Events and training for faith groups in East
 FaithNetEast’s January 2008 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
Diversity & Interfaith In the East Of England: Valuing Difference & Building Communities, February and March, Cambridge
A new interfaith educational programme designed to help you gain a greater understanding of interfaith dialogue and develop skills to value diversity. Participants will benefit from the expertise of the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations and the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations to encourage mutual understanding between people of differing faith perspectives by learning to listen and address contentious issues positively.
The programme will run for four weeks beginning February 21 2008. Participants are required to attend four evening seminars on February 21, February 28, March 6 and March 12, 7-9pm.
There is a £20 registration fee which includes all materials. The courses are free.
Venue: The Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths, Wesley House, Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BJ
CONFERENCE ON FAITH IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS, 3 March, Essex Record Office, Chelmsford, 9.15am – 2.15pm
Our region is set to experience rapid growth, with up to 500,000 new homes planned in the next 10 to 15 years. This conference, co-hosted by EEFC and Inspire Eastis aimed atfaith groups and leaders, planners, community cohesion officers, LSP representatives. The agenda will include the launch of new research and evidence for developing planning policy; discussions on what faiths contribute and what support they need and a consideration of different models for optimising faith contribution. Speakers will include Rt Revd Laurie Green, Bishop of Bradwell, Dr Adam Dinham, Faiths & Civil Society Unit and Gwyneth Jones, Inspire East.
For further information or to book a place, please contact Daniel Durrant at Inspire East on 01223 4847600 or enquiries@inspire-east.org.uk
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.
Equality and Human Rights Commission’s £10 million grants scheme.
A grants programme totalling up to £10 million aimed at funding grass roots organisations across all areas of equality. The Commission's funding scheme has developed three areas for priority funding:- organisations working to promote good relations highlight equality and human rights, and case work will be encouraged. Examples include reducing the impact of hate crime, working with the media to promote greater awareness of equality or human rights issues, and providing legal advice to victims of discrimination.
The deadline for applications is 4 February, 2008. Organisations will be funded for a 12 month period commencing from April 1, 2008. Awards can be up to £120,000 per application.
Futurebuilders England Government has outlined the following public service delivery areas in which Futurebuilders will invest:
- community cohesion;
- crime;
- education and learning;
- health and social care;
- support for children and young people.
The Futurebuilders initiative aims to increase and improve public service delivery through long-term investment in third sector organisations. Futurebuilders provides funding primarily in the form of low-interest loans to enable organisations to develop sufficiently to become investment ready, meaning that they are able to compete for service delivery contracts from statutory bodies. The loans are paid back with revenue from contracts with public sector agencies such as local authorities and primary care trusts.
Contact Information: Futurebuilders England, 3rd Floor, 3-5 Rathbone Place, London, W1T 1HJ
Phone: 0191 261 5200
GUIDANCE
Reaching Out Project – providing advice and skilled volunteers – deadline March 2008
Reaching Out provides advice and skilled volunteers to faith, black and minority ethnic, refugee and migrant and rural groups. Through Reaching Out, your organisation can gain new skills and progress its aims more effectively.
To join the project, send an email to Gerard Omasta-Milsom, Project Manager at: reachingout@reach-online.org.uk or telephone 020 7840 5663. Make contact soon - the project is funded until the end of March 2008. Reaching Out is funded by Capacitybuilders
Akashi Project and Cambridge Carbon Footprint in 2008. New Carbon Challenge Groups for 2008! Meet in a small group: connect with others who are concerned Explore climate change: how it will affect us; what we can do Act in your own life: reduce your effect on climate change: learn what to do about home energy, travel and transport, food and water, consumption and waste New groups starting in and around Cambridge are led by facilitators who have already completed a group themselves. There is also a special group for people who would like to be facilitators. Cost: a one-off charge of £7.50 to cover the cost of materials For further information Email: info@cambridgecarbonfootprint.orgPhone: 01223 460475 and ask for Rosemary, Andy or Shilpa Free media training available for small to medium sized charities and VCOs
The project provides free communications and media support for small to medium sized charities and voluntary organisations that work with the following priority groups: faith; black and minority ethnic; migrant and/or refugee; isolated rural.
There is a limit of 30 delegates per session and they are offered on first come and first served basis, so if you are interested in attending, please book as soon as possible. Further details about the training, including a booking form can be found on the Media Trust website:
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
PUBLICATIONS
NCVO publications and events autumn/winter 2007-2008: Catalogue – full of useful publications (many downloadable free) on topics including collaborative working, directories, finance, good guides, HR, management, policy, quality, sector research and trustee and Governance. Download at:
Faith, Cohesion and Community Development: An evaluation report from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund
by Malcolm James
This report shows that local faith based and inter faith organisations can make substantial contributions to community cohesion, civil renewal and grass roots community development. It also highlights the need to strengthen further the capacity of faith groups, and to improve their links with government.
The report gives a fresh insight into the challenges and opportunities facing faith groups in their local communities and will be of interest to faith communities, and local authorities and other funders looking for ways to involve faith groups in building and strengthening cohesion.
To receive a copy please contact Sue Armstrong on 01223 400341 or e-mail fundingadmin@cdf.org.uk. The publication is either available electronically (pdf format) or hard copy.
Welcome to Our Future (WTOF)has produced a guide to sustainable building construction and use of renewable energy sources for community buildings and village halls entitled Sustainable Communities. Further information on WTOF and contact details can be found on their website at www.wtof.org.uk/
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.
Exploring the Faithful City Ed. Jonathan Gurling Birmingham Faith Leaders Group. ISBN:978-1-85858-420-1, £7.95
Immediately following 9/11 Rabbi Leonard Tann, leader of Birmingham’s Orthodox Jewish community, phoned Dr Mohammed Naseem, Chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, to offer his support and ask if he could visit the Mosque. They were joined by Bishop Mark Santer and together they gathered on the steps of the Mosque, before the press, to proclaim the bonds of mutual trust and respect between the faith communities of the city. Out of this act of humanity the Birmingham Faith Leaders’ Group was born. Six years on and there are now 15 leaders from all the major faith communities of the city – Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs. This book explores a year of their work from July 2006 and the impact which faith has had on the city of Birmingham.
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.
Learning to Fly. Produced by a 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 of the leaflet or a copy of the code can be downloaded from www.governancehub.org.uk or telephone 0845 458 9910.
And Finally…
The Environment Agency Anglian Region - Recruitment of Members for Statutory Committees
The Environment Agency Anglian Region is seeking Members for the Regional Fisheries, Ecology & Recreation Advisory Committee (RFERAC) and the Regional Environment Protection Advisory Committee (REPAC).
They were created under the Environment Act 1995 to advise on priorities and specific issues of regional interest.
The Environment Agency is committed to making the membership much more reflective of the diverse make up of our region.
Each of the committees meet four or five times a year and their meetings are open to the public and the media. If you would like to attend one of the meetings or for further information contact:
Or contact Jenny Kartupelis at EEFC for a Committee Membership application form.
Please note that members' expenses may be reimbursed by the Environment Agency.
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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