready to welcome and support those fleeing the conflict. We’ve worked quickly and efficiently to inspect homes, carry out DBS checks and put in place payment mechanisms for sponsors. “We’re offering advice on how to apply for school places, register with a GP and access council services. We’re also carrying out post arrival health and wellbeing checks and signposting sponsors and refugees to education and training providers and other support services. “As well as the Homes For Ukraine arrivals, we know that there are also a number of people arriving in B&NES under the Family Visa Scheme - and we are offering support to people to support if they need it “It’s important we give our guests, many of whom have experienced unimaginable trauma, time and space to adjust to their new lives. We aim to help make the transition as smooth as possible and I’d like to thank everyone involved for playing their part in responding to this humanitarian crisis.” Under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the council has responsibility for: Accommodation checks Six officers from the council’s housing team have been involved in carrying out accommodation checks to ensure homes meet health and safety requirements and are in a suitable condition. Ace Energy, based in Bath, are kindly offering free gas safety certificates to sponsors whose homes are in the BA1 or BA2 area. You can find more information on the Ace Energy Homes for Ukraine Scheme website. The council is keen to hear from other businesses within Bath and North East Somerset who can also offer help. Please contact us at H4U@bathnes.gov.uk DBS checks All adults aged over sixteen living in the same household or supporting refugees must have a background DBS check. To date the council has carried out 99 DBS checks in relation to the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Schooling The council is working closely with schools and host families to ensure that school places are available for Ukrainian children. Children will be admitted to their nearest school with an available place. The majority of schools in B&NES manage their own admissions and the usual in-year admissions procedures apply. If it is not possible to find a school with a place the council may consider using admission arrangements within DFE guidance that would enable schools to agree to admit over their capacity. Welfare support Refugee welfare checks are made upon arrival. Once officers have seen proof of an individual’s visa, they issue a one-off £200 payment per person. This is designed to help Ukrainian refugees establish themselves by covering the cost of immediate basic provisions, bus fares etc. Families are also signposted to health services, schools, mental health and wellbeing support, money and benefits advice, organisations such as Bath Welcomes Refugees and the council’s website. Sponsor payments The council is also responsible for processing the £350 monthly thank you payments to sponsors. Payment is made one month in arrears once accommodation checks have been completed. Interpreting & Translation services The council has access to a professional interpreting provider and is also is working with Bath Welcomes Refugees who have a list of local volunteers with language skills we can also draw upon where needed. Households in B&NES who have volunteered to sponsor Ukrainian refugees can find information and support details on the council’s website. The government has also produced a guide for newly arrived Ukrainians. The guidance contains useful information, for example about opening bank accounts and claiming benefits. It is also available in Ukrainian and Russian. Arrivals under the Family Visa Scheme As well as the Homes for Ukraine scheme, there have been a number of arrivals in our area of people who have been granted visas under the Family Visa Scheme because they have relatives here. We have urged the government to provide consistency between the Family Visa Scheme and the Homes For Ukraine Scheme – and provide the same support to people arriving under both schemes. If anyone needs help in relation to housing, claiming benefits, or access to services they can visit our website https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/ukraine-family-visa-scheme They can also contact the Community Wellbeing Hub, who are able to access an interpreter if needed. The Community Wellbeing Hub is a partnership between Bath & North East Somerset Council, HCRG Care Group and its third sector partners. They can be contacted Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm by telephoning 0300 247 0050 or by email: CWHBanes@hcrgcaregroup.com For help with living expenses on arrival, or for financial help until benefits are paid, our Welfare Support provides people with short-term, emergency help with living costs. 01225 477277, email: welfare_support@bathnes.gov.uk To help Ukraine during the current crisis, you can donate directly to the Disasters Emergency Committee, British Red Cross or UNICEF. The organisations’ websites are regularly updated with news on how they are supporting Ukrainian refugees.

