VSI Alliance News and Events 

VSI Alliance: Cyber Security Training - Multiple Dates available 
Do you know how to protect your organisation against a cyber-attack? Have you thought about the risks to your business if you were hacked, phished or your online presence crashed?

Sometimes it's easy to assume that charities and community groups are either too small or too 'nice' to be targeted, but we all know how easy it is for a fraudulent invoice to get through the system, how difficult it is to be truly data secure, and how damaging it is to find your email system or website unexpectedly offline. The smallest organisations are often the most vulnerable in all sorts of ways, especially now we’re all more online than ever. This training will help you to be aware of cyber security risks, and teach you ways to prevent a cyber attack.

Cyber Security Training for Small Charities - Half day cyber security training session delivered by the VSI Alliance on behalf of NAVCA and NCSC. 

2 DATES AVAILABLE - 26th January 2023 or 16th March 2023 at VAC, Resource Centre, Hall Street, Halifax, HX1 5AY. 

Book here: eventbrite.co.uk

News


UK Shared Prosperity Fund - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund - West Yorkshire Combined Authority (westyorks-ca.gov.uk) website page. The page will soon become the gateway to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in West Yorkshire. The webpage will be developed over time, with new content added including details of events, details on future calls for projects, as well as progress updates.

The website now contains our first two approved Local Investment Plan’s – one for the Core UKSPF programme and one for the Multiply Programme, the first of the Pillar 3 (People and Skills) programmes. 

Access the page here 

Happydays' Big Business Sleepout 2023
The Happydays UK Big Business Sleepout, 24 March 2023. Happydays are hoping that the Big Sleep Out will be a unique opportunity for team building and corporate social responsibility in action, as well as raising awareness about the overwhelming struggles that homeless people face in our town, especially in the current temperatures… But they are hoping it will be more clement by the spring! Complete the Entry Form. 

Healthy Minds: Calderdale Cares 4 Us 2023 Service Re- Opening!
We are delighted to announce we have been able to re-open the CC4Us service for a short period at the beginning of 2023.Calderdale Cares 4 Us services are open for all public and voluntary sector workers and volunteers to use free of charge. There are a range of services available from providers across Calderdale to help you:

• Support your wellbeing
• Relieve stress
• Feel more positive
• Enjoy physical activity

Consultations 

Have your say on how health services are delivered across West Yorkshire Survey
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (NHS WY ICB) is asking people and communities to come forward and share their views on how health services should be delivered to them locally, and across West Yorkshire.With the passing of the Health and Care Act 2022, there is a requirement for integrated care systems (like the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership) to develop a five-year integrated health and social care strategy and for integrated care boards to develop a joint forward plan to deliver the NHS components. Access the refreshed draft strategy here. People can have their say by completing a short survey online at https://bit.ly/wyviews by Monday 20th February 2023. 

The Calderdale Survey: 2023
Calderdale Council Vision 2024. As we head into 2023, your views of our place really matter. They really do change where we're going and how we get there. If you are 16 or over and live here, please take a few minutes to complete this survey and tell us about your life in Calderdale. We are sticking by our Vision for Calderdale in 2024  - a place of hope and kindness, where everyone can realise their potential. Access the survey here

Circular Economy Survey
Calderdale Council have been working with two students from Braford University to research into the benefits of a circular economy.  To help gain a better understanding of how the concept can help any organisation develop greener and inclusive working practices. Access the survey here
 

Events and Training


WY VCSE Schwartz Round: You can't pour from an empty cup
Recognising the significant and unique pressures facing the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, Harnessing the Power of Communities (HPoC) are working with the West Yorkshire Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub to offer a dedicated VCSE Schwartz Round session.This is an opportunity for VCSE colleagues working across West Yorkshire to take time to reflect on their experiences around the theme of: You can't pour from an empty cup. We know that for us as humans to effectively take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves, and how challenging that can be when working in the VCSE sector in the current context. WY VCSE power event on Wednesday 18th January 2023, 13:00 - 14:15, online. 

Training: MSE launches 'Academoney' financial education course with the Open University
Enrol for the FREE MSE Academy of Money course, in partnership with the Open University (OU), to tool up on your financial skills. Why not join the 10,000s of others who've signed up to the online financial education course on the OU's Open Learn platform? It's free, and covers six key areas of personal finance: 1) Making good spending decisions. 2) Budgeting and taxation. 3) Borrowing money. 4) Understanding mortgages. 5) Saving and investing. 6) Planning for retirement.

Visit: 'Academoney' explained or  sign up(also available in Welsh as Academi Arian).

