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  • News Tesco Mobile’s ‘Little Helps’ helping vulnerable people stay connected

    Digital connection can be a lifeline, keeping us connected to society and providing access to essential services. Something that was felt even more greatly during COVID-19 as the world became even more reliant on technology to stay connected. Tesco Mobile believes everyone has the right to be connected. That’s why in 2020 it launched Tesco Mobile Reconnects, which will see over £2.4 million worth of phones, devices, and connectivity donated to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people reconnect with society by 2023. Forming part of the Reconnects initiative, the ‘Little Helps’ scheme works with charities and organisations across the UK to help those in need stay connected when they need it most. Since launch, Little Helps has donated more than 11,200 data loaded devices and 2,500 SIMs to over 550 charities and community initiatives including: homelessness, domestic abuse, autism, drug rehabilitation, schools and hospitals as well as well-known organisations such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and local constituents. Below are some examples of how the Little Helps scheme has been able to help: The charity, St Mungo's, who offers its support to those experiencing homelessness, reached out to Tesco Mobile during the first lockdown and were grateful to receive a number of smartphones and pre-loaded sim cards, allowing service users to find emergency accommodation and communicate with loved ones. Cath, a volunteer from St. Mungo’s, said: “When I was giving the phones to people, some of them were moved to tears because it meant they could contact their families.” Little Helps was also able to provide phones and data to families of children with autism during lockdown through the charity Perth Autism Support, so that they could continue to receive support when it was needed the most. Former fundraising manager for Perth Autism Support, Faith said: “The phones Tesco Mobile donated have literally been a lifeline during the lockdown period.” Sadly, domestic abuse organisations observed an increase in domestic violence during lockdown. At such times when your own home isn’t safe, a phone can be a lifeline. Little Helps worked with Dyfed Powys Police in Wales and Angus Women’s Aid in Scotland to provide phones, devices and data to help them protect victims of domestic violence, coercive control and stalking. Zoe, a Detective Sergeant from Dyfed and Powys Police, said: “The phones we've had from Tesco Mobile have helped to give victims control back over their lives.” Little Helps will continue helping vulnerable people through grassroots charities and organisations working across these areas: Families and young people Mental health Domestic abuse Homelessness If you represent an organisation or charity in one of these areas and you need help, please email: TescoMobile.littlehelps@tesco.com

  • News Celebrating Black History Month

    The accomplishments, experiences and challenges faced by black people will come under the spotlight throughout October in a series of events across Bath and North East Somerset to mark Black History Month (BHM21). BHM21 gives residents the opportunity to learn more about the contributions that black people have made nationally, internationally and to our local community, while promoting a more inclusive society. Bath & North East Somerset Council is supporting the month with webinars, displays, events and social media campaigns. One of the highlights will be a special webinar on Monday 18 October entitled ‘Race equality in B&NES – progress made and challenges ahead’. The webinar will be chaired by Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children, Young People, Communities and Culture. Confirmed speakers include experts in black history from our local museums and tourist attractions and representatives from B&NES Race panel, B&NES Schools Race group and Boys in Mind. Councillor Romero said: “Education is key in tackling racism and promoting equality and I was hugely impressed by the contributions made by young people to our webinar last year which focussed on the Black Lives Matter movement. Black people within our community still face big challenges and I’m keen to listen to people’s experiences and their ideas on how we can continue to break down barriers and promote a more inclusive society.” You can register for the webinar here. Bath & North East Somerset Council is also a partner sponsor of the regional BHM conference taking place virtually on Saturday 11 October. Speakers include historian David Olusoga, the BBC’s Director of Creative Diversity June Sarpong, Stephen Lawrence’s brother Stuart Lawrence and former footballer Anton Ferdinand. The conference is free, but please register here. Other local BHM21 events include: A month-long display of artifacts at the Pump Rooms relating to the last Emperor of Ethiopia, Emperor Haile Selassie, who spent five years in exile at Fairfield House in Bath. Author Paul Mendez will discuss his acclaimed debut novel ‘Rainbow Milk’, which explores race, class, sexuality, freedom and religion in a webinar on Thursday 28 October, organised by Bath University Library in conjunction with the council’s equalities and libraries teams. A display of artifacts in empty shop windows in Bath organised by Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association (BEMSCA) in conjunction with Fairfield House. A BHM21 social media campaign run by Bath & North East Somerset Libraries, providing book recommendations for all ages highlighting Black Britons as well as daily Black History Month information. Freedom in the City Festival is running a full programme of events in partnership with UWE. Fairfield House will be running guided tours on Sundays in October. You can find all the details by clicking on the council’s dedicated webpage here. More information on BHM21 is available on the Black History Month website. Visit B&NES Libraries’ Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds to find your next great read.

