Community empowerment is the central theme of the White paper Communities in control: real people, real power published July 9th. The aims are to:
· pass power into the hands of local communities

· generate local democracy in every part of the country

· give real control over local decisions and services to a wider pool of active citizens

· shift power, influence and responibility away from existing centres of power, into the hands of communities and individual citizens.

The third sector - through charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises - has much to offer from its traditions of purposeful altruism and selfless volunteering. Unleashing genius and talent - "empowering citizens and communities is an urgent task for us all.

"This is not about making people sit in meetings on wet Tuesday nights, it is about helping citizens to get involved when they want to on their own terms - paving the way for a new style of active politics that not only gives people a greater say but ensures that their voices are heard and that their views will make a difference." Gordon Brown, Prime Minister

"With the right support, guidance and advice, community groups and organisations have a huge, largely latent, capacity for self-government and self-organisation. This should be the hallmark of the modern state: devolved, decentralised, with power diffused throughout our society." Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

There are 7 chapters:
· active citizenship and volunteering
· access to Information
· influence
· challenging authority
· redress
· standing for office
· ownership and control.

for more information log on to www.communities.gov.uk

As we go to press, I am working hard on tenders for the Local Involvement Network and Countywide Infrastructure Organisation to support the VCS in Leicestershire.

These are being developed jointly with North West Leicestershire CVS as bids to Leicestershire County Council via ESPO. If successful we will be expanding the services we offer to reach out further around the county. If we are not successful, we shall be reducing in size and scope from April 2009.

By Neil Lambert

Groups and organisations are contacting Vicci for her support, due to the recognition that PQASSO, a quality assurance system, now has in the voluntary sector.

PQASSO is a self-assessment tool that provides a step-by-step approach, which enables groups and organisations to look at what they are doing well and what can be improved. Quality standards, such as PQASSO, offer groups the opportunity to demonstrate the value and quality of their work and places them in a good position to receive funding and move forward.

The 3rd edition of PQASSO has been launched, which has a sharper focus on outcomes and impact and also links into the newly developed PQASSO quality mark, accrediting the voluntary and community sector, which in turn will give potential funders the confidence to fund your organisation.

Vicci can be contacted on 01509 631787 or vicci.barrett@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

By Vicci Barrett

During the first week of June, the Volunteering Service Team celebrated Volunteers’ Week with a programme of events designed to cover as much of Charnwood as possible and highlight the theme of ‘recognise, reward and recruit’.

The team was able to thank many volunteers for their valued support, talk to people interested in becoming volunteers and organisations looking to develop new volunteering opportunities. They were particularly pleased with the number of young volunteers who came to speak to them. The impressive display of photographs showing local volunteers in action conveyed brilliantly the benefits of volunteering to both community and volunteers and the give-a-way of stickers, key-rings, balloons and sweets were popular. They also built on their working relationships with local organisations and were able to spend time at the Great Central Railway and Loughborough University.

Meeting local volunteer managers provided an invaluable insight into the work involved in co-ordinating volunteers and groups of volunteers. The team agreed it had been a really enjoyable week as well as a learning experience and consider it to be their best Volunteers’Week to date.

The team will submit an application for re-accreditation through Volunteering England during September 2008, requiring the preparation of a substantial body of work over the next three months to show how both Volunteer Centres cover the six core functions designated by Volunteering England.

Finally, please contact the team about any volunteering issues you may have, as they are keen to represent local issues and influence decisions made at local, regional and national level.

Contact Becky and Elaine at Volunteer Centre Loughborough on 01509 631770 or Joanne and Sally at Volunteer Centre Shepshed on 01509 508040 or volunteer@ voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

By Elaine Salt

As part of raising awareness of carers’ issues during Carers’ Week in June, we hosted a 'Carers Cuppa' where carers came along to enjoy a drink and a chat whilst being able to browse the information stalls and also meet the Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Stephen Campbell, who also attended.

We also offered carers valuable time out with two outings - these included a day trip to Trentham Gardens and also a guided walk around Burton on the Wolds followed by lunch; the walk also treated carers to a glimpse of the new plantation - a wood that has been purchased by local villagers.

Syston Carers took part in celebrations by holding a garden party on a lovely June afternoon. Colleague Vicci Barrett, Capacity Builder, also linked into these activities as part of her work with communities.

The Carers’ Service is currently recruiting two development workers at the time of going to print.
For further information on the Service, please contact Sallianne Bishop on 01509 631785 or sallianne.bishop@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

By Sallianne Bishop

We were very pleased to welcome Mayor, Councillor Stephen Campbell, parents, carers, volunteers and other supporters of the Project to our Open Day on June 24th. Coming from a horticultural background himself, Mayor Campbell was very interested in the work we do. Sales and donations on the day totalled £90.

Bobby attended the 3M/Loughborough Echo Community Awards dinner on June 27thand was delighted to accept a cheque for £700.

Although our grant from Leicestershire Adult Social Care has been recently reduced, we are seeing this as an opportunity to develop new relationships with other funders and use the Project’s resources to benefit new client groups.

