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August 2024 Riots: Standing together with VCSE organisations 

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August 2024 Riots: Standing together with VCSE organisations 

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We have been very saddened to see the recent outbreaks of violence and attacks on our TV screens earlier this month. We are all the more sad to hear that for the first time charities working with immigrants, asylum-seekers, and Islamic faith groups were also being specifically targetted. Buildings damaged in the attacks included the Sunderland Citizens Advice building which was extensively damaged by fire. We support the statement recently issued by our umbrella organisation NAVCA:

"As the national membership body for local voluntary and community sector support organisations in England, we utterly condemn the violent disorder perpetrated over recent days. We condemn the rhetoric that has manifested in these appalling attacks. This is not representative of the voluntary and community organisations our members work with or the areas and communities they jointly support. Together, we support and represent voluntary and community sector groups across England who work hard to unite communities, tackle racism and build positive futures"

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Tania and Jo on our staff team volunteering day painting bollards at Hartletts Park for Hook Parish Council

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So far this year, the Hart Volunteer Centre has received 446 enquiries for volunteer roles, we have made 314 referrals to organisations looking to recruit volunteers and have confirmed 118 placements. The Volunteer Centre continues to promote volunteering opportunities via various channels including the Volunteer North Hampshire website,  Hart Volunteer Centre Social Media pages, in person events such as The Volunteer Recruitment Fair in the Hart Shopping Centre and local district events such as the Hartley Wintney Festival. A marketing campaign calendar for the remainder of the year has been devised and there are some exciting events coming up such as our Trustee recruitment evening, planned for the 11th November at The Elvetham (see also separate article below). If you are looking for support in recruiting volunteers or if you would like to know more about the events coming up, then please email tania.skinner@hartvolaction.org.uk

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Tania and Jo CSR best Pic of the day 20.06.24

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Trustee Promotion Event - The Elvetham 11 November

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Trustee Promotion Event - The Elvetham 11 November

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Looking to recruit a new Trustee?

Hart Volunteer Centre are in the throes of organising an inspiring event at The Elvetham on the 11th November. Prospective ‘Trustees’ will be invited to attend this fun and informative evening where they can meet and discuss the various Trustee roles available. If you would like to book a spot and have the opportunity to discuss your trustee role (or roles) with attending volunteers then please click the link here to register your interest. Organisations wishing to participate will need to list their opportunity on the Volunteer North Hampshire website (please contact Tania.Skinner@hartvolaction.org.uk for further information).

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To mark International Youth Day on 12 August we shared the above poem written by a young carer who is part of our Hart and Rushmoor Young Carers service. The poem is called "Hope", which we hope you enjoy reading. If you would like to know more about our young carers service, do get in touch.

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HVA YC Linkedin International Youth Day 24 v7

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Cover picture from the Impact Hart website 

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Hart Sustainable Homes & Gardens Event - 12 October

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Hart Sustainable Homes & Gardens Event - 12 October

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Hart District Council's Climate Engagement team are planning a sustainable homes and gardens event in Hart Shopping Centre, Saturday 12 October. They will be providing stands for some retrofit and sustainable businesses to display their offering, and are looking for recommendations. So, if your group or you have had a good experience with a supplier for your solar panels, ground source heat pump, insulation or similar, please could you share this information with us. Contact Caroline at HVA with any suggestions, and we will pass on. Impact Hart's weblink here.

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Screenshot 2024-08-07 at 08-50-36 IMPACT HART Hart District Council

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We are very pleased to welcome Wilder Hook as our newest HVA member organisation. Wilder Hook is a recently formed community group for people interested in nature, wildlife conservation, sustainability and ecology. It has been set up under the Team Wilder wing of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Their activity involves enhancing and creating new habitats by making wildlife corridors, allowing grass to grow and sowing native wildflowers as well as removing invasive species, building dead hedges and woodpiles and conducting surveys to measure progress. To find out about Wilder Hook's work and upcoming events, please follow them on social media.