  • News £10,000 donated to Bath bereavement support group

    Bath & North East Somerset Council has donated £10,000, raised from the recycling of metals reclaimed from Bath’s Haycombe Crematorium, to a Bath charity which offers a support group for adults who have been affected by a suicide loss. Bath Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) provides a safe and comforting space for adults to share their feelings with others who have had the same experience. Ann, a volunteer with the group, said: “We are delighted to be awarded a grant from the ICCM Recycling Scheme which ensures our group can continue and helps us plan ahead for how we can best support people.” The charity is the latest to benefit from money raised by the recycling of common items like medical pins, metal plates and artificial joints which are retrieved from the cremated remains of a loved one and recycled through a national scheme. Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture said: “I’m delighted we have been able to support Bath SoBS. It’s incredibly traumatic to lose someone to suicide and the experience has a long-lasting effect on mental wellbeing. Knowing you are not alone and sharing your feelings with others who have been through the same experience can help people cope better.” The not-for-profit Recycling of Metals Scheme is run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management of which Bath & North East Somerset Council is a member. Members of the scheme collect the metal from the cremators and the money raised from recycling is divided between ICCM members for distribution among charities. Councillor David Wood, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services said: “We always respectfully retrieve the cremated remains of a loved one, but metal items used as part of surgery are often recovered from the cremator. The most responsible way to dispose of them is to recycle them. We feel it’s only right the money raised goes to support bereavement charities and I hope people who are bereaved take comfort from that.” To qualify for donations from the scheme, charities are selected on the basis they have to assist the bereaved or those who are terminally ill. Local charities, which meet the criteria can get in touch with staff at Haycombe Cemetery and Crematorium on 01225 396020 or email cemeteries_crematorium@bathnes.gov.uk

  • News New neighbourhood planting havens to get B&NES buzzing

    A call for residents to help increase biodiversity by creating new wildflower meadows and planted green spaces in their neighbourhoods has been made by Bath & North East Somerset Council. The council is expanding its successful Let’s Get Buzzing campaign with a new Neighbourhood Nature Area project, giving residents the chance to brighten up verges and open spaces in their streets with wildflowers or bulbs. The scheme will help the council meet its target of improving at least 30% of its parks and green spaces for wildlife by 2030, supporting its climate and ecological emergency goals. The Neighbourhood Nature Area project aims to add extra interest and ecological value to small areas of land currently managed by the council. Residents can request to improve an area for their neighbourhood by entering into a simple, free, licence agreement. In Bath, residents will be invited to help create a new meadow in front of the Royal Crescent in Royal Victoria Park and at Brickfields and Alice Park in Bath. Ward councillors in Twerton will also be leading volunteers to help plant spring bulbs on road verges across Twerton and Whiteway. The expansion of Let’s Get Buzzing coincides with the Bath and North East Somerset Climate and Biodiversity Festival running until September 26. The festival is a programme of face-to-face and online events enabling people to learn from and inspire each other on restoring nature and reducing carbon emissions. Councillor Jess David, cabinet assistant for Neighbourhood Services, said: “This is your opportunity to brighten up the verge outside your house with wildflowers, or plant up a corner of the open space at the end of your road. We’ve been working hard to create new wildlife habitats in parks through Let’s Get Buzzing and now we are asking for you to get involved in expanding the campaign. It’s going to help us meet our target to make at least 30% of our green spaces better for wildlife by 2030. “We’re committed to addressing the climate and ecological emergencies but we need collective action. There are hundreds of hectares of verges and small open spaces in urban areas across the district and although we’re slowly improving them, if you’re willing to help we’d love to hear from you.” More information about the Neighbourhood Nature Area project, including the criteria for suitable areas and types of plants and how residents can obtain a licence, can be found here People can book tickets for the council’s Climate & Biodiversity Festival at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/climate-biodiversity-festival-events To find out more about events in parks, look out for signs on site or visit the parks webpage

  • News Community Contribution Fund set to open for applications

    Charities, community and voluntary groups will soon be able to apply for grants from Bath & North East Somerset Council’s pilot Community Contribution Fund. The fund, which was launched earlier this year, enables residents to contribute to projects which help reduce inequalities across the district. So far, more than 340 people have generously donated, raising almost £25,000. Applications for grants of between £500 and £2,000 will open next month and be assessed by a panel of elected councillors. Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Resources and Economic Development, said: “We’ve had a great response and I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the fund so far. Our charities, community and voluntary groups carry out vital work and this money will really help to support the most disadvantaged and improve their lives. Applications will be considered very carefully and we’ll be giving priority to projects that benefit the whole B&NES area.” Although the B&NES Community Contribution Fund is administered by Bath & North East Somerset Council, it is not used to supplement council services. Every penny contributed goes to fund local projects. Residents are still able to make contributions to the fund and it is easy to donate online. The minimum contribution is £5, however there is no maximum contribution and it is possible to donate more than once. Following this year’s pilot, the council will consult with residents and organisations on whether the scheme should continue. Residents can keep up-to-date with latest news on the fund by subscribing to the council’s special e-newsletter here. To find out more and make a contribution visit the Community Contribution Fund webpage.

