We aim to keep you aware of some of the key news and events around Bedfordshire and Luton of interest to the sector. For more detailed information, see each individual member site and the associated newsletters available there.

Invitation to attend a partnership event in relation to the future delivery of Youth Services

Central Bedfordshire Council will be hosting a partnership event on 2nd March 2011 at 6pm in the Council Chamber, Dunstable Offices, High Street North, Dunstable LU6 1LF. 

The purpose of the event is to share and involve interested parties in helping to shape the future delivery of services to young people in Central Bedfordshire.  The Council budget contains Early Intervention Grant to help them deliver services to youth in line with the Big Society initiative.  However, the budget proposals (subject to confirmation on 24th February) do not contain Youth Service core funding.  Therefore, they have to do things differently.

They would like to invite you to this important event and would welcome your participation in the discussion.

To register your intention to attend and for further information please contact Ketan Gandhi on 0300 300 4821 – email: - ketan.gandhi@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Facing a Challenging Financial Future

A guide has been developed primarily for trustees and committee members of voluntary and community sector organisations, who are ultimately responsible for the organisation and potentially liable for any debts that an organisation incurs. It can be downloaded from here.

Adult Health and Social Care Network Report  

Following wide consultation through individual meetings and existing fora a report identifying best practice and presenting strategic options for the possible formation of Adult Health and Social Care Network has been produced. The report identifies four key themes when considering representation and engagement needs and puts forward different options for the development of a network to meet these needs.

The complete report detailing the proposed development options can be downloaded from here or contact Helen Nottingham at Voluntary and Community Action via on 01525 850559 or email partnerships@action-centralbeds.org.uk 

Central Bedfordshire Third Sector Assembly
Work to establish the Assembly began following the feedback received from the local voluntary and community sector. The Assembly will provide voluntary groups and community organisations operating within Central Bedfordshire with a sound mechanism to communicate and organise themselves effectively, address the issues above and shape their future and that of the communities they work with.

Date: Tuesday 23 November Venue: Rufus Centre, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1AH

Attendance of the event is free of charge. Book your place early to ensure your voice is heard and your views help shape the future of the voluntary and community sector in Central Bedfordshire.

Draft Assembly Framework and Terms of Reference Published for Consultation

An outline of the proposed framework was presented at the inaugural meeting of the Central Bedfordshire Third Sector Assembly meeting held on 3 February 2010, when those attending contributed their views and suggestions. These have now been incorporated into this framework document, along with good practice from other Assemblies across England and from a meeting of Assembly Coordinators held in Bristol on the 23-24 February 2010.

The draft framework sets out the Assembly’s values and approach; its membership, purpose and activities; and explains how Assembly representatives will be appointed to local partnerships and supported in their role. It also sets out the role of the Coordinating Body and includes draft terms of reference for the Assembly.

Please let us have your views on what do you think to the proposed framework for the Assembly, including its terms of reference and the arrangements for Assembly Representatives, by Tuesday 30 March 2010 [his will enable us to report back to funders at the conclusion of a Capacitybuilders funded project]. Thereafter the document will be amended and published, and we will move forward with its implementation. Please send your views to Helen Nottingham, Partnerships Officer, by email to partnerships@action-centralbeds.org.uk. If you would like to receive the document in word format, please request this by email to the same address.

If you would like to get involved with the Assembly, please ensure you register with the Partnerships Team at Voluntary and Community Action so that you receive future communications. You can also check out opportunities here on our website – we are currently seeking to appoint representatives to various local partnerships. Contact Helen Nottingham, Partnerships Officer, by email to partnerships@action-centralbeds.org.uk or by telephone on 01525 850559. [25 February 2010]

Cash for carers – the forgotten workforce

National Carers Rights Day takes place on 4th December 2009 and Central Bedfordshire Council are supporting several local events providing information, advice and support to local carers.

One in eight adults is currently a carer yet research by national charity Carers UK found that nearly 60 per cent of carers missed out on benefits because they did not know they were entitled to them. 

That is why, at each event for Carers Rights Day 2009, staff from Central Bedfordshire Council - along with partners from the Pension Service, NHS Bedfordshire and local Carers Organisations - will be on hand to provide information and speak directly to carers.

Central Bedfordshire Council offers information, advice and support to carers all the year round.  Call the Carers Helpline on 0300 300 8036 to find out more.  

Invitation to Tender - Production of Business Case for Bedfordshire Third Sector Health & Social Care Network

You are invited by the VoluntaryWorks consortium to tender for the production of a business case for a Bedfordshire Third Sector Health & Social Care Network, to be completed by end March 2010.

