Improving outcomes for children & young people
Public Health Small Grants Innovation Fund now open, and other funding news
May 17th
The Public Health Small Grants Innovation Fund is now open for applications of up to £1000 for innovative projects, events, or activities that can improve the health and wellbeing of Wirral residents. Closing date for applications is 13th June and there will be workshops on 28th May to assist organisations wishing to apply. See the VCA Wirral website here for details of how to book on to a workshop and apply to the fund.
The latest funding newsletters from Zel Rodgers of VCA Wirral are available on their website here. Zel suggests people regularly check out www.mfip.org.uk regularly for the latest developments.
Blackburn Health and Well Being Consortium have updated their information sheet detailing current open funding streams. Some of the grants are due to close soon but it’s worth looking at.
If your organisation works with families in crisis but can’t help them financially, Buttle UK may be able to help. Their small grants programme provides essential items for children and young people whose development, health and well-being are at risk. It provides a fast response to families who lack basic items such as bedding, a cooker or a washing machine.
Places still available on free LSCB training courses
May 15th
Wirral Local Safeguarding Children Board has released details of training opportunities available in May and June. Places on the courses will be shared across agencies and confirmation letters will be sent three weeks prior to the course.
To apply, complete the attached application form and email to trainee01@wirral.gov.uk. Any queries should be referred to Dave or Danielle on 346 6761/2.
Click on the course title for further details.
- WRAP – identifying and supporting those vulnerable to involvement in violent extremism - 23rd May or 10th June 2013
- Lead Designated Representative - 5th June 2013
- Effects of Domestic Abuse - 6th June 2013
- Working with Sexually Active Young People - 13th June 2013
- ThinkUKnow – the CEOP internet safety programme - 17th June 2013
- Neglect - 19th June 2013
- Effects of parental substance misuse, part 1 - 16th July
Wirral Multicultural Organisation Garden Grows Champions!
May 14th
Three members of the WMO Young Apprentices Group, who developed the WMO Garden Project, with Youth Opportunity funding, were nominated for the national Young Achievers Award 2013, in the Environment Category. Two were successful and in April 2013 received recognition for their work. One received a Certificate of Achievement and the other young person received a Runners-up Prize for their age group in the Environment Category.
The achievement of these young people is so special because they led and supported other young people to transform the Wirral Multicultural Centre Garden, supported by the BME Family Support and Outreach Service. The project has attracted the attention and support of The Environment Agency (who did the earth work), Faiths4Change, Wirral Environmental Network, Incredible Edible Hoylake, Wirral Eco Schools Officer and the Birkenhead & Tranmere Children’s Centre and has raised the awareness amongst diverse communities of the importance of recycling and saving energy by reducing food waste. The project also developed an intergenerational direction with the involvement of parents and older people from Chinese and African and Caribbean and other backgrounds getting involved in activities and consultations. Links were also made with the Monday Youth Club for young people with learning Disabilities at Charing Cross Methodist Centre, and community histories unearthed. A number of young people gave up their time and helped to design the garden, research ideas and find out about food production in other countries e.g. Cuba, growing vegetables from seed and planting out.
Produce from the garden was entered in the Local Flower and Vegetable show at Birkenhead Park 2012, enabling links to be made with the wider community. Fresh vegetables from the garden were also given to families experiencing hardship and donated to Birkenhead and Tranmere Children’s Centre.
If you would like to find out more about the WMO Garden, contact Susan Goligher at WMO on 0151 666 4547, or email s.goligher@wmo.org.uk
Vote WEB for Merseyside Women of the Year 2013
May 13th
Local charity Women’s Enterprising Breakthrough has been shortlisted in the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards and they need your vote.
They’ve been chosen in recognition of the work they do supporting women and girls in Merseyside with complex needs who may be isolated, victimised, discriminated against or have low self-esteem as a result of poverty, domestic violence or sexual abuse. WEB has been serving the community for 18 years and has supported over 4000 women and girls to date.
Show your support by clicking here, and voting WEB at the bottom of the page.
Health, wellbeing and educational activities for Wirral residents
May 13th
Wirral Mind has released a programme of courses available from May to August 2013. Courses include Managing Anxiety and Wellness and Recovery Action Planning (WRAP). A course application form is attached, to be completed and returned to learning@wirralmind.org.uk. Please note that priority for places will go to people on their waiting list.
For further information, contact Sara Hatta, Training Manager, on 0151 512 2200 or email sara@wirralmind.org.uk
Wirral Lifelong and Family Learning Service have released details of the range of short courses for adults starting at various learning centres across Wirral in April, May and June. Some courses are free, or have reduced fees for those on eligible benefits. See the attached for more details.
Wirral Adult Community Partnership will be upstairs in the Pyramids Centre for Adult Learners Week from Monday 20th May to Friday 24th May from 10am until 4pm each day, with a stall promoting adult learning in Wirral. There will be loads of interesting information from all the partners and there will be demonstrations of learning on:
- Tuesday – Craft making books
- Wednesday – Floristy
- Thursday – Cake Decorating
There’ll also be health advice including volunteering – Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning and Job Centre advice on Monday and Tuesday. Please encourage people to go along to find about more about adult learning in Wirral.
Wirral Community NHS Trust has published it’s programme of health and wellbeing activities available in May for residents in Wirral.
The Community Programme is a range of free health and wellbeing activities designed to help local residents become more active and to lead healthier lifestyles. The type of activities provided are based on what local residents, health practitioners and voluntary organisations told them was needed, combined with evidence of what really works. The Programme includes physical activities, healthy eating advice sessions, smoking cessation services, and relaxation.
