Charities are being encouraged to make use of the government’s revised youth job creation scheme after it was made simpler for employers to get involved.
The Kickstart scheme provides funding for six-month job placements for 16- to 24-year-olds who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
It has created more than 120,000 roles across all industries since it was launched in September, the government said.
The first phase of the scheme required organisations to have a minimum of 30 vacancies to be eligible, making it harder for many charities to take part.
But the government has removed this minimum requirement, meaning that if a charity wanted to create one new job it could apply directly to the scheme.
Previously many charities were only able to get involved if they partnered a gateway organisation, such as a membership body or local authority, which could co-ordinate applications from many different charities and submit on their behalf.
Duncan Shrubsole, director of policy and communications at the grant-maker the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, said the change of requirements should enable more voluntary sector organisations to use the scheme.
“The Kickstart scheme offers an opportunity for charities to create much-needed new jobs for young people and have costs covered by the government for six months,” he said.
“At a time when charities are seeing rising demand alongside financial challenges, opening up the scheme so that small charities can apply directly without needing to create 30 new roles means the scheme is more much more accessible and will, hopefully, enable more charities to benefit.”
Brave Futures is a nature-based group therapy programme set up to support clients who have experienced grief, trauma, addictions, social isolation, anxiety and depression which has affected their mental health and wellbeing
Wilderness Foundation UK are delighted to be able to offer FREE places on a first-come-first-served basis, while late referrals will be put on waiting list. This 8 week programme will accommodate Adults and Children groups and cover referrals from the Essex area only.
Time: 10.00-15.00
Schedule: 1 day a week for 8 weeks
Group Size: Max 8 People
Location: Chatham Green/Mann Wood, Chelmsford, Essex
Grassroots children’s/ youth clubs in Essex (not including Southend & Thurrock) have been closed due to the pandemic, and many are hoping to re-open soon.
We have some support designed specifically to help re-mobilise these clubs-
1.) A grant of up to £500 to help with club reopening costs related to Covid-19 (Open Now! Until February 22nd 2021)
2.) Telephone support, guidance/ risk assessment advice that you might need to help (Available from the start of Feb- end of March)
re-open
1.) Grant for remobilising grassroots children’s & youth clubs in Essex
This grant is designed to support small, local not for profit voluntary children’s and youth groups/clubs only.
The grant can cover Covid-19 associated costs with the reopening of these groups/ clubs. (applications open from 13/01/2021-22/02/2021)
What can these costs include?
Covid-19 related hygiene costs (e.g. Hand sanitizer, soap, face masks, gloves, increased venue cleaning or equipment costs.)
Covid-19 related Infrastructure costs (e.g. Plexiglass screens, wall mounted dispensers, signage, increased venue hire costs
to comply with social distancing.)
Covid-19 related volunteer training costs
Subs money covered for one term (up to £40 per child/ young person) for families struggling to pay subscription fees to
Voluntary, not for profit children’s or youth clubs who are affiliated to a national or Essex based governing body.
Who can apply?
Small, local grassroots and not for profit children’s and youth clubs who do not have support of this kind available through local or national affiliated bodies. This might be-
Community based and not-for-profit youth or children’s clubs, uniformed organisations, sports or physical activity groups, musical theatre groups and many more!
In this month’s bumper episode of the Third Sector Podcast, editor Emily Burt and features and analysis writer Rebecca Cooney find out what the National Council for Voluntary Organisations‘s Respond, Recover and Reset project can tell us about the impact of lockdown on charities.
The Respond, Recover, Reset project, run by the NCVO with Nottingham Trent University and Sheffield Hallam University, examines the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.
It includes a monthly barometer which provides real-time data about how the pandemic is impacting the working practices and operations of voluntary organisations – as well as their responses, their learning and resilience.
The latest results, published last week, looks at the impact of the second lockdown on charities, using data gathered in November.
Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services are excited to announce a new fund that they are running on behalf of Essex County Council and your local District Councils with some Covid-19 relief funding.
