The first Local Area Agreement in Leicestershire began in April 2006. A survey was carried out to measure the ‘social capital’ in each of the 20 areas being focused on in Leicestershire. Social capital is a term used to describe community networks, neighbourliness and participation within a community.

These areas comprised of three in each district, one rural, one average and one area high on the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The three wards in Charnwood are: Loughborough Hastings - the most deprived; Syston West - the most average; and The Wolds - the most rural.

Since the survey, the Neighbourhood Worker Vicci Barrett has engaged with voluntary and community groups, parish councils, school governors and faith groups based in or servicing each neighbourhood, and has supported networking and development of initiatives enhancing social capital.

Community issues in the areas were identified from the initial survey results. Public meetings took place inviting various services and agencies relating to the issues to look at ways to tackle the problems.
In February 2009, the Social Capital Survey will be repeated and results compared. Volunteers will be trained to conduct surveys in the three areas, with an opportunity to gain funding for their community group.

For further information, please contact Vicci on 01509 631787 or vicci.barrett@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Autumn has seen the Project entering a more settled period. We now have a regular member of staff Don Walker, from Charnwood Day Services. Don has come with fresh ideas and an abundance of experience of working with adults with disabilities.

The developments for the two days vacated by Adult Social Care are progressing well. A pilot group from the RNIB College has been attending since the end of September and the College has now expressed interest in making this a permanent arrangement. Mid-November saw the start of two well-being groups on a Friday, funded by Rawlins Community College and a course will begin on December 1st, delivering Open College Network courses to learning disabled students from Longslade Community College. Longer-term plans to enable other disadvantaged people to benefit from the Project’s resources are underway.

We are nearing the end of the first ever occupational therapy placement on the Project. Sarah Crocker, a third year degree student at Coventry University, started with us in late September. She has undertaken work with several volunteers and staff to improve the volunteering experience. Her suggestions have led us to re-evaluate some of our practices and improve, our induction procedure.

Following a recent meeting of allotment holders at Southfields, the Project has undertaken various maintenance jobs at Mountfields allotments, such as ditch-clearing and hedge-trimming. This, in addition to our autumn tidy-up and maintenance on our own plots, is keeping us busy and, mostly, warm.

We thank everyone for their kind support over the past year and wish you all a peaceful Christmas and happy New Year.

Please contact Bobby Smith on 01509 631774 or bobby.smith@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Sally Bardsley and Joanne Clarke
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Mike Manning, Chairperson of the Shepshed Committee.

Mike first registered with Shepshed Volunteer Centre in March 1998 but had been involved with our management committee and Shepshed Stroke Club for some years previously. Mike also volunteered with Meals on Wheels, as a Volunteer Centre driver, a Shepshed Special Community Bus driver and as a Friend of Volunteer Centre Shepshed. In all these he would do his utmost to help, often at the last minute and always willingly.

Since our merger with Voluntary Action Charnwood, Mike chaired the new Shepshed Committee in its first challenging year, and its progress and development are largely due to his persistence and thoroughness. The documentation he had already completed will go forward to the next phase in the Centre’s history.

Volunteers and committee members have been sharing their thoughts about Mike. They remember him as a true volunteer and a gentleman in all aspects of life. How Mike made an invaluable contribution to our professional systems and policies, which inform the work of the Centre, and how he understood the needs of the community and worked to ensure that the practice of the centre was high quality and directed to help meet local needs. He was a wonderful man who would help anyone he could and it will be hard for anyone to fit into his shoes as a Chairperson.

And mostly that he will be missed. One person simply said: “I will really miss Mike’s presence on the committee and I still can’t believe it.” and another, “ Mike has gone but is not forgotten and never will be.”

For ourselves Mike gave us lots of time and genuine support. He understood our anxieties about the Centre and shared our passion for it. Mike was our Chairperson and our friend and we will miss him immensely.

Following Mike’s death, the planned Annual Meeting of the Shepshed Committee of Voluntary Action Charnwood was postponed and will now be held on Tuesday 10th February 2009.

The committee is reconvening shortly to discuss how they might commemorate and go forward with Mike’s work and to plan the year ahead.

