Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

Work with children and vulnerable adults?

The vetting and barring (VBS) scheme has not been scrapped – some aspects of it have been put on hold while it is reviewed. 

Despite what it says on the Business Link website and other places as well, compulsory registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority is not, at least for the moment, going ahead in November.   All registrations – both voluntary from 26th July and compulsory from November – are on hold.

Please visit the website for further details.

WCVA’s Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards are this year supported by CCLA Investment Management Ltd.  As well as recognition of individuals, young people (under 25 years), and groups, the scheme also rewards ‘green’ volunteers and trustees. There will be up to three winners in each category, with 15 national winners presented with their awards at a ceremony in Cardiff in June, and all nominees awarded commendation certificates at a local ceremony or by post.  Details of the scheme, including nomination forms, are available from the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329.  The deadline for receipt of nominations is 23 April 2010.

The following local groups have been successful in receiving the BT Community Connections awards: Ethel Street Events Committee Neath, The Bridge Church Neath, The Special Needs Activity Centre Port Talbot, Eyeline Port Talbot, The Friendship Club Port Talbot

The Welsh Assembly Government are hosting a series of events across Wales to encourage people from under represented groups in the community to take up grants from the Assembly to run their own business. The dates and locations for the events, which take place between 10.30am and 3.30pm and include lunch and refreshments, are: Wednesday 24 March at Cardiff City Stadium, Thursday 25 March at Trinity College, Carmarthen and Monday 29 March at Liberty Stadium. For more details, or to register go to the website.

‘Between the Glass Ceiling and the Mud Floor; Women’s Continuing Inequality in 21st Century Welsh Society’ to be held between 10.30 am – 3.30 pm on Tuesday 16th March 2010 at Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff. Registration from 10.00 am

Do you want to feel better about yourself, Less stressed, Feel healthier, Fitter and more confident? A New FREE group is meeting between 1.oo-3.oo pm every Thursday starting 14th January. All welcome. It will be a fun course, where you will gain advice, support and learn new ideas. For more information contact YWCA, 23 Depot Road, Cwmafan on 01639 894184.

BBC Radio Wales is looking for community groups and organisations in Neath Port Talbot with exciting plans or initiatives for 2010 who would like to share their plans, whether big or small, and showcase their organisation on Wales’s national radio station. If you have ideas and stories to share, contact Andrew Jones at BBC Radio Wales on (029) 2032 3546 or alternatively e mail andrew.jones5@bbc.co.uk.

The Friends of Port Talbot and Afan Women’s Aid present their Christmas Craft Fayre on Saturday 12^th December from 11am at Ebenezer’s Baptist Church, Civic Square, Port Talbot.

CDC met with Children in Need late last year to advise them on their new grant giving programme called ‘Fun and Friendship’. This is a programme specifically working with disabled children aged between 12 – 18 years and awarding grants to projects that give disabled young people opportunities to just do what other young people do and that projects must demonstrate disabled young people’s participation and leadership. The ‘Fun and Friendship’ grant programme has now been launched with a closing date for applications as 31st July 2009. For more information see http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/funandfriendship.shtml

Recognise the groups volunteering in your community – nominate them for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Please find a leaflet attached in welsh and english.  Nominating a group couldn’t be easier – email queensaward@consol.co.uk, visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk or call 020 7781 2397.