By Neil Lambert
In the last edition of Charnword we enclosed a questionnaire to ask how satisfied you are with our services; already over 60 people have responded.
Half had been in touch with us, and 99% were very satisfied with the response, none dissatisfied.
All the 25% who had used the web site said it was useful and user friendly.
Almost half are seeking funds at present, but only eight had sought funding advice from CVS. The six who had used Funderfinder had all been successful, receiving from £1000 from Loughborough Welfare Trust, £5000 worth of products from B+Q’ £7000 from Awards for All, to a total package of £37,500 from various trusts.
A third of groups use and are satisfied with rooms in JSH, and similarly the Tea Bar.
One respondent asks for all the building to be non-smoking, which it has been since September 2005!
Many appreciations are expressed, either in general, or to specific staff or volunteers. We are also addressing issues raised by a few groups to improve the service.

By Neil Lambert
Trustees are currently discussing the DRAFT new Forward Plan for 2006 – 2009 with staff and volunteers. Major changes are proposed:

• on the front page of this edition, the merger with volunteer centres is explained
• this will create a new borough-wide volunteering service and
• three voluntary action centres in Loughborough, Syston and Shepshed
• service developments are already underway.

We are also planning to improve the quality of everything we do, recording what has been achieved. We shall be collecting evidence of what our outputs are, what the outcomes are from those outputs, and the overall impact in local communities.
Outside CVS we shall be working in the wider sector on:

• Local Area Agreements – Social Capital Research
• setting up a new Sector Liaison Forum, [Li]and arranging training for representatives
• promotion of collaborative working in Charnwood, especially between voluntary and community organisations, VCOs.

By Neil Lambert
The new Sector Liaison Forum, to be launched in February, will bring together representatives from the various forums and networks across the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Charnwood. It is designed to work at strategic level and provide an overview of the liaison happening between the VCS and other sectors. It will:

• enable information sharing and co-ordination around the VCS so that we all know what is going on
• receive reports from representatives which are recorded and circulated to interested people using e-alerts and the web site
• provide support to representatives to equip them to be effective
• provide learning opportunities, linked to new county-wide arrangements using a package called “Stronger Voice”, which will enhance skills such as advocacy and persuasion
• inform active citizens about getting involved and influencing the planning and delivery of local public services.

It is hoped that this forum will enable authorities to understand more about local communities of place and interest, so that they value what advocates have to say.
The inaugural meeting will be held on Thursday 23 February, 2pm and will be addressed by Martin Gage, Chief Executive of North West Leicestershire CVS, who will speak about the work of a similar forum in North West Leicestershire. For further information, please contact Neil Lambert or Cath Walker on 01509 631750.

Loughborough Urban Forum and Loughborough Forum of Older People will no longer be convened on a regular basis, but instead only meet when a relevant issue needs discussion.

By Sallianne Thomas
There is now a project located at Charnwood CVS that aims to widen and improve the involvement of voluntary organisations and community groups in healthcare planning and delivery. The important contribution these organisations can make to improving health, reducing health inequalities and helping to build quality services, is now better recognised and the role of this project is to assist the voluntary and community sector in sharing this knowledge with both health and social care providers.
The project covers Charnwood and North West Leicestershire with the project worker, Sallianne Thomas, being based at John Storer House, with the CVS.
Sallianne is keen to meet groups in the Charnwood and North West Leicestershire area to find out initially what the groups do, who they support etc to help in building an overall picture.
In the future there will be opportunity for representatives of groups, if appropriate, to get more involved with healthcare planning, such as consultations and health forums.
If you would like to find out more about the project, or would like to have Sallianne contact you, then please ring 01509 631785 or email sallianne.thomas@charnwoodcvs.org.uk

By Neil Lambert
During 2006 Charnwood CVS will be working on a new initiative called a Local Area Agreement (LAA). LAAs are part of a 10 year strategic plan to encourage discussion between local and national government in order to improve the quality of life and the co-ordination of public services within each local community.
20 pilot schemes across the country were announced in October 2004 and Leicestershire has been asked to prepare an LAA for 2006/07. The programme will be led by Leicestershire County Council, with input from Charnwood Borough Council, other public service providers and local voluntary and community groups.
The LAA is divided into seven themes, one of which is Stronger Communities. In this theme, Charnwood CVS is undertaking a survey, which will concentrate on three small areas within the borough of Charnwood (technically defined as Super Output Areas or SOAs). These are parts of the electoral wards Loughborough Hastings, Syston West and the Wolds.
Charnwood CVS will be convening a Local Development Group for each area in January. The brief is to include voluntary and community groups either based in or serving the area, school Governing Bodies, Parish Councils and Borough and County Councillors. A Local Development Group, under the auspices of a Local Area Agreement, could well have a powerful voice which all authorities should listen to.
If you would like to discuss anything about the above plans, or find out more about the organisations and initiatives mentioned, please browse the websites below or contact neil.lambert@charnwoodcvs.org.uk
•The Local Area Agreement is being developed, and will be implemented, by Leicestershire Together, the county-wide “partnership of partnerships”. The Mission is that“Together we will do things differently to deliver improved public services so that, with the public, we will make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone.”
www.leicestershiretogether.org
• Stronger Communities is one of seven themes in the Local Area Agreement. Indicators of what a Strong Community is can be found at:
www.neighbourhood.gov.uk
• Social Capital is about neighbourliness, and a sense of community spirit. It can be measured in various ways, including the levels of volunteering, number of voluntary groups, and respect for other people.
www.statistics.gov.uk/socialcapital/
• Charnwood Borough Council
www.charnwood.gov.uk
• Charnwood Together the Local Strategic Partnership
www.charnwoodonline.net
• Leicestershire County Council
www.leics.gov.uk