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Hart District Council - Countryside Grants Scheme for Bio-diversity

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Hart District Council - Countryside Grants Scheme for Bio-diversity

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Applications are now open for Hart District Council's Countryside Grants scheme.

Small, medium and large grants are available up to the value of £10,000 and applications are open until 31 October. Annually there are eight grants available:

£1,000 – small grant x five available

£5,000 – medium grant x one available

£10,000 – large grant x two available

Eligible organisations: charitable organisations: charitable organisations, clubs and societies with a constitution e.g. playgroups and sports clubs, community interest companies, company limited by guarantee that has tangible social objectives, town and parish councils, voluntary and community groups or residents’ associations with a formal constitution, and schools. Projects must focus on bio-diversity improvements and take place in Hart District. Full details at this link. Grant decisions will be announced in January 2025.

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Grants are available for small charitable organisations working to raise the quality of life for disadvantaged people. The Give Local grants, funded through payroll giving by Costco Warehouse staff, aim to support community-based initiatives focused on: Education – including but not limited to early childhood development, school readiness and success, out of school learning opportunities, soft skills development. Income stability – including but not limited to job training, access to employment, support to obtain employment, advancing financial literacy. Health – including but not limited to mental health support, hunger prevention, access to housing. Thirty grants of £1,500 will be awarded to organisations with an annual income below £300,000, whose activity will impact on people in the areas where Cosco has its stores, ie for our local VCSE - this is the Farnborough store. Link to application form here Closing date 31 August.

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Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 15-26-36 Costco & United Way UK - Give Local 2024 - 2025 Grant Application

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Action Hampshire - Energy Awareness Workshops for the VCSE - 25 September + other dates

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Action Hampshire - Energy Awareness Workshops for the VCSE - 25 September + other dates

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Action Hampshire are providing free online energy workshops for the VCSE sector. The idea is to provide information and upskill the VCSE in Hampshire in energy awareness as although you may not be usually providing energy support, you may be seeing the effects of fuel poverty on your beneficiaries. The next workshop on 25 September 13.00-15.30 will provide you with the confidence in having conversations about energy and supporting people to be safe and warm at home.

During the workshop you will learn -

• How to reduce energy use

• Help available for vulnerable households

• Carbon monoxide awareness

• Priority Services Register

• How to access resources and signposting to specialist services

• Support available from Action Hampshire team

Book your place via Eventbrite or email safeandwarm@actionhampshire.org for more details.

This is open to all! Once you have completed the workshop, you’ll be eligible to apply for a grant for providing energy awareness activity.

Additional workshops are taking place on:

Monday 7th October, Wednesday 30th October, Tuesday 19th November and Thursday 5th December.

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Nominations for the King's Award for Voluntary Service will open on 1 September. Please note the following:

Nominations must be made by a member of the public who does not work or volunteer for the organisation in question. The nominator should have a good knowledge of the group’s work (such as a beneficiary or long-term supporter) and be able to supply two separate letters of support from two additional people who also know the group well.

Eligible groups must:

be led by volunteers, not by paid staff; over half its members should be volunteers

provide a specific and direct benefit to the local community

not have been nominated for King's/Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in the past 3 years

not operate as a national organisation

Nominators will need to set up an account and complete the nomination form. Full details at this link along with details about the previous year's successful nominees.

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Music for All is dedicated to changing lives across the UK by improving access to music making. In 2024 they are offering an instrument-only funding round to community projects and individuals, offering instruments such as drumkits with drumsticks, keyboards, ukulele bundle, pbuzz instruments, electric guitars as well as Arturia Analog Lab V controller software. Successful applicants will also receive access to The Maestro Online Masterclasses for these instruments.

Alongside this instrument-only funding round, they are also hosting their annual Harris Foundation Award which is open to schools looking to deepen their music provision and support/or continue to support groups of music makers within their school. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2024.

