www.avow.org

NEWS Issue No. 61 Winter 2013

Charity Number 1043989 Company Limited by Guarantee Number 2993429

www.avow.org

For regular news and updates, follow us on:

/AVOWWrexham @AVOWWrexham

Wrexham County Borough Council and Welsh Government NewsMore Inside!

STOPPRESS!

At this time of the year many people start to think about Christmas and New Year and what the future holds for them whilst looking back over the past year.

For AVOW it has been a special year celebrating our Sliver Jubilee – 25 years supporting the vast number of organisations in the County Borough of Wrexham ranging from small community groups through to those larger ones that provide contracted services.

It is the large range of organisations, volunteers and staff that make for such a diverse community with services and activities to meet everyone’s needs. There have been many changes over the past year with more people finding themselves in need of assistance and the growth in the number of food parcels distributed through Food Banks.

We have made this our MAD – Make a Difference Year to raise funds for a grant scheme to distribute to organisations in the County Borough before the end of the year. Like many organisations we have found the fund raising climate to be particularly challenging at the moment despite the generosity of individuals and businesses. Events that have been run included quizzes, sponsored walk, concert, raffles etc. AVOW thanks everyone involved in all of these events and those that have so kindly made donations in these difficult financial times

Trustees, staff and volunteers in AVOW wish you all the very best at this time of the year and look forward to working with you all in 2014.

Farewell 2013

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AVOW | Tŷ Avow 21 Egerton Street | 21 Stryd Egerton

Wrexham | Wrecsam | LL11 1NDTel/Ffôn: 01978 312556

Fax/Ffacs: 01978 352046info@avow.org | www.avow.org

IN THIS ISSUE030405060708091011121314

Gwirvol Den Re-Launch

Homeless Collection

Sleepout (Poem by Kate Davies)

The Noticeboard

Big Lottery Fund Advice Surgery

Funding Information

Fundraising Update

Season’s Greetings / AVOW Christmas Reception

Wrexham Supporters Trust - Charitable Partners Scheme / WRAP

History of Volunteering Exhibition

M.A.D Hatters Tea Party

Training

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NEWS

On the 20th September 2013, AVOW re-launched the Gwirvol Youth Led Grants scheme which aims to support a range of small volunteering projects and activities, led and carried out by young people aged 14 to 25 years.

The project was re-launched on the lines of the popular TV series “Dragon’s Den” and applications for grant will be selected and judged by a Panel of young people.

Gwirvol Den Re- Launch

The event was formally opened by Councillor Michael Williams, Wrexham Council Lead Member for Children’s Services and Education, and was attended by Lesley Griffiths AM, Welsh Government Minister for Local Government and Government Business. Also present were various organisations with a range of stalls, information and opportunities for volunteers.

At the event, Tegan Sollis, the Youth Volunteering Development Officer at AVOW, gave a presentation on the re-launched scheme followed by a presentation by Kamara Davies from Catch 22, in which young people were informed about volunteering opportunities abroad through the International Citizenship Service programme.

Tegan Sollis said “The day was a real success and encouraged lots of young people to volunteer and come up with new ideas for projects for Gwirvol Grant applications. Young people were also inspired to volunteer abroad through the International Citizenship Service programme.”

Groups of young people interested in applying for the Gwirvol Grant, should contact Tegan Sollis on 01978 312556 or tegan.sollis@avow.org

MUST READThe 12th November 2013 will go down in history as the day that changed the voluntary sector in Wrexham and Wales. The first significant change being announced was the consultation on the budget for Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) and how this will impact on every funded organisation in the County Borough. All organisations and individuals are urged to complete the consultation document http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/consultation/finance/. You cannot complain about Council decisions if you have not taken part in the consultation exercise. Your organisation is not immune from the proposals.The second announcement was from the Welsh Government Minister Jeff Cuthbert (who has the responsibility for the Third Sector) on the recent consultation on Refreshing the relationship with Welsh Government. Proposed changes include regional funding (instead of local), strengthening the establishment of Compacts and Third Sector Partnership Council activities. These are just a few of the key elements of the proposals - view the whole speech online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/wales-24902183.These two elements will be shaping the Third Sector in 2014 and organisations are urged to be engaged in all meetings and consultations to ensure they are fully informed of the proposals that will affect them.

