Month: July 2022

Going Green Together Launch Events

Posted on by Julie

Going Green Together is very excited to announce the launch of our new project, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and County Durham Community Foundation. As well as expanding the resources we’re currently offering through the Going Green Together website, we’re inviting VCSE organisations in the North East and Cumbria to join a special cohort to access training and courses in order to reduce their carbon footprint and learn how to make their working practises more environmentally conscious.

To celebrate the launch of this programme, and to let you know how to get involved, we’re hosting a range of online and in-person events in mid-July. These events will include a presentation of what we’ve done so far, the aims of Going Green Together, what’s coming up and what we’re looking for in applicants for our training cohort. The events will also involve break-out sessions to provide a taster of future activities, and to let us know more about your environmental needs. They will also include an opportunity to meet other organisations in your region, to begin building a climate support network of your peers.

This is a fantastic opportunity for those who are looking to make their first steps towards environmental reform within their organisation, those who want to discover more, and for those who are already embedding environmental practise in their organisation but who are looking to collaborate with and help other organisations do the same.

The first event will be an in-person launch and networking event on Tuesday 12th July, 2-4.30pm, at VODA’s new Spirit of North Tyneside venue in Wallsend Customer First Centre. You can sign up to this free event here: https://www.vonne.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=472

This will be followed by three online launch events. While each of these will have a regional focus, anyone from the North East or Cumbria is invited to attend whichever event they prefer based on their availability. These are as follows:

 

There will be a limit on spaces for each event, so be sure to reserve your ticket soon!

Nuts and Bolts of Funding Applications

Posted on by Julie

The development of a grant application can be a tricky and overwhelming task. We have teamed up with Woodsmith Foundation to provide the background work that is required to start writing quality grant applications.

Our fun and interactive sessions will include a speaker from the Woodsmith Foundation (formerly Sirius Minerals Foundation) to ensure Redcar & Cleveland groups can produce quality applications to meet their funding guidelines.

This is your opportunity to meet the funder and develop your funding application skills. We will be detailing, tips and trips and do’s and don’ts. Giving you an opportunity to use case studies and develop your own applications on the day.

Over three separate dates and East Cleveland Venues.  Each day is the same time. Registration from 9:30am, session is 10am-2pm. Lunch is provided.

26th July 2022  – Charltons Community Centre, TS12 3DA

18th August 2022 – Loftus Town Hall, Ts13 4HG – DATE CHANGED FROM 17th AUGUST

13th September 2022 – Liverton Village Hall, Ts13 4TB

Sometimes 1 day just isn’t enough we will be offering 1 to 1 tailored sessions to support your future funding applications.  Once the face to face training sessions are completed an online highlight video will be available on our website.

To register your place please click here to secure your spot numbers depend on venue so please don’t miss out.

Poster with dates for training course

 

Welcome to the Tees Valley Volunteering Charter

Posted on by Julie

A new volunteering charter, designed to help organisations give volunteers assurances on the quality of their experience launches today.

Tens of thousands of people take on voluntary roles across Tees Valley every year, making a huge contribution to the welfare of their communities, whilst having an enjoyable and rewarding time.

Developed by the Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership (TVIP), the Charter features a list of statements which organisations pledge to work towards. These include, making sure volunteering is welcoming and accessible and providing volunteers with the support they need.

By signing up to the Charter, organisations show they value the contribution volunteers make and commit to providing a high quality and positive experience. The Charter is non-prescriptive, meaning organisations are free to put policies and procedures in place to meet the Charter’s statements in a way that suits them.

Catalyst’s CEO, Jon Carling, a member of TVIP said, ‘the Partnership is delighted to have worked together with colleagues across the Tees Valley to develop the Charter. When volunteers see the Charter featured on organisation’s website and in their premises, they know they are committed to providing the best volunteering experience possible’.

Mark Davis, Chief Executive of Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency, added “Volunteers tell us all the time how much they enjoy volunteering. They make such a difference to the lives of local people, and add a lot of value to the economy too. Organisations which sign up to the Charter will be showing a real commitment to supporting our volunteers.”

Organisations can sign up to the Charter from 1st July and will receive a copy of the Charter statements, along with a certificate to show their commitment to working to meet these. They will also be provided with suggestions of how they can tailor their practice to achieve the Charter statements.

If you are an organisation based in Darlington and would like to sign up to the Charter or for any further information please complete the form by clicking here.

For further information contact  TVRA’s, Julie Thornton, at info@teesvalleyruralaction.co.uk or 01642 213852.

If you are from one of the other areas in the Tees Valley please see below for your relevant contact:

Darlington: Julie Thornton – info@teesvalleyruralaction.co.uk

Stockton: Lucy Owens – lucy.owens@catalyststockton.org or click here

Hartlepool: Tracy Harvey – tracy.harvey@hartlepool.gov.uk

Middlesbrough: Lesley Spaven – lesley.spaven@mvdauk.org.uk or click here

Redcar and Cleveland: Carole Marshall – carole.marshall@rcvda.org.uk or click here