3SG is governed by our member organisations, which means that our 10 Trustees are comprised entirely of senior representatives from the 180 charities, community groups and social enterprises working in BaNES that are members of 3SG. Michelle Jacobs has recently left her role at Curo and so can longer continue as the 3SG Treasurer on the Trustee Board. We are therefore looking to recruit a new individual who can play this vital role in our organisation. The Trustee Treasurer role description is available to read here. The role is suitable for anybody in a senior leadership position within a 3rd sector organisation that is a member of 3SG. You must be able to attend six Trustee meetings a year plus ad hoc support with the 3SG Director and replying to regular group email conversations. Expression of Interest To express interest please email contact@3sg.org.uk by 10pm on the 29th April 2022 with a short statement of a maximum of 200 words on why you want to be a Trustee Treasurer of 3SG, and what experience and skills you can bring. If you do not wish to apply to become a Trustee but would like to express your views on the experience or attributes that you would like to see in the new Trustees then please also submit those by 29th April so the current Trustees can consider when making the appointments. Equal Opportunities Policy At 3SG, we are committed to the principle of equal opportunity and believe in diversity and inclusion throughout our work. 3SG’s objective is to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and otherwise treated solely on the basis of their relevant aptitudes, skills and abilities. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who identify as BAME, LGBT+ or Disabled. Thank you to our previous Trustee Michelle! We'd like to give our heartfelt thanks to Michelle Jacobs, whose support has been invaluable over the last 2 years. Our Coordinator Miles spoke with Michelle about her experience as a Trustee before she left, which you can view below: What interested you in becoming a Trustee for 3SG? Having worked in the B&NES area and seen the impact of the Community Wellbeing Hub, I was intrigued and really interested in the work being done so when a role became available I jumped at it as I wanted to be part of this amazing movement. How have you found your role? I have learnt lots from my peers, I have had a role to support and influence change locally making a real difference to the support for our communities. I am also amazed by the great fundraising work done by the team, without this 3SG would not exist and without the generosity of our donors, we couldn’t do the life-changing work we do. Tell us a bit about what your plans are next? I have a new role with Weston College, as Director of Adult Commercial Development and Strategy and am looking forward to learning and developing further.

With many people facing pressure on their household budgets as the cost of living rises, Bath & North East Somerset Council is reminding residents about the welfare support that’s available. It is highlighting support that some families might not be aware of and is encouraging people who are struggling to pay their bills to seek help and advice before financial problems become a real crisis. Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture said: “We can’t underestimate the situation facing many people with the pressure on their household bills. The squeeze on budgets is hitting everyone and for some this means a stark choice of having to choose between food or fuel. We want to make people aware of the support and advice that is out there, allowing them to take action before their problems become critical.” The council is working hard to develop a system to distribute funds such as the council tax rebate scheme announced by the government. The following support is already available: Supermarket vouchers are available to families entitled to benefit-related free school meals. An electronic voucher worth £40 per child for the Easter holiday period can be used to buy food and essential items. Households that received vouchers during the February half term will be emailed and asked to confirm they would like a voucher for Easter. Families who have not claimed before can do so here: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meal-supermarket-vouchers. If you have questions about the process, call the Benefits team on 01225 477777 (option 4) The Welfare Support Scheme can help people who are on a low income and in financial hardship with short-term emergency help with living costs. Residents can apply for retail vouchers, to use in a supermarket for food and household essentials, as well as access to their local foodbank. Welfare support can also help with housing costs, household items, furniture, removals, household bills