  • Apply for a Charity Chalet at Bath Christmas Market - Deadline 18th August!

    Each year, Bath Christmas Market are delighted to offer a selection of different charities the opportunity to participate in the market. This year’s Bath Christmas Market runs from Thursday 25th November to Sunday 19th December 2021 and every day, a new charity has the chance to use the Charity Chalets free of charge to fundraise and raise awareness of their worthy cause. Location There are two Charity Chalets and they are located on Milsom Street and Orange Grove. View the Milsom Street site plan View the Orange Grove site plan Opening Times Your chalet must be open during daily trading times, which are listed below: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays: 10am – 7pm Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: 10am – 8pm Sundays: 10am – 6pm Before you start You can apply for the charity chalet using their online form. Before you start you will need: details of your charity, including your charity number your contact details details of any social media accounts you want us to use information about the products you want to sell or raffle the dates that your charity will be available a copy of your current Public Liability Insurance certificate, with a minimum value of £2million Applications will close at 5:30pm on Wednesday 18th August. Apply for a charity chalet What happens next They will review all of the applications they receive between 18th and 27th August, and aim to get back to you the following week. They will notify all applicants of the outcome, but cannot offer personalised responses due to the number of applications they receive. If your application is successful they will contact you to tell you the dates you have been allocated.

  • Free resources to help your organisation with digital

    CAST is a charity that helps nonprofits use digital for social good. We provide engaging programmes and resources that can help you to embed digital and design across your services. We run frequent Design Hops - a free course to learn step-by-step methods for designing your charity’s online services. The next event in September is unfortunately fully-booked, but you can find out more and sign up to the waiting list here. Networking has become so much harder nowadays, so to continue making new connections with fellow charity peers, sign up to Coffee Connections. Every 2 months we’ll match you with another person in the sector and then it’s over to you to arrange an online coffee and a chat. You can find out more and sign up here. Recently, CAST has incubated the Catalyst: a network helping UK civil society grow their digital skills and processes. Our network provides a variety of services for charities of all sizes to grow their digital confidence, connections and skills. Here’s a small selection, but do check out the website for more and sign up to the fortnightly newsletter to stay up to date - there’s always something going on. Digital Candle - Get free digital advice from volunteer experts on any digital challenge you’re facing. We’ve got over 350 experts available. If you’re in need of a digital expert, search Dovetail, a directory of Tech for Good agencies to help charities find their perfect fit. To find out what digital solutions charities are using, check out the Service Recipes.

  • News New Mental Health Support Services & Opportunity to Share Your Views

    Yesterday (10th Oct) saw World Mental Health Day being widely recognised more than ever before. Locally, a charity called 'Response' has begun working on behalf of AWP and BaNES Swindon and Wiltshire CCG to complete a project over the next year. The projects will be identifying opportunities to improve mental health support services and support the workaround hospital admission avoidance and facilitating early discharge. Information about their project and how you can get involved are outlined below: There are three strands: We are conducting a service review to identify opportunities to strengthen mental health support services. We are now gathering feedback from service providers, health and social care partners, third sector organisations and people with lived experience of mental health challenges and their carers. Please complete a short online survey (open for 3 more weeks only!) by clicking here if you are: Over the age of 16 and have experience of mental health support services in BSW Are a member of staff working in or with mental health support services Are a carer, friend, family member or supporter of someone who has used mental health support services. All replies will be anonymised and confidential We are also holding one to one interviews with individual people and focus groups. Please contact us using the details below if you (or a group) would prefer to share information in this way or need any further information or support to share your views. Housing and Community Support Workers are now working within the acute in-patient ward teams in Salisbury, Swindon and Devizes. They are supporting patients with housing issues and access to community support services, ready for when they are discharged from hospital. St Mungo’s have a Move On Worker who delivers a similar service in BaNES. A mental health support service called the Mental Wealth Academy is now available for young people aged 16-25 with mild to moderate mental health and well-being difficulties that live in BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire. Young people can refer themselves or be referred if they have given consent by a parent/ carer or someone working with them. Referrals can be made by clicking here. For further information: Please visit our website or email liane.low@response.org.uk

