Voluntary work in action

The latest edition of Bed Spread the local community and voluntary service newsletter is out. You can get this issue and future issues regularly by emailing Mark Smith, Information Officer at mark@yourcvs.org
or visit www.yourcvs.org

It is Bedford-oriented but here are some of the key points in the latest issue (already slightly out of date) I've emboldened anything that I think might be of local usefulness

• Community Group Advisers - an update on this new pilot service, matching local organisations with specialist volunteers who can offer support and advice using their experience and knowledge.
  
• New Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme - that will allow charities and community amateur sports clubs to gift aid on cash donations of £20 or less without the need to collect gift aid declarations
  
• Age UK Bedfordshire - launch ‘The Voice’ magazine services. VOICE is available to download
  on Age UK Bedfordshire’s website www.ageuk.org.uk/bedfordshire/voice/
  
•  Local Office and Meeting Space for Voluntary Groups - from Community & Voluntary Service at 43 Bromham Road, Bedford (including a hot desking offer) and from Bedfordshire Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support at 27b Tavistock Street, Bedford
  
• Upcoming Free CVS Training Opportunities - including new dates for ‘Fit for Funding’ and ‘Fit for Safeguarding’ workshops and details our ‘Emergency First Aid at Work’ one-day workshop on Tuesday 23rd April (Cost £50)
  
• Funding Opportunities - details of The People’s Millions, Sports England’s Inspired Facilities Scheme, BBC Children in Need, The Community Network, Time to Change Grants, Jill Franklin Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund Sharing Heritage Scheme, Nationwide Foundation, Bedford Borough Council’s Mayor’s Climate Change Fund, Beds and Luton Community Foundation Fund - Supporting those with learning or physical disabilities and their families, Tesco Charity Trust, People’s Postcode Trust Small Grants Programme. In addition we have details about CVS’s Bedfordshire Directory of Funders and the offer to assist you with funding searches using the Trustfunding database. We also introduce you to Charities Online, which aims to make gift aid quicker and easier.
  
• Snippets - New Anglia Ruskin University Course for the voluntary sector, an article on ‘Welfare Reform and what they mean for voluntary groups’, ‘Organising Voluntary Events Made Easier’, The Winifred Fowler Award – recognising unsung heroes in Bedford Borough, un update on the introduction of Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO), details about Believe.In (the latest online donation site) and a article highlighting the work that Centre for All Positive Health does in the community.