NCVYS Update

Shine 09 – Feedback requested
Shine 09 presented a great opportunity for schools, youth services, voluntary and community organisations to reach out to the public to celebrate young people and all they contribute to our society. This year a total of 4404 schools took part, which exceeds figures for last year of 2268 schools. In addition, a total of 782 organiations got involved this year (mostly from the voluntary sector) - more than doubling those involved last year (371). The consortium involved in delivering Shine this year, is now planning for 2010. The focus next year is to create an even more inclusive celebration of young people by further raising awareness across all these sectors, the public and the media to continue the fight to dispel negative perceptions of young people. Do you have any ideas about what we could do to create an even bigger buzz then? To give feedback please contact Faiza Chaudary on faiza@ncvys.org.uk or 020 7278 1041.

Government and charities – a civil partnership? A national conference on joint working
This one day national conference by Speaking Out on 9 December 2009 in London, aims to bring together key players working to improve outcomes for children and young people across England. This free event is aimed at strategic managers and decision-makers in cross-government agendas affecting children and young people, such as community empowerment, health, housing and homelessness, and education, employment and training. It will link up policy and practice, and provide an opportunity for local, regional and national policymakers to meet colleagues from the statutory, independent and voluntary and community sectors to exchange ideas about key issues affecting children and young people. The event is free and some travel bursaries are available.

Projects and Campaigns

Young Activists
Diana Johnson, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Schools hosted the launch of the Young Activists programme which is supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Sustainable Development Commission. The programme is looking to encourage young people to become activists for sustainable development and four charities – the National Children’s Bureau (NCB), We Are What We Do, Groundwork and NCVYS member Envision – are each undertaking projects that work with young people to raise their awareness of the factors affecting sustainable development and empower them to promote sustainable development, both locally and globally. The work started in September 2008 and is due to finish in March 2010. The DCSF intends that the findings from this programme of work will be available to all organisations that work with young people.

Events

CSV Make a Difference Day
Make a Difference Day is the UK's largest day of volunteering, organised by the Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and takes place this year on 31 October, although activities will run from 24 October - 7 November 2009. Make a Difference Day gives young people a chance to put themselves at the centre of their communities and create the changes they want to see. Fed up of an ugly patch of waste ground? Transform it into a garden! Feel like you never see your neighbours? Bake some brownies and share them with your street! One day can have a lasting impact on your community. Try it for yourself and see! All activities receive an Action Pack, which includes t-shirts, posters, balloons, stickers, volunteer thank-you certificates and a Handbook with extra information on how to publicise your activity. The CSV also has free Kindness Kits to give away, which include simple ideas for activities, as well as free chocolate, wildflower seeds and wool! To register an activity for the day or for more information, give the CSV team a call on 0800 284 533.

Girls Work- under threat or a new dawn?
This is a one day conference for women working with girls and young women on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at Hinsley Hall in Leeds. Youth work with young women has a long history, but an uncertain future. Due to targets, current funding mechanisms and a focus on troublesome male youth. This one day conference of presentations, workshops, and groupwork will seek to draw lessons from past and present practice. It will consider how we can find ways in which girls work can develop and expand in the future.

Good Deals – national social investment conference
Good Deals 2009 is a national event which aims to bring together the most inspirational social entrepreneurs with the most innovative investors to get good deals done. The event will take place at the British Library, London, on Thursday 29 October 2009. The event is hosted by the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), the Office of the Third Sector (OTS), and NESTA, in partnership with Social Enterprise magazine, and sponsored by CCLA and RBS. Designed as a practical tool to broker new business for both sides of the social investment marketplace, both those who need finance to grow and those looking to invest in new ideas to create positive social, environmental and economic change, are encouraged to attend. A bursary scheme is available to smaller social enterprises and community organisations to attend for free or at half price.

Opportunities to get involved in BBC One’s new science series
‘Bang Goes the Theory’ is BBC One's new series with a hands-on approach to science. From climbing a building using a vacuum cleaner to trying to enter the space race, Bang Goes the Theory discovers and challenges the astonishing scientific principles that shape our world. This summer BBC Learning is giving young people aged 8-14 the opportunity to get hands-on with science with specially tailored workshops from BBC 21CC. Led by experts from the science and film industries, participants will be putting science to the test by developing exciting experiments and making short films to document their discoveries. Dates for London and Salford are 25, 26 and 27 August. For more information and to register your child's interest please email scienceevents@bbc.co.uk stating their name, age, which date they would prefer and whether they would like to attend a workshop in London or Salford.

Make Yourself at Home (BBC One)
BBC One is also looking for a family to take part in a new experiment looking at the way in which families live in and use a contemporary domestic environment. If you're interested in being part of this process, are a family with two or three children aged 9-18 and would like to find out more, please contact the team on T: 020 7033 3191, E: makeyourselfathome@dragonfly.tv or see the Make Yourself at Home weblink. The closing date is 4 September 2009.

