Hustings Event Brings North East VCSE Sector to the focus of NECA Mayoral Election.
First published by VONNE on 19 April 2024 here. Over 200 representatives from the North East Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector attended an event to hear North East Combined Authority (NECA) candidates discuss their ambitions, how they will address the sector’s needs if elected, and respond to key questions. Organised by the North East VCSE support body VONNE, Connected Voice and local infrastructure support bodies across the NECA,
North Tyneside volunteering update
A number of North Tyneside organisations are currently recruiting for volunteers and trustees. Volunteering is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference to a local cause and it is a great addition to your CV.
You can search for all available volunteering opportunities on our online database, or take a look at our round-up below.
Bridging the Digital Divide: How Help Me Be Digital is Empowering North Tyneside Residents
Have you ever felt frustrated trying to book a doctor’s appointment online, or struggled to use a smartphone or digital device? If so, you’re not alone. With more services moving online, digital exclusion is a real issue, but Help Me Be Digital is making a difference to people across North Tyneside. This initiative, from North Tyneside VODA, funded by the NHS North East North Cumbria ICB, provides free one-to-one digital
£4M Fund to Help Socially Trading Organisations Grow in North East
A £4m flexible social finance offer has launched today, to support socially trading organisations in Newcastle, North of Tyne and Northumberland to grow. Created in collaboration with community business champions Big Issue Invest and Power to Change, the ‘finance for good’ fund aims to support the growth of the social economy in the North of Tyne, by providing access to flexible and tailored finance and support. Socially trading organisations are
North East Child Poverty Commission publishes ‘No Time to Wait’
The North East Child Poverty Commission has published a major new report published which calls for regional leaders to take a ‘public health approach’ to tackling child poverty, based on the findings of wide-ranging research undertaken over the last year throughout the region. More than one-third of all babies, children and young people in the North East (35%) are living in poverty, with our region having experienced the steepest increases
VODA gains The Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA)
VODA is delighted to announce that our submission to The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) was successful, and we have gained The Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation. The Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA) is the quality mark for organisations delivering the five local Volunteer Centre functions. It provides assurance to members of the public seeking volunteering opportunities, volunteer involving organisations, partner, commissioner and funding organisations, that the holder
UKSPF Small Grants increases to £1000
We are delighted to announce that due to the success of the UKSPF Small Grants Fund for residents and community organisations in the North West of North Tyneside, the grant has increased from £500 to £1000. This UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) is available to any voluntary and community sector organisations, including individual resident’s groups or youth organisations that provide services in Camperdown, Weedslade and Longbenton wards. You could: Bring
Grow & Eat Spring 2024 Update
Welcome to the latest update on the Grow & Eat project! We’re thrilled to be starting our second year and have been working hard to expand our partnerships and collaborations across North Tyneside. Our aim is to bring the joy of growing food to more residents in the area. The Garden Network of North Tyneside is a collection of gardens and gardening projects throughout the borough. They have been busy
Bring joy to someone this New Year
The Christmas holidays have come and gone. You may feel like you have more free time but less money to go out and do things. Why not use this new year as a chance to bring joy to others in our community? The Good Neighbours project from North Tyneside VODA seeks to assist any resident of North Tyneside who is over the age of 18 and unable to complete tasks
Trustee Training at VODA
Did you know that VODA provides free in-person training courses to new and existing Trustees of organisations based in North Tyneside to help them act as effective members of your Board? The training focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the Trustee and other principles of governance. The informal session lasts around 2 hours and includes interactive activities as well as a chance to discuss issues and ask questions.
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme 2024
North Tyneside Council is seeking to fund local providers to deliver a high-quality programme of activity during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays for children eligible for free school meals. Providers may come from the public, private or voluntary and community sector. The Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. The aim is to make free places available to children eligible for
National Lottery Awards for All is changing!
The National Lottery’s flagship funding programme, National Lottery Awards For All, is changing – supporting the ambition to turbocharge funding for grassroots community projects across the UK. You can now: Apply for funding between £300 and £20,000 to support your project, an increase from the previous £10,000 per year Get your project funded for up to two years rather than one. These changes have doubled the amount you can apply for
VODA 2023 VCSE Award Winners
We are delighted to share with you the recipients of the 2023 VODA North Tyneside VCSE awards, which were presented at our AGM on 7 November. Find out more about each of the winners below. Trustee of the Year – Ben Appleby Dean – Phoenix Detached Youth Project As Treasurer of Phoenix Detached Youth Project for 12 years, Ben has not only ensured that the charity’s funding is used correctly
Tipping Point: The Cost of Living Crisis
Tipping Point, the latest report by VCS Emergencies Partnership, describes some of the ways the voluntary and community sector (VCS) has been responding to the challenge of the cost of living crisis, focusing on the early part of 2023. It draws out insights, knowledge and practical ideas to help inform future preparedness and response to an ongoing crisis that will escalate again as winter approaches. Read more and download the report
UK Shared Prosperity Fund: 3 grant schemes announced in North Tyneside
North Tyneside Council has secured £1.5 million of funding that organisations in the North West of the Borough can bid for. This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the North of Tyne Combined Authority as the lead authority. The UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) will be made available to any voluntary and community sector organisations, including individual resident’s groups or youth organisations
Social Media Guidance for Charities
An update on the new guidance on social media produced by the Charity Commission The Charity Commission has released new guidance on the use of social media for charities which provides a very useful tool for trustees. The Charity Commission recognises that social media has become a powerful way for many charities to promote their work, engage their supporters and campaign for change. The public is also using social media
Embedding the VCSE sector in Integrated Care Systems
NAVCA has announced (25/09/23) the publication of a new set of resources for the VCSE around embedding the sector in Integrated Care Systems. The aim of these resources is to help VCSE organisations work effectively with ICSs to create a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, ensuring that community concerns are identified and acted upon through effective VCSE representation. The resource is split into two pages. Page one covers: Understanding
Organisational Health Checks: A How-to Guide
Health checks are an increasingly accepted way of identifying how your organisation really works and whilst primarily aimed at smaller organisations they can be used as a starting point for larger organisations. A health check for your organisation is like an MOT for your car. It enables you to look at all the different elements within your organisation and to check that they are working properly and running smoothly. Like
Cullercoats Watch House trustee SOS
The Cullercoats Watch House is a fantastically distinctive building, full of local history and they would love to see the building reach its full potential as a thriving community venue. The existing trustees have already worked hard to bring this to fruition, but they now need support from people who can bring a variety of skills and experience to the table to help them move on to the next stage in
Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service
The Ministry of Justice has just launched a new service to help those at risk of losing their homes called the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service. The service provides: Early legal advice (legal help) on housing, debt and welfare benefits issues to those at risk of possession proceedings and loss of their home; and On the day emergency advice and representation at court to those with a listed possession hearing