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Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust - Marsh Gentian Walk @ Bartley Heath - 25 August

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Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust - Marsh Gentian Walk @ Bartley Heath - 25 August

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Location: Bartley Heath, Hook

Date/time: Sunday 25 August, 14.00-16.00

Bartley Heath’s Marsh Gentian flowers are at their best in late August, and we should also see other wildlife including butterflies, dragonflies, lizards and perhaps deer. This event is organised by the Hart & Rushmoor HIWWT group. Cost £4 per person. Booking link here.

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Screenshot 2024-07-30 at 19-49-43 Marsh Gentian Walk at Bartley Heath Nature Reserve Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

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Pedal for Paris - Going for Green Pledge for Sports Clubs & Community Groups

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Pedal for Paris - Going for Green Pledge for Sports Clubs & Community Groups

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The climate change emergency is affecting our eco-systems, health, homes, facilities and the ability to do the things we enjoy, such as sports and physical activity. Sport has long been a convener for social change, and what better platform than the Olympic Games. Earlier in July, Sport England Chair Chris Boardman lead Pedal for Paris, an eight-day bike ride from Manchester to Paris, to promote green action and innovation ahead of the Paris Olympic Games 2024. To show their support for the ride, sports clubs and community groups in England are invited to sign the Going for Green Pledge as a commitment to being more sustainable by:

reducing energy and water usage

champion walking, cycling and lift sharing when travelling to activities

drastically reduce reliance on single use plastics

recycling waste and increasing the reuse of sports equipment and kit

boosting activity to nurture nature and wildlife.

The Pedal for Paris initiative links in with Sport England's new Every Move strategy on promoting environmental sustainability in sport.

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Pilotlight is an award-winning charity that connects charitable organisations with business leaders to help charities help more people more effectively. This is done through a number of different programmes - which are currently open for application.

Pilotlight 360 - intensive coaching support for charity leaders and their trustee boards

Pilotlight Direction - support with a specific strategic goal

Pilotlight Insight - in-depth reviews of a specific business challenge

Pilotlight Impact Day

Bespoke programmes

More detail at the above link or by visiting their website.

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The Heritage Fund have just launched a new video giving an simple overview of the types of heritage initiatives the Fund is able to support. If you're new to applying to the Heritage Fund for funding, and are looking for a grant of between £10,000 and £250,000, then their new film could be for you. It breaks down the application process into steps in a matter of minutes to help introduce you to the National Lottery Heritage Grants programme. More details about what comes under the heading of heritage (from local history and traditions, buildings and artefacts of common interest, to environmental heritage and more). See also more detail about their range of funding programmes here.

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Explainer: National Lottery Heritage Grants £10,000 to £250,000

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Blackwater Valley Cask & Cork Festival 6-7 September

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Blackwater Valley Cask & Cork Festival 6-7 September

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The next fundraising event for Yateley United Football Club is the Blackwater Valley Cask & Cork Festival on 6-7 September at their base in Sean Devereux Park. Tickets in advance cost £10. For further information and to book tickets go to this link.

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Grassroots football clubs, charities, community and voluntary groups, local authorities and other not-for-profit organisations in England can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to purchase new or replacement goalposts. The funding is made available by the Football Foundation which will cover the costs of 11v11, 9v9 and Mini Soccer goalposts; goalposts that will be used on a 3G pitch; and Futsal goalposts. Unless otherwise agreed with the Foundation, only one application can be made per season. The Premier League, the FA and the government jointly fund the Football Foundation. Applications can be made at any time.

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Citizens Advice Hart: Advice First Aid Training Sessions

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Citizens Advice Hart: Advice First Aid Training Sessions

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Congratulations to Citizens Advice Hart for the special mention they received for their Advice First Aid programme which was nominated for the Best Partnership Working 2024 award at the National Citizens Advice Award Ceremony in April. The Advice First Aid (AFA) programme is an opportunity to upskill volunteers and staff working on the frontline to support vulnerable people in the community. You may come into contact with people for a whole range of reasons in your role, and you might realise they have a problem or that they need help, but you don’t know what to do about it.