State of Mind Workshops - Place Development Team
Working with Calderdale’s Public Health Team we are delivering 4 State of Minds Workshops in different locations across Calderdale.he sessions are free for you and your staff to attend and will be hosted by Jimmy Gittins and Ian Smith, who work for the Charity State of Mind Sport. Initially the charity focused on providing mental health awareness in sport, however they extended in other area’s delivering mental health awareness workshops to over 130,000 people.Both presenters tell their personal stories, which have proved a very powerful means of delivering their key messages across with real impact. Multiple dates available. 

WEA Training Courses - Download the full training schedule here 
There are lots of upcoming WEA training courses available - download the full schedule to book and attend these courses. 

Funding 

Calderdale Council: Community Small Grants Scheme
Grants to boost community projects. Calderdale community groups running events and projects to support local towns, people and the environment are invited to apply for grants from a £70,000 Council funding pot. Local voluntary, community and faith organisations can seek up to £3000 from the latest round of Calderdale Council’s Community Small Grants Scheme. Grants will be awarded to projects that help achieve the Council’s priorities to create strong, thriving towns and places, reduce inequalities and tackle the climate emergency. The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 6th February 2023.

Calderdale Cares Partnership: VCS Support Fund
The VCS Support Fund is to strengthen infrastructure, support core costs and/or facilitate organisational development for voluntary and community sector organisations. Calderdale residents will need the ongoing support of local voluntary and community sector groups as the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is felt. Calderdale Cares Partnership wants to increase the resilience of this vital sector.
Access the guidelines here  
Apply online here 
The deadline to apply is 10am on Thursday 23rd February 2023 

The Grassroots Movement Fund
The Grassroots Movement Fund is a pilot programme which will see £1 million awarded to small third sector organisations throughout 2023 to support the sustainability of grassroots social justice work.Grants of £10,000 to £70,000 are available for up to two years. The deadline to apply is 19 February 2023.

LOCAL WIND FARM COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUNDS : The Crook Hill Community Benefit Fund
The Crook Hill Community Benefit Fund will close to applications on 8th February 2023, this fund allows groups to apply for grants between £250 and £10, 000. 

LOCAL WIND FARM COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUNDS: The Reaps Moss Community Benefit Fund
The Reaps Moss Community Benefit Fund will close to applications on 15th February 2023. This fund will allow groups to apply for grants between £250 and £3.500.

The Steel Charitable Trust 
Charities, including CIOs, registered in any part of the United Kingdom can apply if their annual turnover is over £50,000. Areas of interest are:

• Arts and Heritage
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social or Economic Disadvantage

The minimum grant size is £10,000. Awards of more than £25,000 are rare. 
Application deadline 20/01/23 

The Country & Land Association Charitable Trust 
The Country & Land Association Charitable Trust is currently inviting applications for funding. Applications will be accepted from small and medium-sized charities and not-for-profit organisations such as Community Interest Companies.

To be eligible, applicants must have a current safeguarding policy and must not have received a grant from CLACT in the previous three years. Applications are particularly welcomed for projects for children and young people, disadvantaged financially, physically, mentally, or from areas of deprivation.

Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees. The average grant awarded is in the region of £2,500.
Application deadline 06/02/23.

The Money Saving Expert Charity
A limited number of grants are available to not-for-profit organisations in the UK for projects that relate to the delivery of financial skills to different defined groups. Non-profit groups with constitution inc Registered Charity, CIC and Credit Unions are eligible to apply. Up to £7,500.
Application deadline 31/01/23

Vacancies 


Halifax Opportunities Trust: Senior Early Years Practitioner (Room Leader) - Closing 25th January
Halifax Opportunities Trust are now looking for passionate and enthusiastic team members to work in our nurseries. We provide a warm, secure and stimulating environment and for children aged between 0 - 5 years. You will have management responsibility for a number of staff and leading the daily routine within the nursery room supporting children to reach their full learning potential.

The Brunswick Centre: Welfare and Benefits Adviser
The Welfare & Benefits Adviser is a skilled postholder who has specialist knowledge and experience in advising and supporting service users. The main aims of the post are to ensure:

• That delivery of best practice and tailored benefits advice and support are in place for people affected by HIV in Calderdale and Kirklees.
• There is improved access to and knowledge and understanding of the benefits system and how to navigate it among people with HIV

This is a temporary post to provide maternity cover for the existing postholder and will be based in Kirklees.The postholder will work alongside GYW to support and empower them to reach their full potential and to develop coping strategies that enable them to better manage the difficulties they have experienced.  The postholder will offer 1:1 and group based support, which will include short courses/workshops, peer support groups in schools and/or monthly peer-led social groups.

• Deliver quality information, advice, guidance and advocacy in virtual/online, community and school settings which improve outcomes for LGBTQ+ young people in Calderdale.  
• Improve LGBTQ+ young people’s ability to cope, be resilient at critical moments in their lives and have improved emotional wellbeing.  
• Increases the voice, influence and visibility of LGBTQ+ young people in Calderdale.    

Volunteering