and with certain debts. More information: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-welfare-support Housing Benefit can help with paying your rent if your name is on the tenancy agreement and you are either of pension age, living in supported accommodation or have been placed in temporary accommodation by the council. Visit: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-housing-benefit Council Tax Support is a local scheme that could reduce the amount you have to pay on your bill. To be eligible you must be living on a low income, be the person named on the council tax bill and have below a certain level of savings or capital. Visit: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-support Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are for people receiving Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit, who need more help with their housing costs. Find out more here: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-discretionary-housing-payment Welcome Cafes and Food Clubs provide meals and fresh food either free or at a reduced price, helping to reduce food waste and promoting healthy eating. Details of Weston Welcome Café and Food Club, Radstock Foodies Club can be found on the Live Well website: https://livewell.bathnes.gov.uk/supporting-adults-live-independent-lives/health-and-wellbeing/food-0 The BANES Food Finder lists groups that provide affordable food or emergency food parcels. To find out more, visit https://www.banesfoodfinder.org.uk/ or email hello@banesfoodfinder.org.uk The Community Wellbeing Hub is a collaboration between the council, HCRG Care Group and local third sector organisations. It offers support services including help accessing food and transport and money advice and benefit support. Call 0300 247 0050 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm or visit the website: https://communitywellbeinghub.co.uk/ Citizens Advice Bath & North East Somerset is an independent charity that offers free, confidential, expert advice on benefits, debt, family, housing and more. They have offices in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton, or you can call free on 0808 278 7897. https://www.citizensadvicebanes.org.uk/ You can find more information about Welfare Support and other benefits you may be able to apply for on the council website: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/search?keys=welfare+support,or you can email welfare_support@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 477277. Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm and Friday 9am to 4pm.

Do you work for a charity or social enterprise in need of some free digital advice or tech help? Digital Candle is offering 1 hour of free digital, data or design advice, for free. Whatever your question, be it big or small, you will be matched to one of 440 expert volunteers who will take the time to help you figure out your digital needs. These experts volunteer their time for free to give back to the sector, and can offer expert advice on a wide variety of topics, from CRM software, social media, Google Ads, digital inclusion and fundraising, and many more! Whatever aspect of digital help you're after, one of their volunteers will try their best to help. To ask a question, or find out more, click here. Alternatively, you can contact Digital Candle via hello@digitalcandle.org.uk This service is supported by Catalyst, and managed jointly with B Corp charity digital agency Platypus Digital.

The Freedom to Speak Up training - ‘Speak Up, Listen Up, Follow Up’ - is freely available for everyone who works in healthcare. Divided into three modules, it helps people understand the vital role we all play in a healthy speaking up culture which protects patients and service users and enhances worker experience. The latest session - Follow Up – completes the package. Developed for senior leaders throughout healthcare - including executive and non-executive directors, lay members and governors – this module aims to promote a consistent and effective Freedom to Speak Up culture across the system which enables workers to speak up and be confident they will be listened to and action taken. You do not have to work for an NHS organisation to access this training. It is available to anybody who would like to register. The final module of the Freedom to Speak Up Elearning will be launched on 12th April. This module is designed for leaders at all levels to help foster a speaking up culture in their organisations. You can access the elearning via the Elearning for Health hub here https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/freedom-to-speak-up/ Find out more here. Contact e-Learning for Healthcare if your organisation would like to embed this within your own Learning Management System (LMS).