Call 0151 630 8383 for more information or visit their website www.wirralct.nhs.uk
The role of online support for young people who self-harm – a good practice guide
May 9th
42nd Street and five other organisations across Europe (YouthNet (UK) [project lead], Depaul UK (UK), The Associazione Photofficine Onlus (Italy), Cyberhus (Denmark) and The Institute for Research and Development “Utrip” (Slovenia)) have just launched a Good Practice Guide by practitioners for practitioners providing a ground-breaking framework on how to support young people who self-harm through online and online peer support services.
Despite self-harm’s complex and sensitive nature, this project assembled evidence that points to common challenges for practitioners across Europe, forming the basis for a universal framework of good practice. Using its findings from the 2 year project funded by Daphne III Programme of the European Union, the consortium has compiled a ground-breaking framework for good practice by practitioners for practitioners which strongly recommends putting online services at the heart of the solution for helping young people who self-harm.
Job opportunities in Merseyside and beyond
May 9th
VCA Wirral have vacancies for a part-time Volunteering Development Officer and a full-time Receptionist. Closing date for applications is 21st May 2013. See here for further details and how to apply.
Wirral Multicultural Organisation (WMO) is seeking to recruit a Part Time Service Coordinator (Interpreting & Translation) to support their very busy Translation & Interpreting service in Wirral. The successful candidate must be able to manage, support and appropriately communicate to book individual interpreters and WMO Clients (who request for interpreters and translators). Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 24th May 2013 with a proposed Interview date of Thursday 30th May. See attached for further information and how to apply.
South Liverpool Citizens Advice Bureau is looking to appoint an Advice Session Supervisor for 21 hours per week. Further details can be found here. Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 24th May, with interviews to take place week commencing 3rd June.
Liverpool City Council have a range of vacancies within their Children and Young People’s Service. Closing date for applications to all the posts, detailed here, is 31st May. See their website for details of how to apply.
Nugent Care are recruiting Child Care Workers and Team Leaders at St Catherine’s Secure Centre in St Helens. Closing date for application is Friday 10th May. They are also looking to appoint a part-time Volunteer Co-ordinator, to be based at their Head Office in Edge Lane, Liverpool. Closing date for the post is Thursday 23rd May.
North West Regional Youth Work Unit are looking for a Regional Participation Officer to further develop and support Youthforia and support the development of participation in local authorities. closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 7th June.
Further afield, Manchester Mind are seeking to recruit a Cafe Development Worker to facilitate the running of a busy young person’s internet cafe. Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 21st May. See their website for details of how to apply.
OnSide NW in Bolton are looking to recruit a Youth Worker to involve young people in their work and support their Youth Zones to share resources and best practice. Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 20th May.
Home-Start Tameside have a vacancy for a Breastfeeding Telephone Peer Supporter and Administrator. Closing date for applications is 10th June.
Sports and leisure activities for children and families in May
May 9th
Wirral’s Sports Development Unit have released their Active All-Sports Leisure programme for Whit for children and young people with disabilities and specific needs which, along with sports activities, includes cheerleading and a bike ride. The programme includes all relevant information and booking forms. They’ve also amended some of their term-time activities – attached. All enquiries and booking forms should be addressed to Dave Simmonds on 0151 637 6157 or email davesimmonds@wirral.gov.uk
Belvidere Centre is hosting some Tabletop Gaming Sessions for disabled young people aged 10-25 on 28th and 31st May. See the attached flyer for details or contact Alex at Wirral’s Short Break Services for Disabled Children on 0151 666 4842.
There’s a range of activities for all available in Birkenhead Park during the May school holidays. There’s tennis, cycle maintenance, Pirates in the Park, and loads more. See the attached leaflet for details.
Wallasey Community Fire Station in Mill Lane is hosting a Family Fun Day on Thursday 30th May from 11am to 3pm. Along with the appliances, there’ll be a fire fit climbing wall, a live chip pan fire demonstration and much more. All are welcome.
Early Support training for parent carers and professionals
May 7th
Wirral Family Forum have arranged a series of Early Support training sessions for parent carers of disabled children and young people, and professionals.The training is about early support, not early years, and covers up to 25 years old, with a specific day focused on transition. This is the first time it has been delivered in Wirral and is part of a national programme.
Early Support works to ensure that services are better coordinated, with a key working practitioner who can offer a single point of contact, coordination and support where families need it. It focuses on ensuring that service delivery is child, young person and family centred and that services and practitioners work in partnership with children, young people and their families. Early Support is a core delivery partner for the implementation of the proposals set out in the Government’s Green Paper, Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability, published in 2011.
The training is free for parent carers, with a £40 fee for professionals. Places are limited so should be booked as soon as possible. See the attached flyer for more details or contact Wirral Family Forum at wirralfamilyforum@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 07969771496 to book a place.
Limited places available on Zero Centre Phoenix programme
May 3rd
Zero Centre have a few places still available on the Phoenix Programme starting Friday 10th May 10am-12pm for 10 weeks (not school holidays), and hosted at Tomorrow’s Women Wirral.
Phoenix is for women who have experienced domestic abuse at some time in their lives, are through the crisis period but are unsure what to do with their lives afterwards & may lack self esteem and confidence.
Phoenix is a new 10 week programme based on coaching methods – goal setting, visualising success – which encourages women to take time to work on their futures. Results from Zero Centre’s first ever programme surpassed expectations, with all those completing now booking onto college courses or beginning as mentors elsewhere.
Places will be appointed following initial assessment so if you know of any women suitable for the programme, contact Zero Centre on 0151 670 1528 or email zerocentre@aol.com