Grassroots children’s/ youth clubs in Essex have been closed due to the pandemic, and many are hoping to re-open soon.
There is some support designed specifically to help re-mobilise these clubs-
1.) A grant of up to £500 to help with club reopening costs related to Covid-19 (Open Now! Until February 22nd 2021)
2.) Telephone support, guidance/ risk assessment advice that you might need to help re-open (Available from the start of Feb – end of March)
3.) Grant for remobilising grassroots children’s & youth clubs in Essex (applications open from 13/01/2021-22/02/2021)
This grant is designed to support small, local not for profit voluntary children’s and youth groups/clubs only.
The grant can cover Covid-19 associated costs with the reopening of these groups/ clubs.
What can these costs include?
Covid-19 related hygiene costs (e.g. Hand sanitizer, soap, face masks, gloves, increased venue cleaning or equipment costs.)
Covid-19 related Infrastructure costs (e.g. Plexiglass screens, wall mounted dispensers, signage, increased venue hire costs to comply with social distancing.)
Covid-19 related volunteer training costs
Subs money covered for one term (up to £40 per child/ young person) for families struggling to pay subscription fees to Voluntary, not for profit children’s or youth clubs who are affiliated to a national or Essex based governing body.
Who can apply?
Small, local grassroots and not for profit children’s and youth clubs who do not have support of this kind available through local or national affiliated bodies. This might be- Community based and not-for-profit youth or children’s clubs, uniformed organisations, sports or physical activity groups, musical theatre groups and many more!
Contact Rachel Brett for more information Email: rachel@ecvys.org.uk Phone: 01371 404273
2.) Telephone support & guidance for all grassroots children’s & youth clubs in Essex to help them re-open (Available from the start of Feb – end of March)
Covid safe guidance and reassurance for re-opening including- ppe, social distancing and becoming a Covid-safe venue
Specific risk assessment guidance for Covid safe youth work in each individual setting
General risk assessment and safe practice guidance going forward
Specific advice on activities and adapting them to meet current regulations safely
Help with other venue queries
Advice regards to staffing and how to remain safe whilst still maintaining a service
Help with sourcing and retaining volunteers
Encouragement and guidance for any other questions that groups have around Remobilisation
For help and guidance about the support offered above please contact Sue Pell from Essex Boys & Girls clubs
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising has published a resource to help fundraisers look after both their own and their colleagues’ wellbeing.
Available on the CIoF site, the Wellbeing and Fundraising resource is divided into a number of sections, covering areas including wellbeing and Covid-19, understanding fundraising and wellbeing, issues impacting the wellbeing of fundraisers, and more, and including lots of tips for managers as well as fundraisers.
There are also links to other useful resources, and related blogs.
In September, Dan Jones, global head of campaigns at WaterAid, found himself crumpled on the edge of his bed, “sobbing in pain and desperation as my wife tried to convince me I wasn’t losing my mind”.
The Covid-19 pandemic had pushed Jones’ work to a point that it felt as though it was taking over his life. Long days with no clear boundaries had become the norm, he says, combined with an interim leadership role and personal pressure to prove his worth during a period of extreme uncertainty.
“There was also lots of long overdue debate within our sector about decolonising international development, and I was having some serious existential angst about how I, a white British man, could play a role in this – or if I simply shouldn’t be working in this field any more,” he says. “At the same time, many of the ‘taps’ in my life, the joys and replenishments, got switched off.”
This was not Jones’ first experience with mental ill-health: he describes his anxiety manifesting as thick clouds flooding his mind and clogging it up with negative thoughts.
Love Payroll Giving for fundraising? That’s why the UK’s first National Payroll Giving Week has a Valentine theme and runs until 14th February.
National Payroll Giving Week takes place for the first time this year, running from the 8th to 14th February. It aims to raise awareness within the sector and beyond about the benefits of donating through the simple, tax-efficient method.