Our two-year project entitled Representation and the Impact of Local Government Reorganisation, funded by Capacitybuilders, draws to a close in March 2010.  During that time we have represented and promoted the interests of the Third Sector throughout the reorganisation of local government into two new unitary authorities covering the area of the previous Bedfordshire County Council, which came into force in April 2009, and are now aiming to set up structures that will facilitate representation in the future.  For further details download the full Invitation to Tender

Consultation of Code of Good Practice on Consultation and Partnerships

Local government re-organisation; the creation of new partnerships; the introduction of new legislation that places a duty on statutory bodies to inform, consult and involve representatives of local communities (including voluntary and community organisations) and work around National Indicator 7 on an environment for a thriving third sector have all contributed to a review of the current Code of Good Practice on Consultation and Partnerships.  

With input and comments from a wide range of stakeholders from the statutory and voluntary and community sectors in Bedfordshire and Luton, this consultation aims to produce Codes of Good Practice that:

For more information and to download the documentation click here.

The closing date for receipt of your views and comments is 21st January 2010.

Launch Event of the Central Bedfordshire
Third Sector Assembly
Work to establish the Assembly began following the feedback received from the local voluntary and community sector. The Assembly will provide voluntary groups and community organisations operating within Central Bedfordshire with a sound mechanism to communicate and organise themselves effectively, address the issues above and shape their future and that of the communities they work with.

Date: Wednesday 3 February 2010 Venue: Rufus Centre, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1AH

Attendance of the event is free of charge. Book your place early to ensure your voice is heard and your views help shape the future of the voluntary and community sector in Central Bedfordshire.

Pandemic Influenza - Supplementary information for the Voluntary and Community Sector and Faith Communities

As part of the Government’s flu pandemic preparations we are providing supplementary information to voluntary and community organisations and faith communities….more info

Central Bedfordshire Local Strategic Partnership (LSP)

Following consultation on the proposed partnership arrangements for Central Bedfordshire, frontline voluntary and community sector organisations are to be represented on the Central Bedfordshire Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

This important role will require the representative to be involved in strategic issues and developments affecting the sector.  Full details of the role and the selection process can be found in the attached flyer/on the Voluntaryworks website.  Anyone with an interest in fulfilling this role should contact partnerships@action-centralbeds.org.uk.  The deadline for initial expressions of interest is the 31 October 2008.

The LSP structure has yet to be ratified by the Shadow Executive but arrangements are now being put in place to establish a Shadow LSP for Central Bedfordshire, with its first meeting scheduled for the 11 November 2008.

What Happens When Your Computer Breaks Down?

It would be nice if you could say “I call on my local ICT support service, which was set up by the sector and is delivered by individuals who share my organisation’s ethos and are committed to seeing it thrive and grow.” If you cannot respond in this way, click here for more info.

Press Release 06/11/07 -
Lottery Cash Supports Quality Work

CVS Mid and North Bedfordshire has been awarded funding from the Big Lottery Fund to support local voluntary and community organisations across Mid and North Bedfordshire. The £270,000 grant will pay for a full-time Funding and Development Officer to help organisations work more effectively and gain a Quality Standard that will help them to raise more cash. The funding will also be used to provide training opportunities for staff and volunteers... more info

Consultation Survey - Why we need your views

The Consortium, under Capacitybuilders’ direction, is currently working to produce a Strategic Plan for 2008 - 2014 and Business Plan for 2008 - 2011. Over the last few years research from over 2000 local organisations has helped shape the Consortium’s work. To enhance these plans, we are asking for your views on the suggested objectives and projects through a survey and/or at a series of consultation events.  Please take a few minutes to download and read our newsletter and complete the online survey by 10 December 2007.

Beds & Luton Compact

We are seeking your views on how to take the Beds & Luton Compact forward in the County. Visit our Compact page to find out more and how exactly your organisation can help.

Social What? Defining and Mapping the Characteristics of Social Enterprise in Bedfordshire
The term social enterprise is often misunderstood. Everyone, it seems, has a different definition. This report attempts to bring some clarity to the discussion, so that social enterprise organisations in Bedfordshire can be mapped and better supported... more info (PDF 108KB)

Fundraising Toolkit

This toolkit was launched at the 2007 Funding Fayre on 14th June & has been produced for use by local voluntary and community groups and it provides useful information on sources of funding from both local and national sources, information sheets on a variety of different subjects including how to make a good application, budgeting, a jargon buster, A – Z of fundraising ideas, and a guide to useful resources. It will be regularly updated.  The individual chapters can be downloaded from the CVS Mid and North Bedfordshire website.

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