  • News Signposting for HR and Employment Advice for Charity Leaders

    Cranfield Trust recently took the decision to close their HRNet service, however, they have kindly provided a range of services that offer similar support. Below is a range of resources and services (some free!) where you can find support around HR and employment issues, particularly aimed at charity leaders and trustees. ACAS ACAS provides employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. Visit website NCVO Find a clear, appropriate and coherent set of policies and procedures help ensure that your organisation is well run. Visit website Roots HR Roots HR is an HR service specifically for Social Sector employers. Visit website Trust Law Trust Law is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s pro bono legal programme, connecting social enterprises with law firms and corporate legal teams to provide free assistance. Visit website Law Works Law Works connects non-profits with solicitors able to offer advice free of charge. Visit website Reach Volunteering Reach connects HR volunteers with charities and other non-profits to share their skills as trustees, advisors or mentors. Visit website FSI Request HR advice through the FSI’s Charity Advice Hub. Visit website Small Charities Coalition Visit the Small Charities Coalition for more signposting to other HR advice services or contact their Helpdesk for more information. HR Advice Services Helpdesk Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Visit CIPD for further help from the professional body for HR and People Development. Visit website 5 HR Challenges facing small charities A blog from David Price, CEO at Health Assured, exploring the challenges faced by charity HR professionals. Blog: HR challenges

  • News NCVO Almanac 2021 Released

    Last week, The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) launched its Almanac for 2021. Drawing on a range of sources, the Almanac provides a snapshot of what voluntary organisations do, their income and spending, workforce, volunteering and impact. Some of the key statistics from the report are outlined below: - There are 163,150 Voluntary Organisations in the UK - 16.3 Million people volunteered their time at least once during 2020/21 through a group, club or organisation - The voluntary sector has a paid workforce of 951,611, up 20% since 2010 - The voluntary sector contributed £20bn to the economy or 0.9% of total GDP. - For a quick overview of the Almanac, read their executive summary. - You can read the Almanac in full here You can also find here a summary from Anya Martin from NCVO, who discusses some of the key findings of the Almanac 2021 and the insights they provide about the UK’s voluntary sector.

  • News Help shape future services at Dorothy House by completing their survey

    Dorothy House are passionate that everyone should have access to outstanding palliative and end of life care, and that such care must be delivered in the right way, at the right time and in the right place for each individual. To help ensure they get this right, they need to hear your thoughts, your views and your feelings. They are inviting all residents of Bath and North-East Somerset to participate in a survey on your perceptions and needs relating to palliative and end of life care, and bereavement support. They also wish to hear your views on proposed changes and innovations in the delivery of such care in your local area. Your feedback will help to shape and refine their future services. Your participation is entirely voluntary and any information you choose to provide will be treated as strictly confidential. The survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and can be accessed here: https://loom.ly/6bWZDNk

  • News Applications open for community funding to prevent and reduce violence

    Grants for projects which make communities safer are now available for the second year running from the Bath and North East Somerset Community Safety & Safeguarding Partnership. The Violence Reduction Grants from £200 up to £4,000 are open for applications for community projects that are working towards preventing and reducing violence across the area. The scheme ran for the first time last year and helped to provide positive activities and opportunities for young people vulnerable to violence. The projects that were successful in securing funding included a graffiti project and a Street to Studio Music Project organised by Youth Connect South West. Stand Against Violence were also supported to run a County Lines and Grooming Awareness Project. Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “This funding will help make our streets safer for everyone. As we’ve seen from the successful projects that were funded last year, a community-based and targeted approach to tackling the causes of serious violence is so effective. The grants will support young people away from becoming a victim or an offender and find a different path.” George Saunders, Youth Work Manager at Youth Connect South West, said: “This was a brilliant project which involved showcasing young people’s artistic skills. It was really meaningful to Southside and the Whiteway community because it represented the pandemic and the NHS. It transformed a negative into a positive meaning young people who had previously vandalised, had the opportunity to work with a graffiti worker and youth worker to graffiti something relatable and powerful with consent. “It is important that we work with young people and give them the tools to be creative and expressive. Through doing the project, the young people were able to build positive relationships with the workers and look at ways to channel graffiti work in a positive and consensual manner.” Eligible projects must address at least one area of local concern: Work with children and young people under-25 to reduce or prevent their involvement in violence either as victims or offenders Aim to prevent vulnerable people over the age of 25 becoming victims of violent crime or involvement as offenders Work in hotspot areas, including Bath City Centre, Keynsham, Twerton and Somer Valley to address violence and improve resilience Work in new or emerging hotspot areas where there is evidence of violence Work to support potential victims of knife crime who are overwhelmingly male aged 25-34 Work in communities to address domestic abuse, including awareness raising Work to support young women and girls at risk of becoming involved in violence The grant scheme supports the Bath and North East Somerset Community Safety & Safeguarding Partnership approach to early help and intervention and helps address serious and violent crime in Bath and North East Somerset. The grant also supports the aims of the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy and the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Serious Violence Strategy for Avon & Somerset, to tackle serious violent crime at a local, regional, and national level. For more information, and to apply for a grant, visit: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-serious-violence-reduction-grant. Find out more about the Youth Connect South West graffiti project https://www.youthconnectsouthwest.org.uk/graffiti-project

  • News Can St. Mike’s help you fundraise for your charity?