Foster carers from across Bath and North East Somerset have come together to tell their stories of fostering and encourage more local people to open their homes to support children and young people in the area. They’ve been joined by staff from the fostering and supported lodgings services team at Bath & North East Somerset Council who are also sharing their advice and tips to anyone considering helping a child or young person. The new campaign launched today (April 4) called ‘Transform a Child’s Life’ features a series of videos of the foster carers and staff sharing their experiences and giving an insight into what it’s really like to foster. The council is responsible for finding around 100 placements for children and young people every year, but the figure is steadily increasing, with demand having grown by around 40% in the last eight years. The current situation in Ukraine means that the council is now expecting to receive even greater numbers with more unaccompanied young people coming to the UK for safety. Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture, said: “The work our foster carers do in supporting children is simply amazing and makes an enormous difference to the young peoples’ future success and outcomes in life, giving them stability and security. We know it is also a worthwhile experience for the carers too – you can see in these wonderful videos they’ve made just how much reward they get from it. “However, we still need more people who are willing to open their homes to a child or young person and demand has increased due to refugees arriving from Ukraine. We’ve created this campaign to challenge some of the myths that people may have about fostering and show just how many people could be suitable to do it. For example, you don’t have to own your own home, or be in a couple, or a certain age or sexuality, and there are lots of options within our fostering service to suit all types of people. I urge people to watch these videos, listen to the stories, and consider if you could play a part in transforming a child or young person’s life.” Current foster carer Debbie is a single mum who has been fostering for an incredible 35 years. She says: “If you’re considering doing it, my advice is to take a leap of faith and go for it. The difference it makes to a young person is that they’ve got a safe space and someone there to actively listen and support them. Fostering isn’t a thing that you do alone, the council team supports you and you have a support worker helping you through it, so you’re very much part of a team.” As part of the campaign, B&NES has also redesigned its website to make it easier for people to find the information they need and decide if fostering could be for them. The new videos will be promoted across the council’s social media platforms and supported with advertising and editorial in the local media to reach as many people as possible. To find out more about B&NES fostering service, visit fostering.bathnes.gov.uk

Western Power Distribution has teamed up with Localgiving to deliver its Community Matters Fund. After awarding £500,000 to support organisations combating fuel poverty over the winter, their second funding opportunity through this partnership has launched today. This fund will provide £500,000 to support charitable organisations in their response to people suffering with their mental health due to loneliness and/or social isolation. The Community Matters Fund is looking to support projects addressing loneliness and social isolation that fit within the following themes: Delivering services to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation Delivering services to improve mental health caused by loneliness and/or social isolation Delivering educational activities focused on skills development and ongoing support to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation (e.g. digital skills, employability skills, life skills) Innovative approaches to combat loneliness and/or social isolation and its associated impact on mental health. The programme is now live and accepting applications until 24th April 2022. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by 4th May 2022. Projects must be delivered and funding spent by 31st December 2022. To find out more, and to apply, click here.

UPDATE: The University of Bath has now reached a sufficient number of charity partner sign-ups. Thank you for your interest. Every year postgraduate students from the School of Management at University of Bath can opt for the Practice Track, in place of a traditional dissertation. As part of this programme, teams of students work with a local charity to devise and deliver a fund and/or awareness raising project, known as the Action Project. “We were really pleased to be involved with the Action Track project for a third year. The groups we worked with were so enthusiastic and passionate about raising awareness and funds for people affected by dementia and both groups executed their plans brilliantly.” Alzheimer’s Society Our charity partners return year on year, attracted by the talent and enthusiasm of our international cohort. This year we have an unprecedented number of students signed up for Practice Track so we’re looking for additional charities to work with us. “We’ve always found practice track students to be professional, engaged and enthusiastic. This year their project delivered fresh ideas for us as to how we engage with audiences on social media. The team also went above and beyond by volunteering for the charity in their own time. It’s always a pleasure to work with students from the university.” Bath Foodcycle The launch event will take place on 28 April and students then have 1 week to agree an overall project scope with you, before coming up with a more detailed plan over the following weeks. The project itself needs to be delivered between 17 July and 14 August. “I loved the experience of working with a group of passionate, creative and hard working students. The team were a fantastic additional resource for our small charity and together they achieved real and meaningful impact.” The Paul Hodges Trust Last year, students raised almost £10,000 for local charities and generated awareness of a wide range of causes through social media campaigns and other online activity. Sign up your charity to the project here! If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch with Sarah Peel (s.e.peel@bath.ac.uk, 01225 385030).