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HOMELESSCOLLECTION28 October - 16 December

Donate:Food

ClothesSleeping bags & Fleeces

Contributions

Collection Points:Ty AVOW, 21 Egerton Street,

WrexhamPlas Madoc Opportunities

Centre, Plas Madoc, WrexhamTy Croeso, 31a Grosvenor Road,

Wrexham

For more information visit www.avow.org or AVOW’s Facebook page / Twitter

/AVOWWrexham@AVOWWrexhamCharity Number 1043989

Company Limited by Guarantee Number 2993429

AVOW | Tŷ Avow21 Egerton Street | Wrexham | LL11 1ND

Tel: 01978 312556 | Fax: 01978 352046

2013

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The night was cold and cloudy, apprehension all aroundWe slept out in a car park, with cardboard on the ground

With newspapers and bits of tarp, we tried to make our bedWith smells of cold damp night, and cardboard, filling up our head

Early in the evening the folks out on the townGood-humoured though they were, ignored us as we bedded down

And later, homeless faces passed, They didn’t have a dollarSome heading to the railway bridge, to mattresses, and squalor

A time or two, we left our bed and stepped out of our dormTo go and walk around the town, just trying to keep warmThen back again to cardboard bed, so hard not to feel tense

By 3am the night fell quiet, the silence was intenseAt 4am the sky was clear, the cold night fresh and sharp

Sleep pretty much evaded us, huddled under the tarpBy 6am sounds of the dawn signalled a brand new dayAnd sleepily, the streets awoke, so we could pack away

Our cardboard for our sleepout. Now our keyword was reliefWe could go back to nice warm homes, away from cold, dark, griefOh yes – we held a sleepout, Tried our best throughout the night

To raise greater awareness of this awful, hopeless plightBefore returning to our homes, in nice warm beds to lie

Humbled in thought, and thinking“There but for Grace of God go I”

SleepoutA poem written by Kate Davies of AVOWHOMELESS

COLLECTION

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In summary the changes are:

The classification of “major injuries” is replaced with a shorter list of

“specified injuries”.

The existing schedule of 47 types of industrial diseases is replaced

with 8 categories of work related illnesses.

Fewer types of “dangerous occurrence” will need reporting

Full details are available at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg453-rev1.pdf

Changes to RIDDOR Regulations

Then come and join us at Wrexham Carers Service. We have various

opportunities for carers to meet others in similar circumstances.These include:Carers’ Drop-inYoung Adult Carer GroupMale Carer GroupCarers of Adults with Learning Difficulties

For more information please contact Wrexham Carers Service on 0800 276 1070.

Are you a carer?

Crossroads Care North Wales is currently looking to recruit new Trustees

to enhance its Board membership.

They are a registered charity which gives practical and emotional

support to carers across North Wales, providing much needed respite

breaks.

If you have any spare time which you could devote to Crossroads Care

North Wales, they would like to hear from you. Experience of the care

sector is not essential, as skills in other fields such as finance, marketing,

law, management and health would also be welcomed. They would

also be very pleased to receive applications from carers, who could bring a personal insight into the

role of caring to the Board.

The meetings take place approximately once a month and travel expenses will be paid. If you would

like to apply or would like any more information, please ring Alison Jones on 01492 516435 or email

alison.jones@nwcrossroads.org.uk.

Trustee Recruitment

The Noticeboard

If you would like to promote your organisation here, please email gavin.thomas@avow.org with details and information.

Promote your Organisation

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Missing out on Big Lottery funding?

Unsure of where, when or how to apply?

Put off by the amount of work you think is involved?

Have you had an application turned down and got discouraged?

Maybe you are just thinking about applying but unsure where to begin?

Or maybe you are working on an application right now and would like some detailed advice and support?

AVOW and Ian Lucas M.P. invite you to a Big Lottery Funding Advice Surgery

on Friday 10th January 2014 from 10am-2.15pmat Tŷ Avow, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham, LL11 1ND

Big Lottery staff will be present to give expert advice on specific applications, as well as general advice on how to write a successful application.

10.00-11a.m. Big Lottery Top Tips: Presentation and Discussion. Relevant to all organisations but especially to those who are just beginning an application, or

who have had one refused in the past.

11.00-11.15a.m. Networking Opportunity. A chance to meet people from other Wrexham organisations and share ideas / practical suggestions.

11.15am-1.45pm. One to one advice sessions. Individual, half hour pre-booked appointments with Big Lottery staff for help with your specific lottery applications.

IMPORTANT:

For the one to one sessions, please phone 01978 355743 to pre-book. Bring with you any relevant information about your project, as well as any work you have

done so far on your application.

Programme

Big lottery FundAdvice Surgery

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The largest gathering in North Wales, of organisations who provide grants and support to community organisations, took place in the Memorial Hall, Wrexham on 25th September 2013. The event was a resounding success, and even made the BBC Radio Cymru tea-time news.

