Farewell to the Building Better Opportunities Team & Step In2 Project

March saw us bid a fond farewell to the hvoss BBO Team and Step In2 teams as both projects’ funding has come to an end. We celebrated their incredible successes that people have achieved through the teams’ support with a gathering of participants and colleagues from across the years.

Will Lindesay (hvoss Chief Executive) unveiled a beautiful wall hanging in the office which participants from both project have been working hard to create over the past few months.

We heard some of the wonderful stories that have come out of both projects and we'd be lying if we said no tears were shed!

Thank you to everyone that was able to join us on the day and for all the messages of support and thanks that the teams have received. hvoss will continue, as always, to give the utmost support we can to people and groups in the community and you will always be greeted with a warm welcome at 52 Broad Street.

Ukraine Integration Project

Last April, hvoss set up Herefordshire Community Network as a community response to Ukrainians arriving in Herefordshire.

Groups and organisations that are supporting Ukrainians and sponsors/hosts across the county come together at The Kindle Centre on first Tuesday of each month from 10am – 12pm to share emerging needs and issues. These have included; transport, mental health support for children and young people, host recruitment and effective communication across the county to reach people and groups, identify support needs or potential for collaborative working. Partners are able to share updates about their support, activities and events that are available to encourage engagement and collaboration in their local area.

The Network welcomes any group or organisation in the county that would like to be involved in this response.

Two subgroups have formed from the Network: Mental Health Support for children and young people and Communications. The Communications group has developed an online resource that will soon be available on the Talk Community Directory so that all information is available in one place. It will include a Google map and Outlook calendar so that all activities, support available and events can be easily accessed. Details of support, activity or event any organisation or group is planning or offers can be added to the map or calendar.

Do you provide support or activity for people from Ukraine or their hosts? Please get in touch: [email protected] or call hvoss on 01432 343932.

Are you planning an event? Please get in touch: [email protected]

Interested in attending future Network meetings or finding out more? Please get in touch: [email protected]  

Dementia Matters

Last month, Adam Jeffery (Community Development Lead),Sam, one of our young volunteers, and Chris, one of our hart volunteers, visited the Dementia Matters Festival and Conference.

This wonderful event spanned two days and saw a fabulous number of people attending and some incredible presentations from people with lived experience.

Thank you for having us along!

FREE Virtual Meet the Funder Event: The Clothworkers’ Foundation

Wednesday 5 April, 10am

Get Grants will be joined by The Clothworkers’ Foundation to explore their current funding priorities.

The Foundation was established in 1977 to serve as The Clothworkers' Company's main method of charitable giving. Since then, we have given capital grants totalling more than £158 million to charities and not-for-profit organisations that are registered in the UK.

Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and receive insights direct from The Clothworkers’ Foundation about their programme.

George’s Fund keen to support children’s outdoor project

Herefordshire Community Foundation is delighted to announce that after 18 months of local fundraising, George’s Fund – set up in the memory of the short and special life of George Price – is ready to support children’s projects right across Herefordshire.

George’s Fund is seeking to support projects which make the most of the outdoors to nurture and improve childrens’ wellbeing, both emotional and physical.

We are looking to award grants of up to £5,000 to projects in Herefordshire which make the most of nature to help children facing personal and physical challenges. We want to give a boost to projects which tap into the power of nature to help make a long-term, meaningful difference to participants who may be facing anything from mental health issues and bereavement through to life limiting illnesses and learning difficulties.

The Asda Foundation

The Asda Foundation supports small, grass roots organisations in several ways throughout the year. Working with Asda’s Community Champions in store, we are able to work with a range of organisations and groups on a variety of local community projects.

There are a number of different grants available.

Deadline to apply: 21st April

Herefordshire Heartstart

Herefordshire Heartstart is a voluntary organisation, established in 1996, to teach the people of Herefordshire Emergency Life Support (ELS) skills. These skills are the actions needed to help keep someone alive until professional help arrives.

Herefordshire Heartstart is run by a dedicated group of Trustees, supported by a committee, the charity coordinator and a team of volunteers. 

