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New Alliance for the Voluntary & Community Sector with the Frimley Integrated Care System

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New Alliance for the Voluntary & Community Sector with the Frimley Integrated Care System

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The new Frimley VCSE Alliance is one of the latest Alliances between health, social care and the voluntary and community sector to be launched across England. Hart Voluntary Action along with similar charities operating within the Frimley Health geography is pleased to be able to invite you sign up to this new alliance and to join us for an online launch event on 16 July (see events section for more information).

Our ambition is to establish the VCSE sector as an equal health and care partner in shaping strategies, plans and services to deliver improved health and wellbeing for local community.

Membership is open to Frimley VCSE representatives together with nominated Frimley ICS staff. Registered Members have full voting rights in our main Alliance meetings which will take place three times a year. You choose the level of your activity which ranges from attending meetings, being part of one of our four sub-groups which will meet quarterly or simply receiving our e-bulletin updates. Membership registration link here:

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National Carers Week 2024 runs from 10 - 16 June. 1 in 15 people in Hart provide essential unpaid care to neighbours, family, and friends. Many people don’t recognise themselves as carers, so the numbers are likely much higher. 60% of us will be carers at some point in our lives.

In Hart, we have:

• nearly 7000 unpaid carers (although the number is likely to be much higher)

• carers in every district, with the highest numbers of carers in Hartley Wintney, Crookham West and Ewshot and Hook

• 2,287 unpaid carers that care for 35 or more hours each week

• 366 unpaid carers who are under 24

Carers can be any age, caring for others with health conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, mental health problems, addictions, and disabilities. They provide a valuable service to our community and often make many sacrifices of their own.

For information about what services and community groups can involve or support unpaid carers and the people they care for, please click on the "Carers" category in the Here for Hart Directory, a joint initiative of Hart Voluntary Action and Hart District Council.

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Thanks to Kate Cottrell for coming to our 20 May Voluntary Sector Forum to update on Greening Fleet activity since they got underway last year. Greening Fleet is part of the Hampshire-wide Greening Campaign, which aims to bring groups of people together from a village/town/ward areas of the county around 5 key environmental issues:

Space for Nature

Cycle of the Seed

Energy Efficient, Warmer Homes

Waste Prevention

Health Impacts of Climate Change

Just some of the Greening Fleet activity to date:

Setting up the volunteer-run Fleet Repair Cafe

Litter picks/nature walks

Thermal imaging residents' homes

We also learned that you don't have to live in Fleet to get involved, and that Greening Fleet are looking for more "pillar" volunteers to take the lead on running related events and activities.

Greening Fleet has a private Facebook Group page that you can register your interest to join. Also, do look out for news updates on the Fleet Town Council website.

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Thanks to Amanda and Martin Whittaker of Wilder Hook for joining our 20 May Voluntary Sector Forum to talk about this new volunteer-led initiative to improve bio-diversity links around the village to make it easier for a wide range of plant and wildlife species to thrive. Link to the Wilder Hook presentation here. Wilder Hook is part of the larger Team Wilder initiative launched by the Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust, and is currently the northernmost Wilder group in Hampshire. You can connect with them via their Facebook Page. Wilder Hook are organising a Bioblitz Event on 23 June at Mitchell's Field 14.30-17.30.

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Hampshire Household Support Fund Grants 

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Hampshire Household Support Fund Grants 

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The latest round of Household Support Fund grants is currently open. The three types of grant are:

Community Grants ((£720,000) so that community organisations can support local initiatives tailored to local needs, as well as for organisations or professionals working with families by exception to apply for urgent crisis funding.

Advice Grants (£125,000) to deliver advice on budgeting, finances, maximising income or accessing other help.

Community pantries and food support schemes (£550,000) for funding that will help provide vulnerable households with food via Community Pantries, with their projects being implemented prior to the end of the grant period.

Closing date for applications is 9 August, but we would advise not waiting until the deadline to apply. Full details at this link, and do no hesitate to contact Hampshire County Council for advice on whether your project proposal would be suitable for this grant scheme.