    St. Mike’s Without is a church in Bath city centre, also know as St. Michael’s Without Waitrose! We are now in our second year of running a 'Christmas Pop-Up Shop', mainly offering charity Christmas cards, and also a range of small gifts, plus wrapping paper, tags etc. One of the key principles for us is supporting local charities, particularly those that may have had extra work, or been hardest hit during the pandemic, and those with a smaller capacity who may not usually engage with fundraising in this way. You may already have experience with purchasing and selling Christmas cards for your charity, in which case we would love to stock them; or you may never have done this before but would like to give it a try on a smaller scale than larger retailers would require. Along with stocking the cards, we can publicise you and your work on our TV screens that have a rolling news during the day and there will also be space for a leaflet holder or similar where your cards/gifts are situated. You could use the opportunity to publicise a specific appeal, or just provide people with general info about what you do. The only thing we can’t accommodate is a fundraising bucket/can. Our terms are fairly simple: You provide a minimum of 300 packs on a sale or return basis We sell them We split the profits on a 50/50 basis (and you also get the cost price back of course). Do get in touch with Lisa in our office to discuss or clarify any of this. You can contact her via office@stmichaelsbath.org.uk, or on 01225 447103 We appreciate time is a little tight as we aim to open on 23rd October, going right through to mid/late December but very much hope you can come on board! NB. We have an aim to be plastic packaging free in 3 years, this is Year 1, so just something to bear in mind. We will still accept cards in cellophane but wanted to flag this up as early as possible to enable people to find affordable alternatives.

  • News BWCE Fund Open - Deadline 5th November 2021

    The Bath and West Community Energy Fund is now open for applications with a deadline of 9am on 5th November 2021. The fund is made up of surplus income from BWCE's renewable generation projects. Following confirmation at our AGM on Saturday we can now open the fund to applications. The BWCE Fund supports local community projects that target the reduction of carbon emissions and/or fuel poverty. The area of benefit covers Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES), parts of Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire that border B&NES (see map) plus the area of Somerset close to our Crewkerne solar array at TA18 7NX. To find out more about the fund, see a list of previous successful projects and make an application please visit: https://www.bwce.coop/community-benefit/#community-energy-fund

  • News Digital inclusion resources and programmes for third sector organisations

    A list of digital inclusion resources has been compiled by Catalyst during the COVID-19 pandemic. The list contains a wide range of resources, covering areas such as accessibility, digital skills support, guides and toolkits, as well as where to get access to devices / tablet loan schemes. These resources aim to help join up the response to digital exclusion across the sector. The most recent resources were added as part of a Catalyst panel event on digital inclusion which took place on 22 June 2021 in collaboration with Good Things Foundation, Citizens Online, Nominet, Diversity and Ability and Inclusion London. You can find the list of resources here (it's a live collaborative document). You are welcome to add any useful resources! Catalyst are aiming to create a more user-friendly directory soon. In the meantime, please contact hello@thecatalyst.org.uk if you have any questions or suggestions or would like to help.

