Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

The Welsh Government is seeking the views of businesses, social enterprises, third sector organisations and others on how the current European Structural Funds Programmes (2007-2013) have worked in Wales and what the priorities should be for future programmes.

This is a good opportunity to influence the Welsh Government’s planning for the next round of European funding and ensure that the new programmes address the challenges and opportunities facing Welsh social enterprises.

To strengthen the voice of social enterprises we would encourage you to fill in the questionnaire and send it back to us. Your views will form the basis of the Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition’s submission.

Deadline for submissions – 27th January 2012

You can also respond individually by going to the WEFO website.

Parishioners across Wales are being invited to share their ideas for the future of the Church in Wales with a team of advisers who are conducting an independent root and branch review.

for further information on the consultation see website.

On 1 December the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) launched a reflection exercise that provides an opportunity for partners to engage in early stage development for any future European Programmes for Wales (Structural Funds, Rural Development and Fisheries). At this stage WEFO is seeking feedback on the strategic direction of the new programmes for 2014-2020; a more detailed public consultation on the programme priorities for funding will follow later in 2012.

Stakeholders are asked to respond to the specific questions accessible on the WEFO website by 27 January 2012 and responses should be sent to WEFO-Post2013Programmes@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK.

WCVA’s third sector European team (3-SET) will collate a response on behalf of the third sector, and I would welcome your comments for inclusion in this by 13 January 2012

Change of date and venue for the event which is being held in Cardiff: originally planned to be held at the Welsh Government building in Cathays Park on Wednesday 30 November. This event will now take place on Monday 5 December in City Hall, Cathays Park, Cardiff.

If you have previously reserved a place at the Cardiff event, your booking will have been carried across to the new date and venue – if you are unable to make this new date, please could you inform us as soon as possible by emailing: mentalhealthlegislation@wales.gsi.gov.uk.

If you have not responded yet, but wish to attend the Cardiff event, or any of the other meetings which are being held across Wales, booking forms are available for download below.

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Please could you send completed forms to mentalhealthlegislation@wales.gsi.gov.uk no later than a week in advance of the event you wish to attend.

Voices for Change Cymru produce a consultation bulletin on a weekly basis, the latest is available for [Download not found]

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Local Government and Communities, has recently set out the major changes the Welsh Government proposes to make to its Communities First programme from April 2012. The programme was launched in 2001 to involve local people in the work of regenerating the most deprived communities in Wales. The programme will keep its community focus, but from next April there will be a much stronger emphasis on tackling poverty and contributing to the Welsh Government’s wider anti-poverty agenda. The programme will still be based in the most deprived areas in Wales but it will be more flexible and there will be more attention to ensuring that Communities First supports the most disadvantaged individuals and groups, as opposed to having rigid geographic boundaries. The exact boundaries will be agreed between the Welsh Government and local partners, during, and after, the consultation process. The Welsh Government will be discussing with key partners in each local authority area, including the existing Communities First partnerships how the future of the programme should be targeted in their locality. There will also be a clear-cut assessment of how the programme is tackling deprivation and improving living conditions for those in poverty. Local Communities First partnerships will focus on actions that have the greatest impact on individuals’ education and skills, economic and health prospects. To measure how well the programme is meeting the needs of the people in greatest need of support, the Welsh Government plans to introduce a set of key indicators under each theme to ensure that the impact and contribution of the programme can be assessed more consistently. The consultation period for Communities First-The Future runs from the 5 July until 26 September 2011. Please click on the link for further details of the consultation and how you can respond to it.

The Health Board is undertaking this engagement exercise during 8th September and 16th October 2011 to inform their decisions on the future use of the Hill House Hospital site. The findings from the engagement exercise will be considered by the Health Board and will be presented to ABM Community Health Council in November 2011.

Your views are important to us and you can provide comment in the following ways:

• By attending the community engagement events, details of which will be publicised.
• By writing to: Jan Worthing, Locality Director – Swansea, Floor 12, Oldway Centre, 36, Orchard Street, Swansea, SA1 5AW
• Or email: sendusyourviews.abm@wales.nhs.uk, referencing ‘Hill House Hospital’ in your response.

Professor Malcolm Harrington has announced a second Call for Evidence with regard to the Work Capability Assessment. This can be found on the DWP website. The consultation is open until 16th September, and will be concentrating on certain areas of the process, with particular emphasis on the face-to-face assessment undertaken by the Atos Healthcare Professional. If you wish to contribute to this consultation, please see the response template at the above page. This is an excellent opportunity to really make a difference in shaping the future of the WCA.

Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Authority are seeking views from their communities and stakeholders between 16th May 2011 and 19th August 2011, and hope that you will take the time to provide your comments. An electronic copy of the Draft Plan and response form are on their website. A hard copy of the plan is available on request.

• Carers Strategies Measure received Royal Ascent in November 2010

• WAG just launched consultation on draft Regulations and Guidance to support the implementation of this measure (deadline for consultation 23 June 2011)

• Aims to address gaps in provision of services for carers, and to ensure consistent standard

Key areas:

• information for carers e.g. financial benefits; employment; rights to needs assessment etc.

• statutory agencies to engage with carers as partners in the provision of care services, and to include consulting carers on decisions for service user

• training for staff to better assist carers

• training for carers.

• Duty on LHBs/Trusts to produce a strategy.

For more information click here

Guidance for Engagement and Consultation on Changes to Health Services

• This has just been published yesterday 31 March, following consultation

• Pleased to say that WCVA’s request to include reference to Local Compacts has been picked up: find reference in para 24

• Although WCVA also requested reference to the MoU with the CHCs, it was felt that this was outside the Guidance’s remit.

For more information click here