News, events and training for faith groups in East
 FaithNetEast’s December 2007 e-bulletin contains news, training, funding opportunities and events for faith groups and those with an interest in faith issues across the East of England Region.
EVENTS AND TRAINING
Valuing Difference and Building Communities, a 10-week course for people working with Faith Communities to build interfaith skills, starting January 2008, The Woolf Institute, Cambridge
This course will provide a greater understanding of interfaith dialogue and develop skills to value diversity. Four evening seminars to be held in Cambridge. There is a £20 registration fee which includes all materials. The course is otherwise FREE.
Each participant may choose one course from the following:
· Tools of Interfaith Dialogue
· An Introduction to Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations
· Citizenship and Interfaith
Building Sustainable Communities, a four-day learning programme for community development workers and others supporting communities and community groups being held on 14-15 January, 4 February and 10 March 2008, New Hall College,
Cambridge
The programme consists of an initial two days followed by two separate days. Participants will be required to undertake a small piece of research and analysis. There will be a mix of learning methods including tutor input, group discussion, participatory exercises and presentation. This course is organised by the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) in association with Inspire East and COGS. Cost is £100 incl. VAT.
To book a place visit Inspire East website: www.inspire-east.org.uk or contact COGS on
Building Communities Fund Morning Seminar organised by Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE) on 15 January 2008 at the Business Innovation Centre, Southend.
The Building Communities Fund is an EEDA initiative. This seminar will give you the opportunity to hear about the advantages and pitfalls of owning and operating a building from people who have done it.
This event is free and lunch will be included! To make sure of your place, please book with Social Enterprise East of England as soon as possible. You can contact them directly on 0845 606 6296 or at info@seee.co.uk. For more information about the Building Communities Fund, go to www.buildingcommunitiesfund.org.uk or contact SEEE as above.
FUNDING
Comic Relief UK Grants Programme, Main Grants Deadline
28 February 2008
The Comic Relief UK Grants Programme has funds available for projects that will benefit refugees, the young, the elderly and the disadvantaged in a wide variety of relevant fields. Small organisations with less than £150k turnover can apply for grants of up to £5,000 at any time of the year. There is no ceiling on the Main Grants, which have a deadline of 28 February.
Building Communities Fund (East of England)
A new fund to help community organisations purchase and develop buildings and land that will be used to bring economic, social and/or environmental benefits for the wider community. There are bursary awards up to £15,000 – to help work up a business plan and grant application - and capital grants between £250,000 and £750,000. Visit www.buildingcommunitiesfund.org.uk for full details or contact Andrew Hibbert on 01223 243087 or Andrew.hibbert@co-opandcommunityfinance.coop
HM Revenue and Customs Grant in Aid Funding Programme
HMRC has £2 million per annum available for the next three financial years, for socially inclusive services to those who are hard to reach or who do not engage directly with them. This funding may be of interest to faith groups or faith-based organisations who offer financial or debt advice. Contact: http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk
Capacitybuilders Improving Reach Grant Programme
The Capacitybuilders Improving Reach grant programme (2008- 2011) focuses on bodies that offer support to frontline organizations working in and with excluded communities; including BME, refugee and migrant, faith and isolated rural communities.
Capacity building activities such as the following will be funded:
· developing skills through training and development;
· advice and support in developing strategies for bringing in more income;
· help with business planning and putting those plans in place; and
· networks to support organisations campaign and represent
people effectively
The priority is to ensure good quality support services for:
· black and minority ethnic communities
· refugee and migrant communities
· faith communities
· isolated rural communities
Please note that competition will be tough and that the funding is for providing support services. The deadline is 28 January 2008. For more information contact: Capacitybuilders Head Office, 77 Paradise Circus, Birmingham, B1 2DT. Tel: 0121 237 5100.
GUIDANCE
Barclays Community Programme – Supporting People in East Anglia
Barclays are looking for new challenges and new ways to support the local community by involving their staff in local fundraising and volunteering activities. If your community group or charity needs 'another pair of hands' then get in touch: kate.kingshott@barclays.com
Introducing Funding & Finance
An Introductory Pack on Funding and Finance. Topics covered include: Sustainable Funding, Financial Management, Fundraising, Trading, Procurement and Contracting, Loans and other forms of finance. A6 version is available FREE of charge. Contact:
PUBLICATIONS
Community Value by Lynda Barley
Church House Publishing ISBN 978-0-7151-4129-8, £6.99
Outlines the findings of a number of recent research projects addressing the state of community life in the UK, offers analysis and tells stories of good practice from a number of churches. Useful introduction for church leadership teams who are beginning to address how to engage in their community.
The Local Inter Faith Guide: Faith Community Co-operation in Action
ISBN 1902906195, £6.95 plus £1.75 for postage and packing
Guidance on setting up and developing successful local interfaith initiatives. Includes case studies from around the UK. Revised and expanded second edition.
To order, send a cheque for £8.70 payable to The Inter Faith Network to: Gaylina Nguyen, 8a Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EN or email gaylina.nguyen@interfaith.org.uk requesting to be invoiced with publication.
Living Values – a pocket guide for trustees
ISBN: 0-9552889-1-6
The material in this pocket guide is drawn from Living Values: a report encouraging boldness in third sector organisations published by Community Links. The full report is available from www.community-links.org
Trustee and Management Committee – National Occupational
Standards. Pocket sized edition. ISBN: 0 7199 1676 3, £1
Published April 2006 by NCVO Publications, Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL. Contact the UK workforce Hub for further information: workforcehub@ukworkforcehub.org.uk or 0800 652 5737
Learning to Fly. Produced by a group of organisations called the National Hub of Expertise in Governance
This leaflet is based on a more formal document called Good Governance: A code for the Voluntary and Community Sector. The code sets out detailed requirements for the boards of all types of voluntary and community organisations, and is of particular relevance to larger organisations with a staff team. Copies from www.governancehub.org.uk or telephone 0845 458 9910.
‘Look, and see our disgrace!’ – a briefing paper on Human
The paper was launched at the Coalition for the Removal of Pimping (CROP) conference held on 29 November in Leeds.
a information and learning hub for faith communities in the East of England. Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information, please confirm all the details yourself before making any decisions.
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