Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

These events offer the third sector a chance to get involved in thinking for the long term about the wellbeing of our citizens, our economy and our environment, building a better future for Wales.

• Tuesday 17 January 2012 – Carmarthen Ivy Bush Royal Hotel
• Wednesday 18 January 2012 – Cwmbran Parkway Hotel
• Wednesday 25 January 2012 – Llandrindod Wells Pavilion
• Thursday 26 January 2012 – Rhyl Morfa Hall

The challenges we face include a sustainable economy, tackling deprivation, quality public services, promoting social justice, and making sure we live within our planet’s ability to support us – all within financial constraints.

We can do this by using sustainable development principles to make our decisions, and this is what the Welsh Government intends to achieve through bringing forward the Sustainable Development Bill.

The morning session will help the third sector to understand why sustainable development is relevant to them and how they can shape the proposed legislation to ensure it works for citizens of Wales.

The afternoon session provides an opportunity for the sector to understand why the natural environment is also an essential part of our communities’ wellbeing.

Participants can attend either or both of the sessions.

Click here for the full programme and to book your place.

Date -  Thursday 16th February 2012

Time – 9.30am – 3.00pm

Location – Ysgol Penmaes, Brecon, Powys

This free one day event will provide an opportunity to find out more about how young people with additional needs can successfully achieve their Duke of Edinburgh’s award.  Learn direct from experienced Leaders about the flexibility within the DofE which makes it achievable by all, with practical examples of how a little bit of creativity and innovation can help young people achieve.

Please see DofE website for further information.

If you’re having trouble untangling your concerns about charity trading, the latest in WCVA’s exciting programme of third sector seminars will really help you out.

Titled Charity trading: know the ropes, this seminar – run by Geldards law firm – will guide you through the maze of charity trading concerns. The day will be split into two sessions:the first session will cover the basics of what constitutes trading, when trading income would be taxable in the hands of a charity, and generally why you might set up a trading subsidiary

The second session will then look at how to set up a subsidiary, the provision of working capital and use of other charity resources, and the practical issues you will need to deal with.

This is a challenging subject but practical examples and simple case studies will be used during the seminar to help both Charity Trustees and staff get to grips with it. There will also be the chance to book a one-on-one appointment with a Geldards expert to discuss your particular charity trading concerns, and you’ll get to hear all about 3to3, the third sector’s online marketplace.

WCVA will be running this valuable seminar twice, so everyone can benefit:

Wednesday, 8 February, 9am-2pm – WCVA Head Office, Cardiff, £10

Wednesday, 29 February, 12pm-5pm – Morfa Hall, Rhyl, £10

Lunch will be provided on both dates.

So book your place today, and you’ll soon be making the grade at trading.

A Wales Specific Kick Butts Day activity for young people across Wales on the 4th of April. Participating in the activities allows young people to learn about the ill health caused by tobacco use along with the wider subjects of the tobacco industry in peer groups and within local communities.

Kick Butts Day is a partnership between Tenovus and Ffaith (ASH Wales Youth Programme.) The aim of Ffaith is to reduce the acceptability and use of tobacco products by young people across Wales. Young people have startlingly high smoking rates in Wales with most smokers starting as teenagers, with children in Wales as young as 7 starting to smoke. Amongst Welsh 15 year olds, 14% of girls and 9% of boys report regular smoking. Of the 40 nations in the WHO Health Behaviour of School Age Children Survey only Greenland and the Russian Federation perform more poorly than Wales with respect to the number of 13 year old girls who smoke at least once a week. Children whose parents or siblings smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves. 5,650 people die in Wales each year as a result of smoking. Nearly all of them started smoking as children. Most smokers – 7 out of 10 – say they wish they could quit smoking. Between 66-90% of adult smokers, begin smoking before and are addicted, in adolescence. This is particularly concerning because early uptake of smoking is associated with heavier smoking patterns, a lesser likelihood of quitting, and a higher probability of becoming ill from a smoking related disease.

for further information please see ASH Wales website.

The Professional and Organisational Development team is pleased to announce this FREE one day event – part of a programme of continuing professional development events: ‘Leadership CPD Event’ 25 January 2012 (10-4pm) Venue: TBC

This one day event will explore leadership research over the past century, the relevance to the NHS and specifically its relevance for public health practitioners. The day should be challenging, motivating and fun.

Aim:

· To support delegates in understanding what is expected of them in a leadership role, to carry out some self-assessment and to go away with some development items.

Learning Outcomes:

· To introduce some of the key leadership research over the past century, the relevance to the NHS and specifically its relevance for public health practitioners.

· To explore possible differences between leadership and management

· To examine their role as leaders/managers and their own style of leadership/ management

· To consider some of the core skills that make up “leadership”

To consider ways in which the learning from the course can be used at work.

The event is relevant for:

All public health professionals / workers

To reserve a place complete and return a registration form

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis

For further information please contact POD@wales.nhs.uk or telephone 029 2082 7642.

‘Go Folic’ on 29 November, The Neuadd, Senedd, Cardiff Bay 6pm – 7.45pm. Light refreshments will be served.

A new charitable campaign aimed at providing clear advice about essential folic acid supplementation prior to and during pregnancy. This simple action can prevent children from being born with severe birth defects such as spina bifida, which develop in the first 28 days of pregnancy.

RSVP to Kate Thomas at wales@shinecharity.org.uk or telephone 01656 864102

The King’s Fund will be live webcasting the main sessions from their Annual Conference 2011. This year’s conference will look beyond current debate about structures and reform to focus on how to improve the everyday business of delivering health and social care.

The conference will be held on Wednesday 23 November 2011 from 10am

To sign up to watch the live webcast and for further information see The King’s Fund website. 

A day celebrating the European Year of  Volunteering 2011.

Monday 5th December 2011 at the City Hall, Cardiff, 12.00 -4.30pm

Some local public bodies have recently hosted a Have Your Say Event to get views on community cohesion and equalities issues that affect people in Neath Port Talbot. These organisations are aware that the views of some “protected groups” or “communities of interest” may need additional support so voices can be heard, the LGBT community is one of these groups.

We are asking for people who identify as a member of the LGBT community who live or work in Neath Port Talbot to attend a focus group to have a say about how local services can be fair, responsive and respectful of diversity. You are welcome to attend as an employee, consumer of services, student or interested individual but not solely as a representative of a formal group or organisation. You will be able to make a positive contribution to a fairer society in Neath Port Talbot through helping advance equality and good relations. The event is being funded by the Welsh Government’s Community Cohesion fund.

The focus group will be facilitated by Katy Mather, an independent consultant, and all feedback will be anonymised before being shared with public bodies.

This event is taking place on Thursday 24th November 2011 at the offices of Neath Port Talbot CVS, Ty Margaret Thorne, Alfred Street, Neath and will start at 4pm and finish at 6pm. Refreshments will be provided and transport can be arranged if you need it.

Please complete the [Download not found] and [Download not found] and return them by Friday 18th November. Spaces are limited so please book on as soon as possible. Alternatively, if you would like to share views and wish to remain anonymous, please e-mail katymather@live.co.uk. Only e-mail with real issues or constructive comments – any inappropriate e-mails will be viewed as hate crime material and referred to the police.

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.