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National Theatre Live @ The Victoria Hall, Hartley Wintney, 19 June and @The Cross Barn, Odiham 21 June

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National Theatre Live @ The Victoria Hall, Hartley Wintney, 19 June and @The Cross Barn, Odiham 21 June

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Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state and created the NHS.  Confronted with death, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan’s deepest memories lead him on a mind-bending journey back through his life; from childhood to mining underground, Parliament and fights with Churchill.

Tickets £16 and £11 for under 18

Licensed bar (card or cash), with wine, beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee, run by the Victoria Hall Charity. Booking link here.

The Cross Barn Odiham is hosting a viewing of "Nye" on 21 June. Booking Link here. Tickets £15.

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We were pleased to welcome Miaya Dangol KC, our local National Lottery Community Fund Grants Officer to our Voluntary Sector Forum on 20 May. The link to her presentation is here. But the key points raised were:

New grant applications should reflect the NLCF's updated community-led missions:

supporting communities to come together

supporting communities to be environmentally sustainable

supporting communities to help children and young people thrive

supporting communities to enable people to live healthier lives.

Awards for All grants are now up to £20k over a 2-year period.

Reaching Communities is the other open grant programme - please allow up to 12 months to get to the grant award point. Other grant programmes which require working with other organisations at the local, regional or national levels include Partnerships and Climate Action Fund - Our Shared Future. Further detail also on the NLCF website.

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See poster for details of the next 3 Fleet Flower Club events. This poster was designed following the Club's attendance at the Make a Professional Poster with Canva training session last year (next training session on 25th June - see Training Events section). To keep up to date with Fleet Flower Club's events please follow their Facebook Page.

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Topic: Grieving and Guilt with Dr Gemma Jones

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Alzheimer Cafe Farnborough - next meeting - 21 June

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Alzheimer Cafe Farnborough - next meeting - 21 June

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Alzheimer Cafés provide dementia-related education in a café-like setting for people with dementia (any type), their family, friends, professionals, and for anyone else interested in dementia. NEWCOMERS ARE WELCOME!  No advance registration required.

When: the 3rd Friday of each month (except August)

Time:      6.30 – 8.30 pm

Where:   St. Peter’s Parish Centre, 60 Church Avenue, Farnborough, GU14 7AP

For more information about the cafés: Phone:  Farnborough Alzheimer Cafe:  07938 175 002 or see website.

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Make A Professional Poster using Canva - training session: 25 June

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Make A Professional Poster using Canva - training session: 25 June

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Thanks to Rebecca Thompson from Hart District Council, Hart Voluntary Action is offering another half-day training session on how to use "Canva" to make your publicity look more professional and eye-catching. The training session will be on 25 June, 10.00-12.00 at Hart Civic Offices in Fleet. To book a free place, please go to this link. We will operate a waiting list if we get more than 12 booking requests.

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NCVO - General Election 2024 Hustings Event (0nline) - 19 June. + "Voluntary Sector Manifesto"

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NCVO - General Election 2024 Hustings Event (0nline) - 19 June. + "Voluntary Sector Manifesto"

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Ahead of the general election, NCVO wants to make sure that the voice of the charity and voluntary sector is heard loud and clear by all parties and is inviting our sector to their ber of our community, we’d like to invite you to our General Election 2024 hustings online event. This event provides a unique opportunity for you to hear from the main political parties and for them to present their vision for the sector. This is your chance to put your questions forward.

So far, the confirmed speakers are: Labour’s Shadow Minister for Charities, Lilian Greenwood, and the Liberal Democrat’s culture, media and sport spokesperson, Jamie Stone. Speakers from the Conservative Party, the SNP, Green, Reform and Plaid Cymru to be confirmed.

Date: 19 June

Time: 12.00-13.30

Location: Online, via Zoom

Booking link.

Link to the Voluntary Sector Manifesto which has been put together by NCVO and ACEVO on behalf of their members is here:

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Online Launch of the Frimley Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Alliance: 16 July 10.00-12.00

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Online Launch of the Frimley Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Alliance: 16 July 10.00-12.00

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Do you represent a charity, faith organisation, community group or social enterprise which is based in or delivers services within the geographical footprint of Frimley Integrated Care System?

If yes, then we would like to invite you to come and join this exciting new VCSE Alliance which has been developed through a collaboration of local Councils for Voluntary Services (including Hart Voluntary Action) and People to Places, together with colleagues from with Frimley Integrated Care System (ICS) – free tickets can be booked here

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Open Saturdays at Hart's Community Garden - All Welcome!