Two years since the UK went into its first national lockdown, Nottingham Trent University's final report of the ‘Respond, Recover, Reset’ Project reveals how the charity sector changed over the course of the pandemic. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UKRI’s rapid response to Covid-19, the study began in June 2020, and ran until December 2021. Based on real-time research, the report draws on 14 waves of the survey, four waves of a panel survey, and over 300 in-depth interviews with those working in and with charities. The final report highlights that adaptability, innovation, and collaboration in the face of crisis were central to the resilience of the UK’s charities and volunteers the sectors, despite unclear guidance and support. It also shows how across the period surveyed UK charities reported concern about their finances, saw rising demand for their services, navigated falls in income, staffing and volunteer numbers and adapted to a world moving online. The report shows how organisations that were better connected, or could form alliances with others, were often better placed to respond to the crisis and emerging needs. Building open and trusting funding practices, re-focusing on equality and inclusion as well as focusing on digitalisation and staff wellbeing are some of the key themes explored in this report. Check out the full report here. If you are interested in finding out more about this work, you can talk with the team at CPWOP@ntu.ac.ukor daniel.king@ntu.ac.ukin the first instance.

*UPDATE 23/03/2022: New drop offs added and updates added to existing collections, some that have since paused or finished entirely.* Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine a mere 7 days ago, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have reported that a total of 1 million displaced Ukrainians have fled their homes to seek refuge. In the midst of this humanitarian disaster, you may be looking for ways to help support those affected. We have put together a summary of organisations and ongoing appeals in and around the BaNES area to help you with this, whether you are looking to drop off essential goods or make a monetary donation, or even get actively involved in a collection effort. In addition to this, the Home Office announced it is rolling out the Homes for Ukraine programme which allows individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to offer accommodation to Ukrainian refugees for at least six months. You can record your interest as an individual or as an organisation or read more on the B&NES Council Website. How to donate essential goods and supplies: South Bristol: Bristol International Centre for Ukraine is hosting a new appeal, ‘From Bristol with Love’, in partnership with the Honorary General Consulate of Romania in Bristol. They are communicating on a daily basis with their contacts in Ukraine and aim to collect and deliver ONLY what is needed. The list of needed items changes on a weekly basis therefore please refer to the latest list and bring along STRICTLY what is needed. To their knowledge, they are the only initiative delivering aid directly into Ukraine and are now trying to establish a second corridor into the City of Odessa. Last departure: 20/03/22. Next trip to deliver donations scheduled for next weekend 26/27th March, with a trailer and 2 transit vans. They are accepting donations at 9 Willway Street, Bristol BS3 4BQ, Wednesday - Friday 5pm - 8pm, and Saturday - Sunday 10am - 4pm You can find out more by contacting contact@bristollovetrust.uk, giving them a call on 07711 880233 or checking their website - http://www.bristollovetrust.uk/ If you are interested in volunteering to help with the sorting of donations/transport, please write to volunteers@bristollovetrust.uk to book a three hours session. Keynsham: Indigo Kitchen in Keynsham is acting as a drop off point for donations excluding clothing. They are requesting medicine, food, baby and hygiene products. This is in conjunction with a Bristol-wide effort from the Polish community. You can find out which items are needed, and all their drop off points, and more here. Their Facebook post is kept updated regularly and they are taking donations at other locations such as the Big Yellow Self Store Bristol, (BS5 0AE) until at least Sunday 13th March. UPDATE 23/03: To support Bristol's Polish community with their collection efforts, please see their Facebook group, 'Help from Bristol to Ukraine' or contact Eliska Vyskočova and Agnieszka Lompies, who are collecting car tools, military first aid including celox, tourniquets, medicine, flashlights, bandages, binoculars and