Please contact us at: Volunteer Centre Shepshed 9a Charnwood Road
Shepshed Leics. LE12 9SG. Tel. 01509 508040 shepshed@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Sally Bardsley and Joanne Clarke

Charnwood Carers’ Service has two new development workers Nita Patel, Carers Development Worker - Generic, and Amina Wadud - BME Specialist.

Over the few months we have been here, we have got to know some of our carers through the events we have organised and we are pleased that attendance is increasing.

Our well-being sessions on the boat trip, the healthy eating forum and the stress awareness days were particularly successful with positive comments from all. We are glad that all participants enjoyed these events!

We will celebrate Carers’ Rights Day with a Crafts Event on 5th December, and also have a Christmas Buffet (bookings only) on 19th December. Both events are at John Storer House.

For further information about these events, or the service, please contact us on 01509 631783 or nita.patel@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk amina.wadup@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Nita Patel

The Government realise that getting the right money to look after older people properly can make a big difference and will reduce the need of services from the health or social care sector. They want to encourage older people to claim all they rightfully need to stay independent and active.

To this end they have tried to understand older peoples’ concerns about benefits and want to make it easier for people to get help with advice as well as form filling.
Some of the benefits older people can claim are listed, below:

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over 65 who are beginning to require a little more care and support due to deteriorating physical or mental health. It is not means tested and does not affect any other income someone receives – it is based solely on need. It is £44.85 a week for the lower rate and £67 a week at the higher rate, and this is paid direct to the beneficiary to spend as they see fit for their care.

There are also important means-tested benefits designed to help older people on low incomes:

Pension Credit – is additional money for people with modest savings or who have a low income.

Housing Benefit – money to help pay rent.

Council Tax Benefit – this can reduce or cover Council Tax bills.

In Leicestershire a partnership has been set up to try and increase take-up of benefits. It involves all the major agencies who work with older people locally: Leicestershire County Council, The Pension Service, District Councils, Health service providers and voluntary sector agencies. If you would like to find out more, please contact:
· Age Concern 0116 299 2233
· Pension Service 0845 60 60 265
· Your local Citizens Advice Bureau
· Your District Council Benefits Office

Additional information is available from www.leics.gov.uk/index/social_services/general_information/welfare_rights.htm

An Area Forum is a meeting place for residents, local businesses, voluntary and community groups, councillors and service providers.
Forums discuss local issues affecting local residents to recommend improvements to the local area and to services available in your area.
· Meet up with interested local residents, local councillors and representatives from the police, health service and local councils

· Find out more about what is being done to improve the quality of life in your local area

· Come and have your say about local services, initiatives and proposals.

Area Forums (known as Community Forums outside of Charnwood) can make a difference. Following a Community Forum on 22nd May at which the main focus had been safeguarding the future of the Longslade Community College swimming pool in Birstall, there has been a very positive response, including practical support from Voluntary Action Charnwood.

Leicestershire County Council has provided a new boiler. A subsequent ‘Sponsored Swim’ has raised almost £2,000, and a new fund-raising group is being established. A new swimming club has been formed and uses the Pool each Friday lunchtime. Longslade Community College is very pleased with the support that has been generated since the Area Forum meeting, which is helping to keep the Pool afloat!
I hope to see you at an Area Forum meeting in Charnwood soon. Have a look at www.leicestershireforums.org

Richard Downing

Charnwood Mental Health Forum has just celebrated its 30th Anniversary. Aileen Coupe cut the 30th Anniversary cake as she organised the first public meeting which became the Charnwood Mental Health Forum in 1978. Many members attending saw the developments of the Forum – from the early `Days for Yourself’ to the day centres and `drop-ins’, which in turn became Albert Street Centre, Victoria Street Centre and Welcome House for mental health service users. Many will remember the World Mental Health Day events over the years, including balloons, story-telling, mosaic-making, therapies, drum and steel bands and a town crier!

The high-light of our present celebration was the visit of the Mayor, Councilor Stephen Campbell, and a delightful presentation by the ex-Chair, now County Councillor Mike Jones and his wife Marj. Their presentation was on their previous ‘Year in Office’, adding to the enjoyment of the whole occasion, and was followed by an afternoon of complementary therapies. Many thanks to all our volunteers and members ‘past and present!