  • News The best bank accounts for charities

    Charity Digital have provided a list of some of the top bank accounts for your charity to choose from. Keep reading to see the list below: What is a charity bank account? A charity bank account is not that different to a personal or business account. It includes many of the same features as another type of account, such as the ability to: accept incoming payments make outgoing payments (to vendors, contractors, and staff) accrue interest on savings make recurring payments (such as direct debits and standing orders) use an overdraft to ease cash flow issues keep track of spending The main differences between personal or business accounts and specially-designed charity bank accounts are related to tax exemptions and Gift Aid. Charities do not need to pay tax on interest accrued by charity bank accounts, as long as they can show their bank a Letter of Recognition. Having a dedicated charity bank account can also make the process of applying for Gift Aid easier and simpler. What are the best bank accounts for charities? CHARITY BANK Where better to start than with a bank run specifically by charities? Charity Bank is an ethical bank founded to support charities with loans, as well as to provide private individuals with an ethical way to invest their savings. The organisation is entirely owned by charitable foundations, trusts, and social purpose organisations. This specialist bank is not only run and administered by charities – it also offers some great options for charities seeking an ethical option for their banking. Charity Bank offer an ‘Ethical 1-Year Charity, Trust and, Unincorporated Association Fixed Rate Account’. The account has a 0.47% rate of AER – meaning that an investment of £10,000 would accrue interest of £47.00 over a year. The account can have an unlimited number of account holders. Payments can only be made once a year and can range from £10,000 and £500,000. METRO BANK Metro Bank is the top-rated bank for charities, according to reviews from charity professionals on Trustpilot. Metro Bank’s model prizes convenience, and this extends to their offerings for charities. Account holders benefit from a number of convenient services, including up to 200 no-fee transactions per month, as well as the ability to manage transactions via internet banking or a mobile app. Metro Banks’s charity bank accounts even include options for giant promotional cheques – a staple for many charity fundraisers. TRIODOS BANK Just behind Metro Bank in the TrustPilot ratings is the somewhat lesser-known Trodios Bank. Triodos Bank is an ethical bank founded in 1980. They finance organisations that they believe add cultural value and benefit to people and the environment. Triodos Bank offer a number of services and products designed specifically for charities: including loans, savings, investments, and a specially-designed current account. The ‘Charity Current Account’ pays interest on deposits over £5,000. As of October 2021, interest will be paid at a rate of 0.02%. The account’s charges and fees are presented transparently, and are reasonably-priced between 10p and 40p per transaction. RELIANCE BANK Formerly known as The Salvation Army Bank, Reliance Bank specialises in commercial lending to charities, social enterprises, and other good causes. They offer a range of products and accounts designed specifically for charities. These options include: - ‘90 Day Notice Charity Savings Account’ – charities that can give three months of notice before making a withdrawal can benefit from a higher rate of 0.40% AER variable interest, which is calculated applied at the end of March, June, September, and December - ‘35 Day Notice Charity Savings Account’ – charities that can give 35 days of notice before making a withdrawal can benefit from a rate of 0.30% AER variable interest - ‘Instant Access Charity Savings Account’ – charities that need to withdraw capital at short notice can register for this savings account, which comes with a rate of 0.05% AER variable interest - ‘Charity Current Account’ – a simple current account for everyday charity financial transactions Reliance Bank were ranked #1 for customer satisfaction in the 2021 Charity Finance Banking Survey. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) offers an account for lower-income charities, community groups, and social enterprises. The RBS Community Bank Account is designed to offer free banking for charities, clubs, and societies that have a turnover below £100,000. This current account offers simple, effective banking for small charities. RBS offers charities 24/7 access to digital and phone banking services, as well as a dedicated option for mobile banking in the form of a smartphone app. You may be able to switch accounts online, which is a boon for charity finance workers with greater demands on their time.

  • News Children’s charity ‘Voices for Life’ prepares for world premiere of Stardust

    – written in response to the pandemic & its impact on young people On 14th and 15th October Bath charity ‘Voices for Life’ will present the world premiere of ‘Stardust’ a new choral work, to be sung by 250 children from across Bath and Wiltshire. Voices for Life’s unique programme has taken local school children on a confidence boosting journey through the solar system, which will culminate with performances in front of over 1200 people in the magnificent Bath Abbey. The charity will also be welcoming their new patron, the Mayor of Bath to the concert. Stardust was commissioned by Voices for Life and written by local composer Jools Scott and librettist Sue Curtis. It is based on a confidence building story created by Voices for Life’s co-founder, Tessa Armstrong. The performance will be narrated by Jon Monie of Bath Pantomime fame and directed by Bath Abbey’s Assistant Director of Music and Voices for Life co-founder, Shean Bowers. The children will be accompanied by the world-renowned Bristol Ensemble. Since May 2021, Tessa and Shean have been visiting schools across Bath and Wiltshire hosting weekly workshops for children aged 6 to 11. Each workshop has been uniquely designed by Tessa to engage them in the story of the new work, building their confidence at each step whilst at the same time Shean has been teaching the children to find their voice through singing as a choir. Tessa Armstrong, ‘Voices for Life’ co-founder, said ‘The pandemic has had a huge impact on our young people and the Stardust performance gives 250 of our local children an opportunity to find their voice and sing to the rooftops after such a challenging 18 months.' A Teacher from one of the participating schools said: 'The children in my class came back with big grins and lots of positive energy. I'm already looking forward to the performances in October!' Lucy (9) Singer: ‘ "I really enjoy the workshops. They are really good fun and I love the story of the planets and the songs. I like how all the planets have their own feeling. It is really exciting to find out each week what is going to happen and how we are going to be able to keep going to Planet Zarg." Tickets: Tickets for Stardust are available from Bath Box Office Participating Schools/Choirs: The following schools are participating in the programme: Moorlands Junior School Colerne Primary School Oldfield Park Junior School Widcombe Junior School St Andrew’s Church School St Michael’s Junior School St Julian's Church School, Wellow Bath Abbey Melody Makers For further information please contact Tessa Armstrong at tessa@voicesforlife.org.uk or Shean Bowers at shean@voicesforlife.org.uk, The Voices for Life website is: www.voicesforlife.org.uk