gas heaters and dark backpacks for the army. Eliska Vyskočova has arranged a van departing Bristol on Monday 28th March to deliver directly inland to those stuck around the Vinnycja area. Larkhall: A group of parents at St. Saviours Infant school in Larkhall have volunteered to transport donations to a collection point in Trowbridge, where they will then be transported to a Hostel in Zgierz and a Volunteer Centre in Lodz in Poland, and straight into the hands of Ukrainian refugees. Donations are requested before 18th March. Click here to find out more about which items they need most, and how to donate. UPDATE 23/03: St. Saviours Infant School are thankful for the overwhelming response and have currently PAUSED donations whilst they organise and transport the donations they currently have. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates. Bradford-upon-Avon: Donations can be dropped off at Bradford-upon-Avon Town Council offices at St Margaret’s Hall. Open between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Donations will be sent to Southeast Poland before being distributed to by Ukrainian volunteers. UPDATE 23/03: Bradford-upon-Avon Town Council have PAUSED their collection of donations following a recent successful delivery of 1,200kg of aid to Ukraine. Look out for updates on their Facebook page. Bathwick: A local Polish family are arranging a private collection for essential goods and will embark on a trip to the Poland/Ukraine border on Friday 4th March. Women’s sanitary and toiletry products are needed most. They have set up a drop off point at Braeside, Sham Castle Lane for donations before Thursday evening. More info here UPDATE 23/03: Collection finished. Emersons Green Village Hall Collection: A donation point has been set up at Emerson Green Village Hall. Currently, the volunteers are not collecting clothes or toys but have included a list of required items such as medical and first aid products, including painkillers, deodorant, razers and savlon; baby food, milk and assorted baby products; children's medication including calpol and sudacrem; dried and tinned food, including biscuits; thick sleeping bags/blankets and men's warm thermals, gloves and socks; batteries and torches; washing up products and bin bags. Click here to see the full list on their Facebook page, which is updated according to demand. The local hall has been transformed into a collection point for items that will be used to help people fleeing war torn Ukraine. Two vans driven by volunteers left the hall on Tuesday, March 1st packed with food, clothing and medical supplies, with more scheduled. Their second van made it to it's destination yesterday, Tuesday 8th March. After a temporary pause on collections, Emersons Green Village Hall are now accepting collections by Friday 11th March. They will keep their Facebook page updated regarding future donation times. Emersons Green Village Hall will also accept donations of items from Aid to Ukraine's Amazon list, which you can order for delivery directly to the Village Hall. Click here. Check their Facebook page for the latest updates. Opening hours depend on capacity- village hall’s Facebook page UPDATE 23/03: Collection finished. Westbury: A collection point at Daykin Estates, Westbury BA13 4FZ has been opened to take donations of warm items, children's clothes and nappies, to be sent to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Poland. Trips are scheduled every Monday to transport donations. They are open to accept donations Monday to Friday 8 am until 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am until 3pm. Click here for more info or check their Facebook page for updates. UPDATE 23/03: Collection finished, fundraising and cash donations continuing. Wiltshire: Several collection efforts are underway in nearby Chippenham, Bradford-upon-Avon, Trowbridge, Melksham and Devizes. Click here or here to find out more. How to make a financial donation: Several organisations have launched appeals in response to the Ukrainian Crisis, and are accepting monetary donations to help those affected. Organisations taking monetary donations over donations of supplies have said this is because of transportation costs; they can buy items cheaper nearer Ukraine and simultaneously support the local economy. There have also been suggestions that well-intentioned donations can cause extra work upon arrival, so a number of charities are encouraging monetary donations. The Disaster Emergency Committee - A group of 15 major relief charities including Oxfam, the British Red Cross and Christian Aid have launched their official appeal, backed by the UK Government