Our volunteers come from all walks of life. We are able to provide training and encourage our volunteers to become active participants in the community. Teaching members of the public emergency life support skills. These are the actions that are required to keep someone alive until professional help arrives.

We are looking for a Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. Click here to find out more.

Herefordshire Community Partnership

Thank you to everyone who attended March's Community Partnership event. 

Next Community Partnership event

Friday May 26th, 9.30am - 1pm

The Kindle Centre, Hereford HR2 7JE

Agenda:

• The Community Paradigm
• State of the Sector Action Plan Workshop
• Capturing the training and development needs of the community sector

Free lunch 

FREE online workshop

DBS - Legal duty to refer

Tuesday 11 April, 10am-12pm

hvoss are thrilled to be joined by Jo Wheatley, Regional Outreach Advisor (West Midlands) from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

During this workshop we will be covering:

• Understand the benefits of DBS and your organisation working together

• Understand the three different referral routes

• Understand when a DBS Barring referral should be made, including when the legal duty is met

• Understand what Regulated Activity is

• Understand how to make a good quality referral

• Have a clear understanding of the consequences of not making appropriate barring referrals and the consequences of being included in one or both Barred Lists

An introduction to cyber security

Wednesday 26 April 10am-11am

Join us for an introduction to Cyber Security led by John Finch Computers

This event will be an opportunity for hvoss members to gain an overview on the following:

- The risks of Cyber Security

- How best to protect yourself

- How best to protect your group or organization.

The informative presentation will be followed by a Q&A.

Cost of Living Roadshow

Talk Community are continuing on the road around the county, with their partners, running a series of events to help people find support with the cost of living. Many people are feeling the squeeze from rising costs, and these events give people the opportunity to speak to organisations who can signpost and provide information and advice.

For details of the events and information about organisations attending visit the Talk Community Directory.

If you need more immediate help visit the money on your mind section of the Talk Community website.

Healthwatch celebrates its 10th Birthday with a picnic

April marks Healthwatch's 10th birthday and to celebrate, the team will be having a relaxed 'picnic in the park'. . . and we'd love you to join us!

Whether we've worked or talked to you in the past or you'd like to meet us for the first time, you are welcome to pop along.

Bring your own picnic, children or animals, and get yourself a slice of our birthday cake (the healthy variety of course!) Our mascot Harry Healthwatch will keep any little ones amused.

Tuesday 11th April

Queenswood Park (near the main building/park)

11am - 2pm

There is no need to book but if you wish to contact us beforehand:

Tel: 01432 277044

Email: [email protected]

Here for Games Con

Taking place from 12th - 14th May in Hereford and online in early May. Join us for over 30 hours of free gaming! 

Herefordshire Board Gamers is a volunteer community that runs a wide range of gaming / social events online and in person with a focus on inclusion and accessibility. We also provide a free lending library of over 500 games and jigsaws locally and a knowledge base full of advice on how to run and organise gaming and community events. We raised around £6,000 for charity last year! 

Here for Games Con is a free, inclusive charity games convention raising money for Herefordshire Mind. This is Herefordshire Board Gamer’s 9th Annual event.

Supporting our in-person activities we have launched a new online convention, Here for Games CONline. We fell in love with how accessible online is during the pandemic, meeting and connecting with people around the world. We believe we need more of that, not everyone can travel to conventions so thanks to the wonder of the internet we’ll appear in their homes.

Hobbies and communities are vital for mental health, meeting people, having fun, learning new skills and developing confidence. This is why we are so proud to work with Herefordshire Mind. 

Spring has sprung...

As the nights get that bit lighter we welcome the beginning of British Summer Time.

We are now entering the last few months of our Count Your Hours campaign and the information we have collected so far is simply staggering. We know this is the tip of the iceberg. People across the county are donating huge amounts of time to organisations, charities and causes on a monthly, weekly and daily basis.

Voluntary support is crucial to our community and at hvoss we are here to support you. If you are an individual who volunteers their time or a group or organisation that relies on voluntary support, our Community Team would love to connect with you. Call the office on 01432 343932 or pop in and see us at 52 Broad Street, Hereford.