  • News The 3rd Sector celebrated at the Bath Life Awards 2021

    The Bath Life Awards 2021 took place last night at the Bath Pavilion and hundreds of brilliant local organisations were shortlisted for 22 categories! BaNES Third Sector Group (3SG) were honoured to win 2 Bath Life Awards, in the Civic category and the Platinum Award, which is the judges overall 'Winner of Winners' on the night. The work 3SG has carried out in response to the pandemic wouldn't have been possible without thousands of local people, partners & charities working tirelessly to support our community.* The award is therefore recognition to every single member of the local community who has played a part in supporting others during the last 18 months. There are 3SG volunteers that continue to play a vital role in supporting the Bath Racecourse vaccination centre, 7 days a week, so a huge thank you to all of them. A lot of the pandemic response carried out by 3SG was in partnership with the Community Wellbeing Hub, which also won an award in the Health & Wellbeing category. The hub continues to provide a central place to access a range of services for people living in Bath and North East Somerset. The third sector** took the awards by storm, with local charities winning across the categories. A massive congratulations to all the local charity winners outlined below: Organisation Award Category Bath Mind (full press release below) Charity Winner Children's Hospice South West Charity (Highly Commended) The SU Bath People Services Winners Bath Festivals Arts Winners Share & Repair Environmental Winners *A special thank you to Sarah Williams-Martin who has led the Compassionate Community Emergency Volunteer Response right from the start of the pandemic, words can't describe how incredible she is! **The 3rd Sector consists of voluntary and community organisations such as registered charities, associations, self-help groups, community groups and social enterprises. Bath Mind - Winner of Bath Life Awards 2021 ‘CHARITY’ Bath Mind is delighted to win the prestigious ‘Charity’ award at Bath Life Awards 2021. CEO, Kate Morton said “This is an amazing achievement and it is thanks to all of our colleagues and volunteers for going above and beyond over these very challenging 18 months.” The pandemic created a mental health emergency. Bath Mind responded immediately. Within the pandemic, Bath Mind has been fighting an epidemic of mental ill-health. This epidemic knows no boundaries; we have supported people aged 16 to 94 suffering anxiety, depression, loneliness and bereavement, some feeling suicidal, as well as those with more complex mental health diagnosis. Prior to the pandemic, Bath Mind’s services were all delivered face-to-face, they had little experience of digital communications and the pandemic presented them with a huge challenge. However, within days, their services all adapted to provide continued support. While some places closed, Bath Mind remained open throughout, increasing their services at a time when many were cutting back. They adopted a hybrid model of online, telephone and face-to-face support depending on restrictions. Covid-19 presented Bath Mind with an overwhelming increase in demand. Whilst adapting to virtual presented many new challenges, it also created a wealth of new opportunities to support more people in different ways. Through online services, they have been able to increase the number of people they support and it has helped them reach people who may otherwise have been isolated. Many of their clients have been shielding and Bath Mind’s services may be their only connection with the ‘outside world’. When restrictions were eased in the summer, some people were not comfortable attending a group - Bath Mind maintained virtual services which enabled them to have a wider reach without the limits on numbers which restrictions enforced. Bath Mind’s telephone support lines, by this stage, were so busy that they knew we had to keep these vital services running. Bath Mind adapted their services:- Breathing Space - their evening crisis space immediately adapted to a telephone service. Counselling - they developed online assessments and counselling provision. Greenlinks - members/volunteers received weekly newsletters and activities, visiting individually to enjoy time in nature and collect fresh produce. Wellbeing groups - groups adapted to meet online, entering a whole new world of ‘breakout rooms’ and ‘raised hands’. People were also supported with 1:1 welfare calls. Community Support - Bath Mind continued to support our extremely vulnerable clients in their own homes, offering telephone support, then socially distanced walks to those not comfortable with home visits. No 82 - Bath Mind’s residential home worked tirelessly, keeping all residents safe and well. Bath Mind responded to the needs of our community with new services: •Community Wellbeing Hub: Bath Mind were instrumental in establishing the hub and providing vital mental health and wellbeing support and resources. •Befriending Service set up to meet the huge increase in callers experiencing loneliness and isolation. •Safe Space - a new youth service, to support the growing number of young people needing support. •New online resources, Wellbeing Activities resources, and increased online support, information and signposting. •Social Media awareness increased. •Mental Health Training - new courses delivered online supporting individuals and local businesses. •Open-access Free Courses created for the Wellbeing College. •University Students supported with 1:1 calls, gardening activities and mental health wellbeing workshops. Bath Mind creatively adapted, rising to every challenge. Unable to operate as usual, their Food for Thought staff delivered nearly a tonne of food to individuals, food banks and community hubs to support local people in desperate need. Bath Mind’s crisis line helps prevent people calling on NHS services or attending A&E, their services reduce pressure on the NHS and emergency services, freeing up capacity and saving costs of treatments and hospitalisations. Bath Mind have worked with local GPs, contacting patients who have been unable to get through, helping reduce the pressure on GP surgeries. Bath Mind have worked tirelessly to support everyone in our community, collaborating wherever possible with other local organisations, such as Age UK, DHI and the universities. Bath Mind support local businesses with staff wellbeing, providing mental health training to Curo, RUH, Bath Spa University, Julian House, Bath Rugby Foundation, LoveHoney, Bath Swindon Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Buro Happold and more. Everybody has mental health and everyone is affected by it - whether directly or via a friend, family member or colleague. No image can convey mental health. We all know someone who is suffering. Many are afraid to speak out, or unsure of how to get help. The past year has made everyone more aware of the importance of taking care of ourselves, and others. Bath Mind’s dedicated, caring team, is passionate about tackling mental health stigma, so that everyone feels able to seek help, and can be supported on their own personal journey to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Bath Mind’s work will continue, towards our vision of a society that promotes and protects good mental health for all, treats people with experience of mental ill health fairly, positively and with respect. If you, or someone you know needs support, Bath Mind is here for you. You can find further information on our website www.bathmind.org.uk/what-we-do/ . You can access and download a copy of our Services Brochure with full details of all the services we provide here: bit.ly/BMServiceBrochure