After 12 years working with the Project, Andy Bartlett left in July to develop his own gardening business. Over the years, Andy got to know the Project and the volunteers, inside out, and since Bobby’s appointment he took joint responsibility and made many improvements. Andy will be greatly missed by all of us. We wish Andy every success in his new venture.

We are entering a period of great change and new development. More than ever, we need the support of volunteers and will welcome help in the office or the gardens,
Please contact Bobby Smith on 01509 631774 or bobby.smith@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust is developing community healthcare services and, as plans develop, is asking local people what they think. The period of consultation is running until the 5th of October.

Over the last few years there have been considerable improvements and advances in the way that healthcare is delivered. The PCT is taking the opportunity of these improvements to ensure that:
• patients get the most appropriate treatment, safely,in the most cost-effective way, at home or as close to home as possible

• community health services in Leicestershire County and Rutland are viable, equitable, accessible, and fit for the long term

• we make the best use of the resources available to us on behalf of the whole population.

The full public consultation document and a summary version is available via: www.lcrpct.nhs.uk

There will be an event in Loughborough where staff and clinicians from the PCT will be available to offer more detail about the review on Wednesday 24 September, Loughborough Town Hall, Beacon Room, Market Place, Loughborough LE11 3EB, 2pm-7pm.

For further details, contact Sallianne Bishop on 01509 631785 or sallianne.bishop@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

By Sallianne Bishop

Tuesday May 13 was an upbeat day for the Leicestershire and Rutland Community Safer Sex Project, with the hosting of a joint “Update, Celebrate and Refresh” event with its sister project in Leicester City. The event, at Beaumanor Hall, was attended by 80 practitioners who deliver sexual health services for the Project, in line with our local Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

The event, led by Alison Reeve and Vikki Wood (from the City Project) highlighted the impact of our work locally. With over 90 sites supported by the County Project, it is clear that the community-based approach is one which ‘works’ for young people. In the first three months of this year alone, services have been accessed by 1800 young people, half of those male. All are offered guidance on safer-sex/responsible relationships alongside an emphasis on the delay of ‘early’ sex and the building of confidence to avoid pressure.

Alison and Vikki highlighted the enormous growth of our Projects and Alison gave a timely update on sex and the law, a complex area which is vital to our professional and responsible delivery of services.
Also speaking at the event was Liz Dearden from the Chlamydia screening programme, and indeed a number of our sites are now offering Chlamydia tests to young people.

One of the highlights after lunch was a fascinating presentation by Gillian Thompson from Durex, whose products are key to our services.
The event was well received with comments including “fantastic event”; “excellent day and speakers” and “makes us feel valued”. We will definitely try to make this an annual event in future.

Alison can be contacted on 01509 265197.

By Alison Reeve

A new programme of learning events is running this autumn at John Storer House. Costs include lunch, if an all day event, and refreshments.

Selling your Project to the Funder
(part 1 & 2)
September 10 & 17. 1.30-4.30pm. Free to voluntary groups. Booking required.

Appointed Person's Emergency First Aid
16 September. 9.30-3pm. Cost £50 voluntary sector. £70 public or private sector.

How to be an Effective Chair
23 September. 9.30start-12.30pm. £35/50.

Food Safety in Catering, Level 2
30 September. 9.30-4.30pm. £70/100

How to be an Effective Minute Taker
7 October. 9.30-12.30am. £35/50

How to be an Effective Committee Member
8 October, 1.30-4.30, £35/50

Health & Safety in the Workplace
14 October. 9.30-4.30. £70/100

For bookings, please contact Janet Walker on 01509 631750 or janet.walker@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Loughborough Cancer Self Help Group is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year.

We meet every Monday evening at John Storer House where we have a full programme of relevant speakers, nutritional therapist and complementary therapies. We have regular therapeutic outings and meet other groups at conferences and workshops.This does not mean we do not have time for supporting all our members and their carers in other ways!

To celebrate our Silver Anniversary we are having a ‘Grand Reunion’ of all former members, supporters, therapists and speakers on November 3rd 2008, 7.30pm at John Storer House.

If anyone who has been associated with the group would like an invitation, please contact Val Seal on 01509 889399 or valseal29@yahoo.co.uk, so that you don’t get omitted.

By Val Seal

Home-Start Charnwood is a local family support organisation providing emotional support and practical help to families with at least one child under the age of five, who live within the Charnwood area.

Family Support Volunteers are all parents, and understand that family life isn’t always easy. Following training, volunteers visit families at home for a few hours each week, and the support they provide helps a family get through a difficult period. The support varies depending on the family’s circumstances, and could include support to a mother suffering post-natal depression, helping a parent who has twins, or helping a family who are new to the area and feel isolated. Whatever the reason a family needs a Home-Start volunteer, the support provided makes a tremendous difference to their lives.

Home-Start Charnwood is running two volunteer training courses this year. Each will run for one day per week over six weeks within school hours. Expenses will be paid.
• The Syston course will be held on Mondays from 8th September
• The Loughborough course will be held on Tuesdays from 28th October

If you are a parent with a spare 3-4 hours per week and would like to help another family, contact Home-Start on 01509 239786.

By Annie Shaw