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February 2024

News from hvoss

State of the Sector Research 2024


The voluntary and community sector are key partners in Herefordshire Council's Talk Community approach. In 2020, Herefordshire Council and hvoss commissioned Impact Consultancy to undertake Phase One of research into the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector which assessed the ‘state of the sector’ in Herefordshire. The research provided valuable insight into the size and diversity of the sector, the contribution it makes socially and economically and the key issues facing the sector locally.



Phase Two of this research has begun with the launch of the State of the Sector survey. This will take the same format as the previous survey in order to enable comparisons from 2020 to be made. New questions relating to the cost-of-living crisis have been added to reflect the environment in which voluntary organisations and community groups are operating in.


The survey was officially launched on 3rd January and will be open until 28th February. The survey will be open to all VCSO’s regardless of size and we are particularly interested to hear from very small volunteer-led organisations who operate at a neighbourhood level. The survey will be sent directly to organisations that completed the 2020 survey and will be accessible via Herefordshire Council’s consultation page from 3rd January. The survey should only take 15 minutes to complete plus all those that complete the survey will be entered into a draw to win £500 for their group.

State of the Sector Report 2020
Complete the Survey Here

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Funding Focus

Herefordshire Together Fund

A new fund has been launched, which is the first contribution to the development of the community paradigm ‘Community Chest’ in partnership with Herefordshire Community Foundation.

Funded by Public Health at Herefordshire Council, the Herefordshire Together fund is looking for impactful community-led initiatives to create lasting connections for people to improve their emotional wellbeing and sense of community belonging and strengthen reach to families in need. Grants of up to £1000, or between £1,000 and £20,000 are available for community projects meeting the criteria. Total funding pot is £136k. Deadline for applications Monday 12th February.

Full Details Here

Herefordshire Community Foundation is providing help within our community this Winter, with grants of up to 2k to heat community spaces and to support food.

Grant applications will be accepted directly from community ‘warm spaces’.


Priority will be given to projects supporting people experiencing homelessness, older people, disabled people and young families in need, as well as those providing meals to those suffering hardship.

Apply Here

Surviving Winter Fund | Herefordshire Community Foundation

Applications are considered on an ongoing, rolling basis, meaning you can apply at any time. The Fund is designed to help vulnerable households cope with the rising cost of living through fuel grants and to help community spaces stay warm and welcoming.

Full Details Here

Winter of Wellbeing Grant


The grants aim is to support the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of families across Herefordshire during the cost of living crisis, by enabling them to access free activities and warm refreshments. Offering grants to organisations across the county to deliver a varied programme of activities aims to help as many families as possible. These events will be an opportunity to come together and get support from the community.

The application process will remain open until the allocated budget has been spent. Looking for activities especially at half term; sessions must have taken place before 31 March 2024.

Full Details Here

Boots Charitable Trust

Supporting local communities across the UK

Boots Charitable Trust is an independent registered charity wholly funded by Boots UK Limited. We want to be there to care for people, customers and communities everywhere and that’s why in 2023, we expanded the Trust’s reach to support projects across the UK, as well as in our home county of Nottinghamshire.

The Trust funds charities and voluntary organisations working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development and social care, and encourages applications from organisations where our grants of up to £10,000 can make the biggest impact.


While we look at nominations from all different charities, our main focus is on the following areas that are very close to our hearts and heritage:


  • Health: Community healthcare, such as homecare or support for sufferers of medical conditions, and health education and prevention
  • Lifelong learning: Local literacy and numeracy projects
  • Community development: For example, supporting councils in providing voluntary services
  • Social care: Personal, social or community activities or schemes.



Additionally, a particular focus within each of these priorities is how the projects demonstrate a commitment to improving diversity, equality and inclusion within the community.

Visit Boots Website

Community Funding Support

Funding alerts and news for the VCSE sector - New news posted all the time!

Registering for the funding news service ensures you are kept up to date with the latest funding news. 

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Got a funding opportunity? Click here to tell us about it to be featured in a future edition of hvoice.Need help with a funding application? Click here

Other news and events

News from Herefordshire Community Network for Ukraine, co-ordinated by hvoss

hvoss Community Kitchen

Our Community Kitchens have been running in Hereford for over a year, led by hvoss' Hereford based link worker, Inna, in partnership with Anastasiia (AUGB) and Maryna (Ethos/Living Room). Around 40 people come together to cook traditional Ukrainian food and eat, many people attend regularly, with new faces being made very welcome each month.  

  

The events enable families fleeing the conflict in Ukraine to connect with others and build natural supportive friendships. They tell us it improves their mental well-being, sense of integration into the community, empowerment and independence. 

  

As the Hereford Community Kitchens have been so successful and valued, we are now organising them in Ross on Wye, supported by Anzhelika, hvoss’ link worker, with Ross Refugee group, with which we also offer English lessons to families.  

  

At the January Community Kitchens the children were gifted warm fluffy hoodies from kind donors to hvoss’ annual "Pyjamas & Fluffy Socks" campaign, organised by hvoss' Community team to give children in Herefordshire a token of warmth and comfort from their community.  

  

The Community Kitchens are just one example of the great events and activities organised through the fantastic collaborative approach of the Herefordshire Community Network for Ukraine. It demonstrates the success of our partnership approach and response to emerging needs, for which we thank all our partners including Herefordshire Council for their support. 


If you would like to know more, please contact Rebecca Seignior, Community Network Co-ordinator


The Herefordshire Community Network for Ukraine is funded through the Herefordshire Council Ukraine Community Integration Grant Scheme

View our newsletter here
Sign up to the Herefordshire Community Network for Ukraine

Have you heard the latest Mission Possible?


This episode focuses on data, a key area for all community groups and organisations. We explore What is data? How do we generate and use data? What are the do's and don'ts.

We are joined by Ben Proctor, Innovation Director for Data Orchard who shares his valuable insights and knowledge.

Listen Here

Free training for frontline staff – fuel poverty and energy efficiency 

Do you or your team work with people at risk of fuel poverty? Would you like to be able to give basic energy efficiency advice? Our free online training helps you to help the people you work with.




Who is the training for?

Introduction to Energy Use in the Home and Fuel Poverty Awareness is our free, online training, designed for frontline staff and volunteers in Herefordshire. Participants come from organisations in the community and voluntary sector, housing, health and social care, child and family support, disability and mental health, and advisory services.


What does the training cover?

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Explain what fuel poverty is and how it comes about
  • Explain some of the key health and wellbeing impacts of fuel poverty and cold homes
  • Identify factors that impact home energy efficiency
  • Give basic energy advice to improve energy welfare
  • Signpost or refer householders to appropriate support and funding


How do I book a place?

Go to severnwye.org.uk/events and choose a date that works for you. We look forward to seeing you at a webinar soon!

I have a question about the training – who should I contact?

Please email our Training & Events Officer, Lee Tulfer leet@severnwye.org.uk with any questions.

Book Your Space Here

The latest from The Cracked Slipper Company


Our “Drama 4 change” groups run weekly and are free to attend for young people in-between the ages of 7-25 years The Drama 4 Change groups helps young people to build on confidence and communication whilst supporting issue-based drama exploring issues that are important to young people and their communities.

This group will give young people a voice and the opportunity to promote change and make a difference.

The Drama 4 Change group will produce high quality emotionally engaging productions tackling some of the most challenging issues and difficult topics.


Visit The Cracked Slipper Company Website
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