to match every pound donated. Click here to learn more and donate. The Co-op are also supporting the DEC appeal by accepting donations of 50p, £1, £2 or £5 at tills inside all Co-op food stores. The Red Cross: The Red Cross have launched their appeal in order to get humanitarian aid to those most in need, as quickly and directly as possible. For this reason they are appealing for moneetary donations, which will go towards the purchase of medication, food and warm items. Donations can be made via their website. Closest Red Cross shop - 29 Moorland Rd, Bath BA2 3PW Radstock & Midsomer Norton Lions: Lions clubs across the world are raising funds to send aid directly to respond to help refugees and displaced persons. Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions have made a donation to this fund and now there is a link on their website at www.rmnlions.org.uk where you can make a donation to help Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons if you wish. Lions take no administration costs from the donations collected so 100% of your gift will go to this crisis. Save the Children: Save the Children are currently accepting donations for their Ukrainian Appeal as well as accepting clothing donations which can be sold to raise funds to provide the fastest and most effective support to those affected by distributing essential items like blankets and food to over 3.5 million vulnerable children caught up in the conflict. Their nearest shop is located at 7 Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BN To find out more about how you can donate visit the Save the children website. Useful Resources to find out more Bath Spa University have also compiled a list of charitable organisations with ongoing appeals for Ukrainians. Click here to read. Read more inspiring stories of locals gathering together to raise humanitarian support and supplies for those uprooted and displaced by the conflict here. For Bath residents, the Nextdoor site and app have been helpful at spreading the word about grassroot and informal appeals and schemes to gather donations or help in any way. It is worthwhile checking periodically if you are interested. Link here. UK Fundraising has put together a list of registered national and international organisations providing support and seeking donations - link here If you know of any other local efforts and collections not mentioned above, please let us know at contact@3sg.org.uk We aim to keep this updated periodically and add additional details and donation opportunities should they arise. *EDITED: 23/03/2022*

Giving World is all about the redistribution of surplus goods to people that really need them. For free. Their vision is to build a society where no-one is in need because nothing is wasted, and so they collaborate with businesses, charities and good causes to redistribute items to help people living in poverty. Giving World has an online catalogue which is kept updated and displays all items that they have available currently. They are divided into categories detailed below. If you know any service users, groups, families or individuals who may benefit from receiving any of their products, you can sign up for an account at https://www.givingworld.org.uk/ Once your account has been created and accepted, you can browse and request items for free. Whilst Giving World are based in Leicester, they can deliver nationwide. Upon requesting goods, you will be sent a price estimate for delivery. As delivery costs can be prohibitive for some (particularly smaller) organisations, they are now able to group organisations in a local area together (on request) so they can share one delivery between them - this would mean just one delivery to an address of their choosing and everyone involved would arrange collection locally and split the costs how they choose - very handy if there are several groups that just want a box or 2. Organisations can either form a cluster, or join a local one, in order to take advantage of this group delivery scheme. Categories of goods available - Arts & Crafts - Baby clothing and footwear - Bags - Bathroom - Beauty products - Bedding - Books - Children's clothing - Cleaning - Electronics - Furnishing & Ornaments - Gift items - IT equipment - Kitchen/catering products - Ladies' clothing - Medical consumables - Men's clothing - Office furniture - Sports - Stationary - Toiletries - Tools - Toys - Travel Their inventory of stock is constantly changing, and they may have minimal items in a certain category and a surplus in another. All categories and stock are subject to availability and change. Learn more, sign up and browse items here.

