In spite of being open since 1992, The Cookery Luncheon Club held at the Elim Church Centre, Ashby Road had a first during the month of October. On the 13th, under the leadership of Jean Nowell, the staff organised a surprise birthday party for Mary Oliver who was celebrating her 100th birthday.

The school room, where the luncheon club meets, was done up with balloons and streamers. The tables were nicely decorated and another table was set up with the specially baked ‘100th’ birthday cake plus cards, gifts and flowers. The man from the Echo took some photographs which later appeared in the paper. Everybody had a really good time and took the opportunity to congratulate Mary on her achievement.

Mary is a regular attender at the luncheon club and appreciated being able to celebrate her birthday with all her friends. Paul Stevens, the minister, rather tongue-in-cheek made the promise that anybody else who reached 100 and was a regular attender would be treated just as well. The luncheon club meets every Monday and Friday at 12 Noon.

Paul Stevens can be reached on 01509 234306 any morning between 9.30am and 1pm or leave a message any other time.

By Paul Stevens

The Big Knitting Group has now moved from Charnwood Museum as we became too big for the room. We are now meeting at the United Reformed Church on Frederick Street, which is a minutes walk from Charnwood Museum.

People of all ages and abilities are welcome to join the group. We have four great volunteers with a wealth of knitting knowledge between them. So whatever experience you have come along as a volunteer knitting advisor or as a complete beginner.

The group started during the knit a sock for the Sockman project and always have a group project on the go. The current one being knitted 3D picture collages, each member of the group making a different element. Past projects have included a group blanket using intarsia techniques and a knitted picnic complete with fruit, sandwiches, cakes and Cornish pasties.

The sessions are still free although we do now have to pay for the room. Donations are welcome towards these new costs.

The group meets on a Thursday from 12.30- 2.30pm.

We also welcome donations of wool and other knitting materials including knitting dollies and peg looms.

The group is supported and coordinated by Charnwood Arts.

For any more information please ring Jemma Bagley at Charnwood Arts 01509 821035 jemmab@charnwood-arts.org.uk

By Mary Morgan

Just to give Charnword contributors/readers advance notice that the next Charnword, our quarterly newsletter (due out in November), will be delayed until early December '08.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

By this time, we will be in a position to report on the outcome of the tender and the future delivery of County-wide Infrastructure services (capacity building to voluntary and community sector organisations/groups and volunteering).

Please send articles concerning the voluntary and community sector in Charnwood (275 words max), photographs, notices and events etc. to cath.walker@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk for this edition by November 14th and space permitting it will be included.

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 are committed to increasing the quality, quantity and diversity of volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16-25.

Abby's role as a Youth Volunteer Advisor is to help you find volunteering opportunities which map your interests and passions, and build on your skills. Abby will support your voluntary work, and help you get the recognition and accreditation you deserve for your time and effort you give.

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

So, if you want to HAVE FUN, MAKE FRIENDS, LEARN NEW SKILLS, DO SOMETHING POSITIVE, GET RECOGNITION, get involved with vinvolved.

If you are a group of young people and need funding for a volunteering project in your community, Abby can talk to you about vcashpoint where you can get your hands on up to £2,500 to turn your dreams into a reality.

Right now we're 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 your voice 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 email aheath@vasl.org.uk

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

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