By Maggie Cherry
The Volunteer Centre hosted a very enjoyable evening, before Christmas, for the volunteers who work for Charnwood CVS and John Storer House. The event was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress, and about 35 volunteers were presented with certificates marking 2005 as the Year of the Volunteer.
The Volunteer Co-ordinators Forum held a very interesting workshop on disability, in December, led by Dee Martin from the Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living. The session raised our awareness of issues and attitudes around disability.
One of the functions of the Volunteer Centre is to encourage good practise when working with volunteers.
If you have any ideas for future sessions relating to managing volunteers within your organisation, please contact the Volunteer Centre on 01509 631770 or volunteer@charnwoodcvs.org.uk

By Bobby Smith
In recognition of all the hard work put into making the Project a success and helping local residents to continue to enjoy their gardens, volunteers were presented with certificates celebrating the Year of the Volunteer at a reception held in December.
We were just able to finish re-siting our stock beds on the Project’s allotment off Forest Road, before the weather turned too cold and frosty to move the plants. Unfortunately, we were unable to get out to the last few gardens on our waiting list but they will be first on the list in the spring when we start going out again.
On January 11th, Bobby attended an evening reception at the House of Lords, hosted by the Baroness Pitkeathly. This invitation was received through Thrive, and the purpose of the evening was to present the latest research about the benefits of gardening for people with a disability, and how Thrive intends to engage with decision-makers and health professionals to influence policy in this area. Readers may recall that the Project was involved with the three-year research project carried out by Loughborough University and Thrive.
All this gallivanting about is all very well and we are very keen to raise the profile of therapeutic horticulture, but the fact remains that two loads of muck has just been delivered on the allotment and it has to be moved! So, for now its back to the more mundane tasks that will carry us into the New Year and a new growing season.
Everyone on the Gardening Project would like to wish all of our supporters a prosperous and productive New Year.
For more information about any aspect of the Project, please contact Bobby Smith in the Volunteer Centre on 01509 631774.

By June Helmore
Loughborough Community Care Dial a Ride and Loughborough Community Care Car Scheme have moved to Charnwood CVS to join the Charnwood Community Transport Project.
We hope that working closely together will lead to greater co-ordination between us, the providers, which will in turn lead to a more effective use of resources to meet your transport needs.
Loughborough Community Care Dial A Ride is a voluntary car scheme, whose main function is to provide social transport, for those who cannot use public transport. The scheme currently has fifteen volunteer drivers, all of whom use their own vehicles. Chris Johnson is available to take bookings between 9am–12 noon every day on 01509 267147.
Loughborough Community Care Car Scheme provides transport for Social Services’ clients and also, where possible, for other organisations such as the Blind Club. Healthcare journeys are organised on behalf of patients by the GP surgery. The scheme has three paid drivers and nine volunteer drivers, all of whom use their own cars. Michelle Smith works 9am–1.30pm every day and can be contacted via your GP.
Charnwood Community Transport Project runs six minibuses, three being accessible, with four paid drivers and volunteers. The Project provides transport for lunch clubs, stroke clubs, day centres, shopping trips, after-school club, etc, as well as for groups who wish to use the minibus for their own activities eg scouts, brownies, youth groups, etc. MiDAS training is available for all volunteer drivers. For bookings or training please call June Helmore on 01509 631761.

By Bindya Mistry
Are you, or is someone you know from a Black or Minority Ethnic (BME) community group caring for a person with a learning disability? We want to work in partnership with community groups to raise awareness of learning disabilities amongst Leicestershire’s BME communities.
The aim of our project is raise awareness of learning disabilities and to identify carers amongst BME community groups in Leicestershire. We also want to learn from the varied experiences of carers from BME communities and highlight any gaps or barriers in services provision and inform statutory agencies.
The project can offer:

• a home visit
• confidential and free advice service
• help you plan and find the right services
• put you in touch with other carers
• a chance to have your voice heard
• an opportunity to talk about your own needs and concerns in your own language.

We are happy to come and talk to your group members and leave further information. If you are interested, then please contact: Bindya Mistry, Community Outreach Worker, on 0116 242 2744.