Communities across Bath and North East Somerset are encouraged to join the #BigBagChallenge and pledge to pick up as much litter as possible during this year’s Great British Spring Clean. The annual campaign organised by Keep Britain Tidy inspires people to join forces to improve the environment on their doorsteps by becoming #litterheroes. Bath & North East Somerset Council is encouraging all residents to get involved in the campaign which runs from March 25 to April 10, whether it’s filling up one bag of rubbish from their neighbourhood or organising a litter picking event. This year’s Great British Spring Clean theme is One Bag, Big Difference and highlights that every act to protect the environment, no matter how small, makes a difference. Volunteer group #NoPlaceForLitter has organised a Great Avon River Pick to support the campaign which will see ten groups litter pick a different section of the river bank, with equipment provided by the council. Councillor David Wood, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “It’s easy for us to assume that collecting one bag of litter won’t make a difference, but if we all make a small effort it can transform our environment. I’d urge everyone in B&NES to take part in the Great British Spring Clean, whether that’s spending half an hour in your street taking part in the #BigBagChallenge, becoming a volunteer at an event or organising your own litter pick. We’re grateful to the many volunteers and staff who give their time throughout the year to pick litter. “We want to support cleaner neighbourhoods in every way we can, which is why we’ve put £950k of extra investment this year into cleaner and greener streets. The Clean and Green community action days we are working with communities to organise are another important way that residents will be able to get involved in making B&NES more welcoming. “One of our priorities for the extra investment is additional enforcement for littering offences. Littering is an unacceptable abuse of our environment and anyone caught doing so could receive a £150 fixed penalty notice.” To become a #litterhero by joining or hosting a litter pick event in your area register at www.keepbritaintidy.org #NoPlaceForLitter have a limited amount of equipment they can lend to B&NES residents for volunteer litter picks. For more information and to reserve equipment please email the nearest hub: Keynsham - womble@transitionkeynsham.org Bath - bath.hub@noplaceforlitter.org Radstock - radstockinbloom@gmail.com Rubbish bags are available for community groups or businesses organising events and the council will arrange to pick up the litter collected. For more information email: cleanup_events@bathnes.gov.uk Find out more about the council’s extra investment into neighbourhood services. To find out how you can do more to reduce waste and help address the climate emergency visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/climate-emergency

BBC Children in Need, in partnership with the #iwill Fund and The Hunter Foundation, has announced they are delivering a £3million fund to support organisations to embed youth social action across the UK. The BBC Children in Need Youth Social Action Fund will help to build children and young people’s confidence and skills and will empower them to take an active and leading role in developing solutions to issues which affect their lives and their communities. Social action involves activities such as influencing, fundraising and volunteering, all of which enable young people to make a positive difference in their communities as well as develop their own skills and knowledge. The partnership has been made possible with thanks to £1,290,300 from the #iwill Fund (a £54 million joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), £490,000 from The Hunter Foundation and £2,239,000 from BBC Children in Need.* The fund is open to not-for-profit organisations who currently work with children and young people aged 18 and under and will help prevent or overcome the effects of the disadvantages that they face. Grants will be funded for up to 18 months, with an initial development phase of up to six months so that projects can design and develop their work with the help of the children and young people that they are working with. The fund especially aims to reach: organisations who focus on addressing issues of disadvantage affecting children and young people children and young people who have some experience of social action and want to develop their skills and experience to do more. children and young people who have no experience of social action work at all but want to find out what it is all about. Fozia Irfan, Director of Impact at BBC Children in Need said: “We are launching the Youth Social Action Fund alongside the #iwill Fund and The Hunter Foundation so that we can give children and young people the opportunity to make a positive difference and drive change in their communities and the world around them. “Through youth social action, children and young people are able to use their voice and their lived experience to tackle subjects that affect them and matter to them. We encourage organisations who are interested to apply and find out more information through our website.” Helen Whyman, Head of the #iwill Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players and government funding, we are able to support the Youth Social Action Fund, ensuring young people have the opportunities to use their voice to make a real difference to the communities they live in, to their peers, and to the young people of the future. “The work of the #iwill Fund has had an incredible impact on young people across England and this new funding will ensure that even more young people feel empowered to take an active role in driving positive change and ensuring their communities prosper and thrive.” Sir Tom Hunter, founder of The Hunter Foundation said: “Putting the voice of young people at the heart of change is precisely right – too often policies and practices adopted to support young people are not tailored to their needs, this will empower their voices in impacting on delivering the right interventions to support them. As ever – ask the customer!” The Youth Social Action Fund is one of two programmes being launched by BBC Children in Need focused on sharing power with children and young people. The second fund – the We Move Fund - will be especially aimed at Black-led organisations and organisations that work with Black children and young people and will open for applications in the coming weeks. The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £54 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. BBC Children in need is acting as a match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund. For more information on the Youth Social Action Fund and how to apply, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey. *This breakdown includes £1million for the We Move Fund.