May 31st 2012, 9am – 1pm

Barnabas Church Centre, Longden Coleham, Shrewsbury, SY3 7DN

In these times of austerity this is a real boost as this event oozes positivity and promises not only to lift your mood but give you practical tips and tools to move your organisation forward as well as being YOUR opportunity to help shape the support you need.

Download a pdf of the event programme here

Open to anyone in and working with the voluntary and community sector in Shropshire. If you are the CEO of a large charity or a volunteer at a small community group there will be something at this event that will inspire you!

 This is YOUR event, be part of it!

Five reasons why you can not miss this event:

• Have your say and help shape the support and services you need most
• Celebrate and showcase the success of Shropshire’s voluntary sector
• Get practical tips to ensure your voice and messages are heard and acted upon
• Gain a fresh perspective on your impact and how to tell others you are brilliant
• Meet and make links with other organisations 

because together we are stronger…. 

The venue is a good size so we hope we won’t have to limit numbers but book now to secure your place.

Bookingcouldn’t be simpler, the easiest way is via an online link www.surveymonkey.com/s/M7J3ZZZ  but post and email are available too (see details on the event programme).

Shropshire Council is conducting a consultation to inform how to commission an independent organisation to provide Healthwatch which helps people have their say about health and social care services (for children and adults).

For further information and an easy to use survey please click here.

The host business of the live sessions, Lanyon Bowdler, is offering the additional services of their Town & Country planning solicitor, Rebecca Whittaker to help with any detailed planning questions.

The free architecture surgeries are part of ‘Ask The Architect?’ which is available to everyone and created by Matthew Franklin to make architecture more accessible and give something back to the community.

Matthew has collaborated with building professionals in the UK and local businesses to establish ‘Ask The Architect?’ which takes place every Friday afternoon and there are a range of ways to contact the team including Facebook, twitter and email. You can even book sessions in the studio of mbf DESIGN.

Plans are being made to take the live sessions on tour around Shropshire, brining in other independent local business to the team.

The live sessions will run on the afternoon of Friday 18th May at Lanyon Bowdler’s Shrewsbury office, and bookings can be made directly with Rachel Donaghey on 01952 224047 or email Rachel.Donaghey@lblaw.co.uk

More information on ‘Ask The Architect?’ can be found at http://www.facebook.com/AskTheArchitect

Philip Dunne MP will open the conference and other speakers will include:

• Paul Sutton- Executive Director, South Shropshire Housing Association
• Dr Kevin Lewis- Director of Preventative Health Programmes
• Graham Whitham- Poverty Policy Advisor, Save The Children
• Samantha Nicklin- Campaigns Manager, Age UK
• Julia Baron- Chief Executive, Shropshire RCC
• Jon Cooke- Volunteer, Affordable Warmth Forum

The conference will look at the problem of fuel poverty both locally and nationally and how it effects the lives of families and individuals. It will help participants to be aware of the signs of fuel poverty and look at the work being undertaken to help tackle the problem both by organisations and volunteers across Shropshire.

The conference will be of benefit to anyone working in the field of health, housing, education, family wellbeing and community work.

This event is free but booking is essential and early booking is recommended! Please email clive.leworthy@shropshire-rcc.org.uk to reserve your place.

They will use the information provided through the survey to work to improve domiciliary care services in Shropshire.

Please feel free to complete the survey and encourage any of your members to take a look!

The survey can be accessed by clicking here.

They will be hosting a FREE live art event in Much Wenlock on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May 2012 in the streets and Priory Hall of Much Wenlock.

On Saturday 5th May the event will be launched by the Mayor of Much Wenlock, Lesley Durbin followed by Sean Burn’s first programme of “psychosis belly”. Several artists will be presenting their work in the Priory Hall and at 4pm a selection of films starring or directed by disabled artists will be shown.

On Sunday 6th May several performances will also be held from Alan McLean and Sean Burn. The official programme of events can be viewed here along with further information about DASH. 

The official leaflet for the event can also be accessed here.

If you would like further information about this project please contact Paula Dower on 01743 272939 or email paula@dasharts.org

BIG is committed to developing a new strategic investment for older people in 2012. They want to do something different. They are going to try something new. Something, they think is very exciting. And they want you to be a part of it. They want older people to co-design this investment.

There are two ways for older people to get involved:

Engagement Event – 3rd May, London

The first way of getting involved is to attend a one off event Thursday 3rd May, 12-4pm in London. The event will give an overview of BIG’s thinking so far and ask older people what they think. A booking form can be downloaded here, and expenses will be paid.

Longer term involvement

Secondly, they are also looking to recruitment a group of up to 15 older people to meet with them regularly to co-design the initiative.

Below you can download:

• A flyer advertising the opportunity
• An application form
• Q&A

If you are interested in being part of this longer commitment you need to complete the short application form and send it back by 6 May 2012.

Matthew Poole, Policy and Learning Manager, Big Lottery Fund, 0121 345 7908,  Apex House, 3 Embassy Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 1TR, www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Public service contracts are coming up for tender and many voluntary and community organisations are taking the decision to bid for these contracts. This course has been developed to support the individuals within your organisation who are or will be responsible for writing tender bids. The aim of this course is to raise your capacity and capability to successfully bid for and win contracts.

No matter what type of contract opportunity you are bidding for, the course will help you understand:

• What goes into the buyer’s decision to choose a provider
• How to make your bid stand out and demonstrate that you are better than your competitors
• The evidence you need to back up your bid
• How to perfect your pitch

Cost: Vol/Comm Org – £30 Stat/Ext Org – £80

Where: Shropshire RCC Shrewsbury SY2 6LG

When: 18th April 2012 9.30am – 4.00pm

To book, contact Lorraine Smart on 01743 237880 or email lorraine.smart@shropshire-rcc.org.uk

By the end of this session fundraisers will be able to:

• Identify relevant regulation and best practice in fundraising
• State how to build a fundraising plan
• Construct the outline of a fundraising strategy for their organisation

What will be covered?

Getting started: the law, best practice and ‘the rules’

• Where is your organisation now?
• Where does it want to get to?
• How is it going to get there?
• Delivering on the strategy

Cost: Vol/Comm Org – £50 Stat/Ext Org – £100

Where: CCS Training Suite, Shrewsbury

When: 13th June 2012 9:30am-4:30pm

To book, contact Lorraine Smart on 01743 237880 or email lorraine.smart@shropshire-rcc.org.uk

The importance of physical activity is well known for long-term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease but the risk of falling is an immediate and debilitating fear for many older people. This fear, in itself, causes people to restrict their movement and thereby increase their likelihood of falling.

The Guest Speakers include Professor Dawn Skelton, from Glasgow Caledonian University, Dr Len Almond, Foundation Director of the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health and Dr Shu Ho, Consultant Geriatrician at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The conference will be of interest to anyone who works with older people, in health or physical activity. The conference is heavily subsidised and costs only £10 per delegate, which includes a free lunch. It is endorsed by Skills Active for four CPD points for REPS members.

Please click here for the conference programme and booking form. Contact susie.hancock@shropshire-rcc.org.uk for further details.