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Hart's Community Garden - Open Saturdays - July, August and September 

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Hart's Community Garden - Open Saturdays - July, August and September 

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We are now into our 3rd growing season at the Community Garden in Edenbrook Country Park and are looking to expand the number of Hart residents who enjoy regular access to community gardening activity. Please could you share the information about this opportunity to drop in on the 1st Saturday morning in July, August, or September to find out more about what is going on and how individuals or groups can get involved. Contact hcg@hartvolaction.org.uk or call 01252 815652 if you would like to find out more and join one of the regular weekday sessions. One outcome could be that we open up a regular Saturday gardening session.

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Do you have a working knowledge and experience of the JustGiving fundraising platform? Are you confident navigating around the site and have some pearls of wisdom to share? Then we would love to hear from you!

Hart Voluntary Action is looking for short-term volunteer support, by way of tutorials, on how to get the most out of their Just Giving subscription. Get in touch using this link.

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Village Magpies: New recycling, sorting and storage venue needed

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Village Magpies: New recycling, sorting and storage venue needed

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Hart Voluntary Action is pleased to be working with other community organisations in the western parishes in Hart to keep the Village Magpies recycling initiative going for the future. Started by two enthusiastic Rotherwick residents some years ago, this scheme has helped to recycle many types of waste through the Terracycle scheme, which can not go into our blue wheelie bins in Hart, and has raised charitable funds at the same time. But the storage and sorting space that Village Magpies has been using all this time is about to be reclaimed by the landlord, and so we are on the hunt for a new venue. What are we looking for? Somewhere about the size of a double garage with access to lighting, ideally somewhere in western Hart at low or no cost. Are we asking too much?? Do get in touch if you have any ideas.

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Hampshire Forest Partnership have secured a grant from the King’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund to create Community Orchards across Hampshire. The Hampshire Forest Partnership are looking for partners across Hampshire to plant orchards in commemoration of the Coronation of King Charles III on 6th May 2023.

Community Orchards provide a wonderful space for people to come together and cultivate trees to produce locally grown fruit and nuts. Community Orchards can become the focal points for community activities and learning, allowing people within their communities to learn new skills within their natural outdoor classrooms. Planting a Community Orchard can help improve community wellbeing and increase outdoor activities. Research has shown that spending time in a green space can also improve mood and boost both mental and physical wellbeing with the NHS now offering 'Green Social Prescribing' in similar projects.

Orchards provide a unique and important habitat for a range of wildlife. By planting Community Orchards in the right places, and encouraging wildlife friendly management practises, we will help boost pollinators and increase biodiversity. The Hampshire Forest Partnership can help people plant and improve Community Orchards in towns and villages across Hampshire, providing community partners with support, advice, and funding. If you are a parish council, community group, or organisation with permission to plant trees on a publicly accessible site in Hampshire and would be interested in finding out more information on eligibility, or to submit an enquiry form, please email treeplanting@hants.gov.uk More detail at this weblink.

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Thanks to Joanne Davies, Grants Manager at HiWCF who came to present to our 20 May Voluntary Sector Forum about the grant programmes that are open or will be opening soon. A copy of her presentation along with guidance about how to complete the application form is here.

Grant programmes which are open to Hart-based groups to apply are:

Including Communities grants (opens in August and closes in early October): 1 year grants between £1k and £10k. A focus on "Flourishing Communities" theme – about connecting and strengthening community bonds.

HiWCF is also offering SWEF grants programme for individuals to apply to These grants are up to £2,000, for young adults aged 18-30 who are entrepreneurs and need help taking their new business to the next level.

Weblink for more information or to join the mailing list here.

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Step by Step - 10k Sponsored Walk - Wellesley Woods, Aldershot 20 July

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Step by Step - 10k Sponsored Walk - Wellesley Woods, Aldershot 20 July

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Grab your walking shoes and join Step by Step for a fun 10k walk through Wellesley Woodlands, Aldershot. It's the perfect way to raise money for an amazing cause while enjoying fresh air and lovely scenery.