New half-day training dates (all of which will take place at Hart District Council's offices) have just been released.

18th September 2024

6th November 2024

5th February 2025

7th May 2025

2nd July 2025

For further information and to book, please contact afa@citizensadvicehart.org.uk

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Sovereign Network Group (SNG) is working in partnership with A2Dominion Housing Group, Peabody and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing to offer grants, through their Black History Month (BHM) 365 fund, that support projects in our communities that celebrate black history with grants of up to £1,000 for events, activities and projects. The fund is opening for applications on 16 August and closing on 13 September - residents, community groups, schools and local councils can apply. Futher detail at this link.

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Hart District Council's next Job Fair event is on Thursday 5 September at the Harlington in Fleet. Hart Volunteer Centre will be there to talk to attendeesa about volunteering as way of gaining experience and learning new skills to help with future employment.

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Sebastian's Action Trust - Charity Golf Day 17 September - Rotherwick

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Sebastian's Action Trust - Charity Golf Day 17 September - Rotherwick

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Swing into action for Sebastian's Action Trust! Tuesday, September 17th, at the stunning Tylney Park Golf Club in Rotherwick, Hook. Tuesday, 17th September Registration: Begins at 9:00 with tee-off at 10:00. Cost: £85 per person or £320 for a fourball

Indulge in: 18 holes of golf - Bacon Roll and Coffee on arrival - Delicious lunch post-game. Get ready for some friendly competition! There'll be competitions, a silent auction, and a raffle with amazing prizes. Plus, the winning team takes home the cup. For more details and to secure your spot, email fundraising@sebastiansactiontrust.org or call 01344 622500.

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Warburtons Community Grants and Product Donations

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Warburtons Community Grants and Product Donations

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Warburtons Community Grants provides small grants up to £400 to support charitable organisations towards broader activities which improve Health, Place or Skills for families in their community. Applications are considered on a quarterly basis so look at for when the next application window opens. More detail at this link.

Warburtons Product Donations - please see further detail at this link - will support one-off events, as well as ongoing projects dealing with food poverty, hospices, and other community projects. One-off event applications must be made at least 3 weeks ahead of the event.

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Twilight Runway Challenge  @ Blackbushe Airport - 21 September 

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Twilight Runway Challenge  @ Blackbushe Airport - 21 September 

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The Twilight Runway Challenge organised by the Community Matters Partnership Project is back for another year. The Twilight Runway Challenge is a fun, family-friendly event which takes place along the airstrip of Blackbushe Airport (once the flights have stopped landing!) You can run, walk, cycle, scoot or skateboard your way round the 3km, 5km or 10km route. You also have the option to take part and raise vital funds for a local charity of your choice. A number of our member organisations are taking part if you are looking for a charity to support:

Aerobility

Citizens Advice Hart

Mustard Seed Autism Trust

OFLAC (Oak Farm Leisure and Activities Club)

Parity for Disability

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

Sebastian's Action Trust

Step by Step Partnership

Stepping Stones DS

Yateley Industries for the Disabled

The Zone!

See more detail at this link.

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Spotlight on a member organisation - MHA Communities Hampshire North

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Spotlight on a member organisation - MHA Communities Hampshire North

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Our local MHA Communites branch is Hampshire North covering Hart, Rushmoor and Basingstoke & Deane. MHA Communities is a national charity offering social groups and activities for older people. In Hart, we currently have 2 social groups:

Fleet Chit-Chat (weekly - Wednesday afternoons).

Yateley Lunch (weekly - Tuesday afternoons).

Charlotte Powell has recently joined as the new Locality Manager, and is keen to promote MHA Communities to other voluntary and community organisations, carers' groups etc. Please get in touch with her Charlotte.Powell@mha.org.uk if you would like to connect.

MHA Communities Hampshire North weblink here.