Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

The September edition of the RDP Newsletter is now available for download

Villages in Wales have one month left to apply for a share of £5 million Lottery cash to create exciting community enterprises that will help to revitalise their area and meet the needs of local people.

Projects have until 5pm on Thursday 20th October 2011 to apply for up to £30,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS Active competition, which follows hot on the heels of the primetime BBC One series, Village SOS.

Find further information here

The Guardian has launched a new award just for social enterprises. The awards seek out the UK’s most promising social enterprises who look set to make a big impact. The Guardian will award four outstanding finalists by showcasing the winning ideas at the Guardian Social Enterprise 2011 summit, where delegates will vote for the overall winner.

Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP is delighted to be involved and will be represented on the judging panel.

The deadline for entries is 11.59 on Friday 14 October 2011 and the competition results will be announced at The Guardian’s annual summit on the 8th November 2011.

For further information about the awards and for a full list of entry criteria please visit the Guardian website

Remember that IAITH in collaboration with Trinity Saint David University College will bear fruit in February 2012 with the first intake of students to its new Welsh-medium postgraduate certificate course in Language Policy and Planning.

The course consists of two 30 credit modules – Essential Language Planning and Promoting Welsh – with IAITH staff leading the teaching team. It is an ideal course for those already involved in language issues in Wales as well as students who are considering language planning as a carer option.

For more information contact Christine Jones on c.m.jones@tsd.ac.uk or calling 0300 5001822. Some bursaries are available. see leaflet here 

The ABMU Third Sector Compact sets out how the Health Community and Third Sector within ABMU want to work together to improve services for local people. Its value comes from the commitment of organisations that sign up to working in partnership to deliver better services. This is the first of its kind in Wales to date. ABMU Third Sector Compact

Briton Ferry Health and Well Being Group are holding a craft fayre on Thursday 20th October 2011 10.00am – 4.00pm at Briton Ferry Community Centre. There will be a variety of stalls.

On Monday 19 September 2011 the Minister for Health and Social Services laid before the National Assembly for Wales two sets of Regulations associated with the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010: the Mental Health (Assessment of Former Users of Secondary Mental Health Services) (Wales) Regulations 2011 and the Mental Health (Independent Mental Health Advocates) (Wales) Regulations 2011, along with accompanying Explanatory Memoranda and Regulatory Impact Assessments. Documents are available here

The first opportunity for the people of Wales to help form a new Assembly law has been announced by the National Assembly for Wales’s Presiding Officer.Rosemary Butler AM named 19 October as the day of the first ballot of non-government Assembly Members for the Fourth Assembly in this afternoon’s (27 September) Plenary meeting at the Senedd.Previously the ballot enabled a number of non-government laws to be passed including the Healthy Eating in Schools Measure, the Playing Fields Measure and the Domestic Fire Safety Measure.

Assembly Members, not in the Welsh Government, will soon have an opportunity to put forward a Bill for the first time under the Assembly’s new extended legislative powers, It’s also the first opportunity for the people of Wales to get involved with the legislative process and have their say on what law they would like to see introduced under our devolved subjects.

 Members have had the summer to research any Bills they would like to put before the Assembly but there is still time to contact your AMs with your ideas and opinions.

In order to be eligible for the ballot, the Member must provide specific pre-ballot information including the proposed title of the Member’s Bill and an Explanatory Memorandum setting out the policy objectives of the Bill and details of any support received for it. 

Further information is available on the Voices for Change website.

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is the statutory adviser to government on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment throughout Wales and its inshore waters. CCW champions the environment and landscapes of Wales and its coastal waters as sources of natural and cultural riches, as a foundation for economic and social activity, and as a place for leisure and learning opportunities. We aim to make the environment a valued part of everyone’s life in Wales.

 The Countryside Council for Wales has now opened its grants window for bidding for grants for 2012-13. The window will be open until 21st October 2011. Information on what we fund, who we can fund and how to bid for funds can be found on the CCW website

The Sustainable Steps programme opens on Friday 30th September 2011. The programme aims to:

Support communities across Wales to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change by developing skills, changing behaviour and promoting wider sustainable development.

We are looking to fund a single Wales wide project to help develop the capacity and capability of communities across Wales, to take action on climate change. £620,000 is available over 2 years to fund the project. The successful project is likely to be a partnership that will engage with communities that have previously taken little or no action to address the causes and consequences of climate change. It will support these communities by providing a wide range of initial advice, training and mentoring support.

The deadline for completed outline proposal forms is 12 noon, Friday 4th November 2011. If you are interested in applying we are holding two briefing and networking events:

· Swansea Environment Centre, Monday 3rd October 11am – 1pm

· Wrexham County Borough Council Guildhall, Wednesday 5th October 2 – 4pm

To book your place, please complete the [Download not found] and return to: sustainablesteps@biglotteryfund.org.uk by Wednesday 28th September.