Go the distance for Step by Step and get sponsored to support young people facing homelessness and other challenges. There's a free Step by Step Travel Mug for raising £50 or more! Entry is just £10 each, with free entry for under 16s. It's a fantastic event for the whole family and dogs are also welcome.

Where? Wellesley Woodlands, Steele's Rd, Aldershot GU11 2ES.

When? Saturday 20th July 2024.
Registration from 9:30am

Walk starts at 10:30am

Registration link here.

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LGBTQ+ awareness training with Breakout Youth: 23rd Sept 2024 13.00-16.00, the Harlington Fleet

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LGBTQ+ awareness training with Breakout Youth: 23rd Sept 2024 13.00-16.00, the Harlington Fleet

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Breakout Youth is an independent charity based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which offers a confidential support service for young people aged 11 to 25, who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or unsure of their sexuality or gender identity. Link to Breakout Youth's website here. The Hart & Rushmoor Local Children's Partnership are pleased to be offering a free half-day awareness training session with members of the Breakout Youth team. This will be an interactive session with to help empower those working with young people. Content will include: general information, topics (eg hate crime) and specific areas of interest from participants. Free to attend. Booking link here

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Please see the new publicity from Accessibility for You. You can find out more about how they can help individuals with disabilties/additional needs with information how accessible local venues etc are, and how you can contribute your own experiences. Contact information above and link to website here.

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CPRE Hampshire are inviting entries for the 2024 Hampshire Countryside Awards. When you enter, you can choose to enter into one or more of the 4 award categories:

The Hampshire Grassroots Action Award

The Hampshire Projects in Protected Landscapes Award

The Hampshire Climate Action Award

The Hampshire Countryside Health and Wellbeing Award

The Hampshire Climate Action Award is for projects rising to the challenge of the climate crisis which currently poses the largest threat to our Hampshire countryside. This may include groups tackling the crisis through energy audits, carbon neutral initiatives, tree planting or innovation energy projects.

Nominations must be received by 30 September. Full details about how to enter at this link.

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Please see link to other funding opportunities, which Hart Voluntary Action provides as a regular update to the Here for Hart Working Group bi-monthly meetings. The May update covers the following:

The Movement Fund - Sport England

The Grassroots Football Fund: No Nonsense Support for Grassroots Football

Arnold Clark – Gear Up for Sport

Bentley Advancing Life Chances Small Grants Programme

Newbury Building Society: Community Support Scheme

Women & Girls Match Fund – Big Give

South Downs Health and Wellbeing Travel Grants

Hilden Charitable Fund

The W G Edwards Charitable Foundation

GSK Impact Awards 2025

Cinnamon Incubator Programme

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After the success of The Hart Youth Achievement Awards last year, Fleet Phoenix are excited to announce the 2024 Hart Youth Achievement Awards! These will once again celebrate the amazing work and successes of young people locally. We want to publicly recognise the talented, community focused and giving young people we have in the Hart district. With the help of a range of community partners, we are here to remind the community, and the young people themselves, about all the positive attributes they contribute to our area. This is where you come in.

Fleet Phoenix are asking for all members of the community to nominate those young people aged 11-25 who need celebrating. Young people must live or be educated in Hart District. Nominations are open 30 September, and the celebratory event will be in October. You will see below the categories and each one has an award for a junior (up to 16), senior (16-25) and new this year is the group achievement award.

Community Champion Award

Courage Award

Entrepreneur Award

Environmental Award

Fundraising Award

Group Achievement (NEW for 2024)

Sports & Arts Award

Volunteering Award

Link to the Nomination Form here.

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Inclusion Recovery Hampshire is hosting a series of online information sessions, and would like to invite you and your colleagues to join them. These sessions are designed to provide an understanding of Inclusion Recovery Hampshire's drug and alcohol treatment services in Hampshire. Attendees will learn about their referral process, explore the treatment options available, and receive basic drug and alcohol awareness training. These sessions are ideal for professionals working with people who may benefit from drug and alcohol treatment or support, as well as staff members from our partner agencies who wish to enhance their knowledge around drugs and alcohol.

Sessions are online and run between 10.00-12.00

18 July booking link

17 October booking link

15 January booking link

For more information about Inclusion Recovery Hampshire's services, please go to their website.