Charnwood Mental Health Forum has now been given a flying start for the future, to plan further `well-being’ events’, talks and World Mental Health Day activities for October 2009 (watch this space!).

There is also the serious job of campaigning for better services at a time of change and funding cutbacks.
We warmly invite you to our future meetings and events. We are holding a pre-Christmas Coffee Morning on the 15th of December from 10am until 12pm, at John Storer House, Loughborough. There will be light refreshments and the opportunity to chat, relax and unwind.

Our next Forum meeting will take place on January 12th, 10am, at John Storer House, and we extend out a warm welcome to both current and future members.

For further details, please contact Sallianne Bishop, Health and Social Care Worker at Voluntary Action Charnwood on 01509 631785.

Hilary Cramer

Abby Heath is the new vinvolved team member for Charnwood and Melton, which is part of v’s National Youth Volunteering Programme.

You may already know about v, the youth volunteering charity, who is committed to increasing the quality, quantity and diversity of volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16-25.

Abby’s role as Youth Volunteer Advisor is to help young people find volunteering opportunities which map interests and passions, and build on skills. Abby will support young people’s voluntary work, and help them get the recognition and accreditation they deserve.

This is obtained through v Awards, by logging the hours spent and getting them signed off by the v team. It is also possible to work towards a v50 certificate, officially recognising the valuable time spent helping others.

If there’s a group of young people who need funding for a volunteering project, Abby can talk about vcashpoint where it is possible to get up to £2,500 to turn dreams into a reality.

Right now I’m also looking for enthusiastic, energetic volunteers who want to be part of the local Youth Action Team. This team of young people will help to develop and influence the future of youth volunteering, as well as ideas about opportunities and local issues.

This is a unique opportunity to have young people’s voices heard and have a real impact on volunteering in your area.

Interested? Please contact Abby Heath, Youth Volunteer Advisor, at Voluntary Action South Leicestershire, on 01858 432 014 or aheath@vasl.org.uk

For more information about v check out the website www.vinspired.com

Liz McGregor has been recently appointed Engagement Officer for Older People at CVS Community Partnership (CCP). The following may be of interest:

Older People’s Engagement Network – a group of older people who engage with organisations that provide services for older people – meetings every three months, representing different views from around the County. It connects with many existing groups and forums in Leicestershire who represent older people and has an impact on service development in health and social care.

Older Persons’ Consumer Panel – a way for people to express their views and be consulted on issues relevant to older people without having to attend meetings. Please let Liz know if you would like to be included and to find out more.

Liz would love to hear from anyone in the Voluntary Sector or from our community of older people regarding issues affecting older people.
Liz can be contacted on 0116 233 4243 or liz@ccp.org.uk. More information can be found via the Health and Social Care section on the website www.ccp.org.uk

Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, and running until June 2009, the project is based on the story of Leicester suffragette Alice Hawkins and her fight for women’s rights in the early 1900s.

The project will document the experiences, achievements, challenges and triumphs of women throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland over the last 100 years. Their inspirational tales will be told to a group of approximately 50 young volunteers, who will then record and document the stories, turning them into a lasting archive that will be kept at the County record office and used to create curriculum materials for future use in schools throughout the county.

The interviews will be recorded and interpreted using a variety of different mediums including oral history, drama, dance, video, photography and radio. The stories will use heritage to help young people make connections with their own circumstances and help them to understand the importance of life events and decisions, as well as providing professional training that will help them in the future.

We are looking for approximately 150 women from all backgrounds and walks of life to share their stories with our young volunteers, and I wonder if anyone from your organisation would be interested in contributing to the project.

The stories can be about any challenges that women have faced and overcome and how they have shaped the people they are today. We would love to hear from anybody who has an interesting life experience that they would like to share. We also want to hear about the barriers that are currently facing women in today’s society, and from anybody who has an interesting family history and can share the story of their ancestors.

For further information, please contact Lara Thomas on 0116 257 5615 or lara@leicestherday.org.uk