North East Wales Funders Fair

Funding InformationFor your organisation

Self Regulation of FundraisingGetting the most out of the FRSB Tick

Come along to our workshop to find out more:Workshop Objectives• To promote the value of being a member of the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) and

complying with the Code of Fundraising Practice. • To increase awareness of and compliance with the self regulatory scheme in Wales• To tap into Welsh views on the FRSB and of self regulation in general• To find more effective ways of raising the profile of the FRSB in Wales

Thursday 6th Februrary 20141.30pm - 4.30pm

Tŷ Avow, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham To book your place, please visit www.avow.org

Alternatively you can phone 01978 312556.

Members of local community groups had the rare opportunity to chat face-to-face with funders who are not normally available in this area. Funders travelled from as far away as Cardiff, Blackpool, Slough, and Bangor to give advice and information about their grant funds. The Big Lottery Fund gave two presentations about their fund programmes and also gave Top Tips for making good applications, which were very well received. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with comments including: • “People were very helpful in pointing me in the right direction to what I was looking for” • “It was good to put a face to the name for funders I had spoken to”• “Excellent event, thank you”• “First visit to this event – very useful, will come again”• “The Big Lottery Presentation was very informative”• “Really useful!! Thank you. Once or twice a year would be good”

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Fundraising UpdateFor the Making a Difference (MAD) Grant

Friday 18th October 2013

On Saturday 26th October 2013 a group of walkers from AVOW and Wrexham and Glan Clwyd Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity) set off enthusiastically to walk the Clywedog trail, from Minera Lead Mines through Bersham to King’s Mill, Wrexham.Despite torrential rain and thunderstorms the day before, the weather was kind with only the odd spot of rain. The going was soft to muddy underfoot and under-paw but the intrepid walkers carried on regardless to succeed in their aim to raise funds for the AVOW Silver Jubilee MAD (Make a Difference) Grant Scheme.After a few well deserved breaks and detours due to flooded areas, they continued on their seven-mile quest, finally arriving at their destination around 1pm, tired but happy in the knowledge that the challenge had been met and the Grant Fund is continuing to grow. The walk raised about £600 for the fund. Thanks to John Isherwood for acting as walk guide.

Walking for Charity

Saturday 26th October 2013

AVOW held another Quiz Night to raise money for the Make a Difference Grant Scheme - raising almost £200! Teams from Wrexham and Glan Clwyd SANDS, Friends of Bellevue, The Maelor DJs as well as more from AVOW made for a good competitive atmosphere and as always quiz master Marion Kelsall made sure we were all entertained! AVOW’s Finance Assistant Audrey Bulcock, & her team ‘Quizzy Rascals’ won for the second consecutive time so congratulations to them and thanks to everyone who came.

Throughoutthe yearVarious local community groups and organisations have been lending a helping hand.BC2 have been placing donation buckets in local shops and have so far raised£163 - Thank you!

Sponsored Walk 2014?If there is a demand by AVOW’s Member Organisations consideration will be given to holding a Sponsored Walk for members to raise funds for their own respective organisation. This larger sponsored event would probably be held in June 2014 and in a similar form to the event so efficiently organised by the Rotary Club in the past.

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Friday 13th December 2013

12noon - 2pm

Catrin Finch Centre

Glyndŵr University

Mold Road

Wrexham, LL11 2AW

Light Refreshments provided.

The AVOW Christmas Reception is an ideal opportunity to network with the wider voluntary and community sector of Wrexham County

Borough. We look forward to seeing you there

AVOW Christmas Reception

Season’s GreetingsFrom everyone at AVOW!

We thank you for your support over the past year and look forward to working with you more in the forthcoming year!

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AVOW is extremely pleased to have been chosen by Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) for the 2013/14 football season as a charitable partner. The WST is a wonderful example of how like-minded people can come together to take on community facilities and it is a credit to all of the volunteers involved that the historical Football Club has been saved.

The partnership is a mix of like minded organisations that value the part that volunteers can play in the part of the Wrexham Community. AVOW will actively work with the WST to support the group and help to strengthen the links with the very many organisations that thrive across the County Borough.

John Gallanders- Chief Officer said ‘ AVOW is celebrating it’s Silver Jubilee in 2013 and look forward to linking with WST who have ensured the continuation of the Football Club after 100 years. We are very pleased to have been selected as a charitable partner for 2013/14 and will have many links over the season.’

AVOW Christmas Reception

Wrexham Supporters TrustCharitable Partner Scheme

WRAP is a self-designed plan for staying well and for helping you to feel better (when you are not feeling well), to increase personal responsibility, and to improve your quality of life.

The first part of WRAP is developing a personal Wellness Toolbox. This is a list of resources that work for you to promote and maintain balance in your life. The list might include spending time with friends or family, relaxation, exercise, being creative or simply having fun.

The plan also includes:

A “Daily Maintenance Plan” – those things you need to do every day to maintain your wellness.

Discovering those events or “Triggers” that, if they happened, might make you feel worse, such as an argument with a friend or receiving a big bill unexpectedly.