Funding & Awards

Commonwealth Youth Exchange Visits 2010/2011 – Grant Aid
Are you planning a long distance Commonwealth Youth Exchange between April 2010 and March 2011? CYEC provides information, advice and grant funding for local groups of young Britons aged 15–25 undertaking reciprocal exchanges with a partner group in a Commonwealth country, particularly Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. Please note that for 2010/11 CYEC is keen to support projects which demonstrate a link to Citizenship, and these will be given priority. The deadline for submitting your application is Friday 30 October 2009. For more information >> T: 020 7498 6151 E: mail@cyec.org.uk W: www.cyec.org.uk

Resources

Local councils, governance and youth representation
The National Association of Local Councils has produceds two booklets that may be of interest to the sector. The first on ‘Local councils and youth provision’ highlights some of the innovative approaches taken by local councils to better represent young people in their local area and may be useful to those looking for inspiration. The second resource is a ‘Governmence Toolkit for Parish and Town Councils’ and is aimed at parish councils but may also be of interest to voluntary sector colleagues.

One Step One World Charter
The One Step One World Charter, developed by young people involved with NCB's Small Steps to a Sustainable Future project, was launched in July. This Charter sets out young people's vision of a sustainable future and is the first product of NCB's work to promote the voice of children and young people in the area of sustainable development and climate change. Contact Liz Zachary for a copy of the One Step One World Charter E: lzachary@ncb.org.uk.

Teach Your Granny to Text & Other Ways to Change the World
Also launched as part of the Young Activists programme, the everyday action movement We Are What We Do has published a new book entitled Teach Your Granny to Text & Other Ways to Change the World. This resource contains a range of 30 small actions, thought up by young people, that anyone can take to change the world.

Guide to involving ‘hard to reach’ volunteers
Crisis has produced a good practice guide to involving ‘hard to reach’ young people in volunteering, based on a one-year v-funded programme which provided volunteering opportunities to 52 homeless young people in London and Newcastle. The guide covers preparing bids, starting the programme, recruiting and supporting volunteers, delivering opportunities and moving on.

Poverty in the media: Being seen and getting heard
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation recently published a study on poverty in the media, which could be a useful resource to voluntary organisations in developing media relations and new media communication tools. The study focuses on: how individuals can give their views and tell their stories when they are presented as 'case studies' in the press, on radio or television; the roles and responsibilities of voluntary and community organisations in helping journalists find case study individuals – and the issues those individuals should consider; opportunities in the 'new' media to produce and disseminate material, and the challenge of reaching an audience; the need to produce accessible, good-quality material that people will pass on; and 'viral' media and developing online communities.

Training

Leadership academies – opportunities for VCS leaders
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has commissioned the National College of School’s and Children’s Services Leadership in Nottingham, in partnership with the Children’s Workforce Development Council, to develop and deliver training for existing and aspiring Directors of Children’s Services (DCS). The ‘aspirant’ programme is also open to applications from senior strategic level leaders within the VCS, as well as 2nd and 3rd tier managers within Local Authority Children’s Services Departments. Competition for places will be high and those interested within the VCS will need to be functioning at either CEO level or Director of Operations (in larger organisations); looking to credibly move on to a DCS post within 18 months to 2 years of undertaking the course and be able to demonstrate high level strategic management knowledge, skills and experience of children’s services. This first batch of training will be over 2 days, with tentative dates being the 10/11 September, 19/20 November and 26/27 of January. Initial enquiries should be routed via David Marsh, Director of Workforce & Progamme Development at Children England – E: david@childrenengland.org.uk.

Participation Works – New ‘How to’ courses coming up
The new range of courses coming up are ‘How to’: Involve 'hard to reach' children and young people’ - 15 September, York Work successfully with children and young people from various faiths and cultures - 16 September, London Use creative methods for participation - 22 September, London / 1 October, Birmingham Involve children and young people in commissioning - 6 October, Leeds

Participation courses for young people
Youth at the Table is a one-day course to introduce a young person to the role of trusteeship, as well as enhancing existing trustees understanding of how they can effectively and confidently speak with purpose. The structure of the course is based around the Workforce Hub’s National Occupational Standards for Trustees and Management Committee Members, whilst activities and training methods have been developed with young people to make them more engaging and inspiring to other young people. Young people can bring a support worker along with them. The next dates are: 26 September - London 24 October - York 31 October - Bristol

Do You Speak Trustee is a free two-day residential accredited training course for young people. This course will support young people to understand what’s going on in formal meetings and to develop their skills to put their point across more effectively. The next residential will take place on 28-29 November in Leeds.

Web and New Media

NCVYS Online Community - looking for participants
NCVYS is currently developing a social networking site to act as an online community for those in the voluntary and community youth sector. Members who are interested in helping to test out the resource should contact Ilona Pinter on E: ilona@ncvys.org.uk or T: 020 7278 1041.

Twitter is not for teens, Morgan Stanley told by 15-year-old expert
Matthew Robson – a 15-year-old intern at investment bank Morgan Stanley - has produced a report entitled ‘How Teenagers Consume Media’, which describes his friends' media habits, has generated a flurry of interest from media executives and investors in the City. Young people have the chance to add their views to the Guardian website, where the full report was published.