Next Meeting of Hastings Local Strategic Partnership Board

Mon, 15 Sep, 10:00 – 13:00
Town Hall, Queens Road, Hastings, TN34 1QR (map)
Observers welcome, entry on request via Information Centre, Queens Square
Papers for the meeting are available at:
http://www.hastings.gov.uk/meetings/default.aspx?showmeetingsmonth=8&showmeetingsyear=8&showdocs=yes&meetingtype=hlsp

East Sussex LINk – Elections to Core Group

The East Sussex LINk will be holding elections in October for the core group. This group will be leading and developing the LINk and those elected will stand for the next year. To finalise the election process a meeting will be held in public on Tuesday 30th September, 10.00-2.30 with lunch, at the Uckfield Civic Centre. Those who wish to take part in the election process or stand for the core group will need to be a registered participant of the LINk. If you wish to attend on the 30th or for a registration form or further information please contact us on 01323 514510, text 07968 119806 or email info@thecountylink.net.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Workshop

Thu, 9 Oct, 10:00 – 12:30 Battle Memorial Hall, 81 High St, Battle, Sussex TN33 0AQ (map)
Opportunity to become aware of the grants and support that is available to assist local residents to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient, and themselves healthier.

Organised by East Sussex Healthy Homes, Rother District Council, Action in Rural Sussex and Hastings & Rother PCT at Battle Memorial Hall, including refreshments. Would appreciate receiving all acceptances by 25 September - Upon response, further information will be sent out. please contact Graeme Quinnell on 01424 787597 graeme.quinnell@rother.gov.uk or Pat Buesnel at Action in Rural Sussex. pat.buesnel@ruralsussex.org.uk

Cultural Voices - Summer 08 edition

Cultural Voices - the publication primarily produced by HVA Black and Minority Ethnic Community Project - has recently printed its Summer 08 edition. You can get a paper copy from the Hastings Voluntary Action office. Details of how to get here are on the following link:
http://www.hastingsvoluntaryaction.org/contact_us/default.html
or you can download a PDF copy from the Hastings BME Project website at
http://www.hastingsbme.org.uk/newsletter/newsletter.htm

Community Partnership Fund Commissioned Grants 2009 - 2011

Hastings Borough Council have identified a list of community projects that they want to fund from April 2009, and are seeking voluntary and not-for-profit community groups to deliver these projects. All documents relevant to this process can now be downloaded from an HBC Commissioned Grants page in the fundraising section of this website.

Guidance on Volunteers Expenses

New Good Practice Guidance on ‘Volunteer Expenses’, has now been added to the ‘Good Practice Guide for Volunteer Involving Organisations’ which is available in the Volunteering Section of the website www.hastingsvoluntaryaction.org

Guidance added to HVA Good Practice Guide for Volunteer Involving Organisations

Problem Solving is the latest theme explored in our Good Practice Guide for Volunteer Involving Organisations. Having a problem solving procedure helps to create consistency, and demonstrates your organisation’s commitment to volunteering good practice. While employees have grievance and disciplinary policies, volunteers are not covered by employment or equal opportunities legislation. In fact, volunteers only have the same legal rights as the general public (eg Health and Safety and Data Protection), so such a policy helps to ensure that volunteers are treated fairly and are not discriminated against. This Guide to Problem Solving Proceedures can now be downloaded as PDF Number 5 from the Good Practice Guide in the Volunteering Section of our website.

Throwing the Baby Out with the Bath Water - the shift from grant aid to commissioning

Jill Ferguson, Deputy Director of HVA gives an overview of the growing trend for funders to move away from grant funding toward an increasingly contractual relationship with the voluntary and community sector (VCS). She argues that this could have a detrimental effect in terms of stifling local voluntary action and increasing uneccessary bureaucracy and urges local funders to support a mixed economy of funding where grants, service contracts and endowments all have their place. This information can be found in Briefing Paper 30 - Throwing the Baby Out with the Bath Water

Community Partnership Fund Commissioned Grants 2009 - 2011

Hastings Borough Council have identified a list of community projects that they want to fund from April 2009, and are seeking voluntary and not-for-profit community groups to deliver these projects. All documents relevant to this process can now be downloaded from an HBC Commissioned Grants page in the fundraising section of this website.