  • Community sector provides rapid response to food insecurities

    Voluntary sector organisations from the South West have launched a report revealing the impact of their collaboration on vulnerable communities. The Food Insecurities Report, completed by Rose Regeneration demonstrates the importance of collaboration in the pandemic. The report was prepared for the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP SW) and is intended to support the move away from emergency and towards recovery, in a space where ‘business as usual’ will not be an option for many communities. Key features of lived experience An inability to build and draw on financial safety nets - low-paid work, zero-hours contracts, mixed self-employment/salaried work, and/or work in unpredictable sectors left people financially exposed under Covid-19 Caring responsibilities which limited income potential and raised outgoings - particularly but not only for women and single parents. Health and mental health challenges - 70% were experiencing chronic health issues prior to Covid-19; 65% long-term mental health issues. Elimination of social food sharing - many had previously counted on meals with others (e.g. a family Sunday roast) to stretch their weekly food budgets. People struggling to afford supermarket delivery fees - e.g., if isolating; c.£4-£6 for grocery delivery is a big percentage of a £25/£30 weekly food budget. Reduced access to ‘budget’ shops and not being able to ‘bargain shop’ - the inability to reliably access preferred supermarkets increased costs. Increased competition for ‘value’ and ‘budget’ brands - cheaper items were often already taken by others, leaving only expensive branded items. Price increases by shops which charged more for basics when Covid-19 hit. People relying on others to help with food shopping - but feeling too ashamed to dictate brand choices or supermarket choice, raising spend A positive example is the Cornwall VSF Food Access Alliance. The Alliance has created a networking forum for food banks, community larders, distribution orgs and community growers to collaborate. This level of collaboration ensures that support (through donations and food surplus) is maximised and redistributed to those people/communities where there is demand. Insights from on the ground help contribute to the overall Food Security strategy. Cornwall VSF shares this with multiple stakeholders locally and nationally to advocate for a more sustainable food strategy for all. Helen Boardman, CEO of Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum said, “The response to the pandemic here has been phenomenal. There are possibly too many community organisations to mention, for fear of missing some out. What these demonstrate is that it an emergency, we can rely on communities.” Key findings of the report: The voluntary and community sector has played a central role in the local food response to the Covid-19 crisis. Whilst the nature of the response in each locality reflects the geography, demographics and capacity of each area, there are key common themes. The Covid-19 crisis has allowed new approaches to develop quickly, with VCS organisations often having increased agency to make decisions and shape approaches within cross-sector partnerships. The challenge now is to ensure that local food strategies move effectively from emergency response to providing sustainable support that links to wider agendas around poverty, health, and local sustainability. Future approaches should be based on a clear, evidenced understanding of need at a local level Robyn Knox VCSEP Director said, “This report supports the vital inclusion of voluntary and community sector organisations in building a resilient society. It also highlights how existing social inequalities can so easily be exacerbated in an emergency situation. We hope to see more inclusion of the voluntary and community sector in local resilience building and in influencing and co-creating positive health outcomes for all.”

  • Social Prescribing Learning Together – South West registration now open!

    Learning Together is a FREE regional programme of development, learning and networking opportunities aligned to the world of social prescribing. The programme, running from October 2021 – March 2022, forms one element of the National Academy for Social Prescribing’s (NASP) funded Thriving Communities Programme which launched back in November 2020. Click here for a more detailed breakdown of what the offer is for Learning Together in the South West. Who is it for? Any voluntary, community, faith or social enterprise (VCFSE) organisation/group who has an interest in social prescribing. Why should I join? Don’t take our word for it. Read what others have had to say: “new approaches to thinking, working and helping others” “a supportive network to help you move forward” “step outside your area to see how things work differently in other sectors” “I found thinking internally was the problem. Participating in group learning helped to open the conversation to different perspectives and experiences” How to Register? Register here via an online survey. Registration will close on Wednesday 22nd September 2021. Any questions then please contact: James Day – Thriving Communities Regional Lead (South West) southwest.thrivingcommunities@nasp.info

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