Recognising “Early Warning Signs”, those subtle signs that let you know you are beginning to feel worse, such as being unable to sleep or feelings of nervousness.

Identifying “When Things are Breaking Down” - those signs that let you know you are feeling much worse, such as feeling very sad all the time.

The plan also suggests developing a crisis plan so that, if the worst comes to the worst, and you need someone to take over for a while, then you have set out what needs to happen and how you would like to be supported.

WRAP was developed in the United States and came directly from the experience of people with mental health challenges. It has since been refined and applied to other groups such as those with chronic health problems, disabilities, families and carers.

In North Wales, Flintshire has been an early adopter and has trained a group of WRAP facilitators who run regular courses in the county. A small group of these facilitators are now looking to spread the approach across the region.

If you would like to know more, then please email alan@alanbutterworth.net

Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)

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History of Volunteering Exhibition

Ollie (AVOW Mascot) with the Mayor & Mayoress of Wrexham

AVOW launched the History of Volunteering in Wrexham Exhibition on Monday 4th November 2013 at 4 Priory Street, Wrexham as part of AVOW’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.

John Leece Jones (Chair of AVOW) welcomed the Mayor of Wrexham (Councillor I. David Bithell MBE), the Mayoress and guests to the event and the Mayor officially opened the Exhibition.

Marjorie Dykins, Trustee and a founder member of AVOW spoke about volunteering generally and also about her own volunteering work and life.

After the presentation the Mayor and guests viewed the exhibition which illustrated Wrexham’s deep and rich volunteering history and provided an opportunity for volunteers to share their own volunteering experiences or find out how to get involved with volunteering in Wrexham County Borough.

The Volunteer CentreQuick look at what’s been going on

You can read AVOW’s Newsletters online, visit www.avow.org/publicationsYou will find there AVOW’s quarterly Newsletter; Health, Social Care and Wellbeing and Wrexham Carers

Service Newsletters as well as Funding Bulletin.

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AVOW held a M.A.D (Make a Difference) Hatters Tea Party on Friday 1st November 2013 at Wrexham Memorial Hall to celebrate the work and service of volunteers in Wrexham County Borough.

The event was officially opened by AVOW’s Vice Chair Anne Ryan.

Certificates were presented to volunteers in respect of their services on both the Wrexham Star Awards and the Millennium Volunteers Awards projects with in total a staggering 14,000 hours of volunteering service being recorded. Certificates were also presented to volunteers who had been nominated by various organisations for Long Service Awards.

A special Outstanding Contribution Award was presented by the Mayor of Wrexham (Councillor I David Bithell MBE) and Mayoress Mrs Virginia Bithell to Alex Short who volunteers at AVOW Plas Madoc.

Anyone wishing to volunteer in Wrexham should contact Wrexham Volunteer Centre on 01978 312556 or email vb@avow.org

The M.A.D Hatters Tea Party

10/6

The Mayor presents a Long Service Award to Jo Street for her volunteering service at Bitesize Theatre

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Important Information - Change in Adult / Child Protection Training

Basic Awareness Safeguarding training changed from 1st October 2013. To establish a consistent standard of training within the social care sector, the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action, the Care Council for Wales and the Local Authorities within Wales have been working

collectively to facilitate the design of a basic safeguarding awareness (accredited) unit and associated training materials that can be used for children, young people and adults across

Wales.

The title of the new course is:

All Wales Basic Safeguarding Awareness (Adults & Children)

(previously Level 2 Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults or Children and Young People’s Basic Awareness training)

This is accredited training and participants completing the course will be registered for the following qualification:

Social Care Induction Framework (SCIF) unit “Induction to Safeguarding in Social Care in Wales”To gain accreditation, participants will be required to complete a workbook during the training

session. The completed workbook will be formally assessed by an approved assessor/trainer. Participants will also be required to complete a Personal Action Plan detailing how they intend to promote safeguarding within their work place. As part of the evaluation process, managers may be contacted to establish whether their employee has implemented their learning into

their work practice.If you require further information please contact Jayne Owen, QCF Team Leader WCBC, on

01978 292965.AVOW are running these courses on behalf of WCBC on;

Tuesday 28th January 2014Tuesday 18th March 2014

at Tŷ Avow, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham, LL11 1NDSee on our website for full details and how to book

TrainingUpdates and upcoming training courses

Other TrainingEmergency First Aid at Work Level 2 - Tuesday 21st January 2014

FRSB Workshop (see page 8) - Thursday 6th Februrary 2014Health and Social Care Level 2 - Tuesday 11th February 2014

Food Safety Level 2 - Wednesday 19th March 2014Social Media - Thursday 27th March 2014

Full details of each course can be found on our website at www.avow.org