26 May 2013

£20,000 To Improve Health In Unwin and Friary Estate

Residents from the Unwin and Friary Estate in Peckham, London Borough of Southwark have been given the chance to take the lead in improving the Health and Well Being of their own neighbourhood thanks to “Well London”. Well London is a programme which works on estates throughout London to improve health and well being.

The programme has arrived on the Unwin and Friary and residents are being encouraged to develop their own health and well being project ideas in areas such as healthy eating, mental well being and physical activity.

£20,000 has been allocated by Well London for residents to apply to set up and run their own projects. This sum of money will be shared between successful projects. Young people aged 14 and over are particularly being encouraged to apply.

Residents will have a chance to consider and decide which applications are successful by voting for project ideas at a neighborhood event to be held at the end of March.

Ideas for projects will be submitted by application to Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum (PVSF) a local charity who is coordinating the Unwin and Friary Well London Programmme.

Applications can be submitted between now until 13th March 2013 with the neighborhood voting event taking place on the 23rd March.  Please click on  links for an application form Unwin and Friary Application form ; the application guidance notes Unwin and Friary Guidance Notes (A) ; and publicity leaflet Unwin & Friary Funding Publicity leaflet-a3

Some residents are already excited about the Well London idea and have already volunteered to do something about improving health where they live by forming a group called the Well London Delivery Team. The role of the group is to provide health improvement information and to encourage people to organise and participate in health improvement activities.

Delivery team member David Lessore says “It’s high time that our community got into action and came together to try and become healthier”Another Well London Delivery Team member Ijeoma Bono- Odo adds “Well London is bringing the community together to encourage healthier life styles”

David Reid, PVSF Well London Coordinator, said; “We will be working with individuals and groups in the community to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in Well London and take a lead in local decision-making. What we want is for people to take ownership of the projects that matter and to make this happen we have set up a process where residents can run their own projects and participate in voting for  the projects that mean the most to them.”

Residents will be able to pick up an application form a number of different locations in and around the Unwin and Friary Neighbourhood including Peckham Park Baptist Church, Leyton Square Adventure Playground, The Children’s Centre on Leyton Square , The Bird in the Bush Centre and Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum.

 

PVSF Forum Meeting 21st March

It is more important than ever that people are able to get their voices heard, know how to influence the right people and be involved in steering decisions about the places in which they live and the services that are provided to them.

Our forum meeting will look at developments for a more effective and inclusive pathway for voice and representation of SE15 residents, including the smallest and most isolated voices, to better engagement with Southwark Council, other public services, policy-makers and opinion formers.

Full details see flyer Forum meeting flyer 21 March 2013

Date: Thursday 21st March 2013

Time: 10.15am to 1pm

Venue: Bells Garden Community Centre, 19 Buller Close, Peckham SE15 6UJ

Book a Place: Ian Redding 0207 635 7000 or ian@peckhamforum.org.uk

 

Update on Southwark Budgets 2013/14

Key elements of direct relevance to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in connection with Southwark Council’s proposed budget’s raised at meeting held on 5tth February 2013 with VCS reps and Council Officers.

Settlement figures from Government arrived on 20 December so effects still being considered, and re-considered.Not just the grant settlement overall that’s an issue, some specific grants are also being reduced which affect some services in particular

  • One of the big specific grants affected is Early Intervention Grant which is cut by £6.1m in 2013/14, with further reductions next year
  • This has the potential to have a knock-on effect on the VCS, especially on services commissioned with the use of these monies
  • Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) WP Social Grant funding transfers to LBS, and plans are to develop a council scheme to support the most vulnerable residents (DWPs figures indicate at least 12,000 such residents, though most agree that this figure must be increasing given the current economic environment)
  • A Welfare Hardship Fund of £800k has been set aside particularly to deal with the effects of Council Tax reforms (which have lead in Southwark to every household to at least having to pay 15% of Council Tax as opposed to 0% now
  • The Youth and Community Restoration Funds….. there is an ongoing commitment to continue adding to the Youth Fund for the next 3 years

On commissioning, those of most immediate interest are below:

  • Adult Services – No changes expected from earlier letters sent to organisations in December, except Community Support Services grants to continue for further 2 years
  • Childrens Services – Many changes taking place in response to changing policies around disadvantaged families, those with learning and other disabilities etc.
  • Community Advice Services – Contracts extended to 31 July; procurement path for 3 years from August 2013 to be set on 11 February
  • Community Capacity – Report with recommendations due to be published mid-February
  • Youth Services – Looking to advertise grants programme from mid- February

 

Don’t Knock Peckham EasyJet !

Easy Jet the low budget airline has launched their latest advertising campaign on public buses called  ” This year end up in Paris not Peckham”.

Our local Councillor Rowena Davis has responded to their campaign with an article pointing out that Peckham has as much to offer as Paris when it comes to culture, food and pride of place.

Please click on this link to read full article http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/01/peckham-easyjet-more-like-paris

 

Extra Help Available for Peckham Charities

If you are community group in Peckham or Nunhead and not able to get to Community Action Southwark’s (CAS)  first Thursday in the month Sustainability Surgery at Cambridge House in Camberwell, don’t worry on the 19th February PVSF is delighted to bring CAS’s  surgery right to your doorstep.

Date: Tuesday 19th February. 

Time 1 to 5pm

Venue:  Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum (PVSF), 48 Willowbrook Road, London, SE15 6BW

Cost: Free

What can you expect:    Expertise advice from CAS’S sustianbility Officers on a whole range of issues including;

  •        Strategy and organisational development
  •        Monitoring and evaluation
  •        Collaboration and partnership working
  •        Support with marketing
  •        Governance
  •        Policies

 How to book: to find out more or to book an appointment at this sustainability surgery contact Truly Johnston, truly@casouthwark.org.uk, 020 7358 7016.

Appointments will be allocated on a first come first served basis. We have appointments left at: 2 – 2.45pm,  3 – 3.45pm or 4 – 4.45pm

More information about CAS  www.casouthwark.org.uk

 

 

 

Residents To Hear Plans For Livesey Museum

Livesy

Southwark Council has voted to lease the Livesey Building to Treasure House a community interest company that works with students aged between 13-19 years old who are unable to access mainstream education.

They are holding an open day on 30th January between 12pm and 6pm at the Livesey building for local people to meet the Treasure House team and hear about their plans.

A key part of the Treasure House proposal is to make the building available for community use and they have suggested activities such as community learning, creative resource bank, ESOL courses, photography courses and a special oral history project about the Old Kent Road.

The open day is specifically designed to feed into the public consultation required by the Charity Commission in drawing up the scheme for Livesey and feedback will be collected by Council officers to be passed onto the Charity Commission.

Another issue local people need to consider is currently the Council is sole trustee of the building. In the past The Friends of Livesey Museum had campaigned for this to be substituted by a committee of Council members and community representatives.  Is this suggestion a more democratic way of safeguarding the future of the building?

This is an issue that local people could raise as part of the feedback process.

For more information about this event please contact:
Adrian Whittle, Tel: 02075251577 Email: adrian.whittle@southwark.gov.uk
or  :http://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/1122/livesey_building_open_dayFor more information about Treasure Househttp://www.treasurehouselondon.org/

Office and Desk Space Available Now!

Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum is delighted to offer a range of office and desk spaces to rent at the Willowbrook Centre, a beautiful Georgian House located very close to the heart of Peckham’s busy shopping centre and just a stone’s throw away from the award winning Peckham Library.

The centre has been the home for almost 30 years to charities and community groups.

Office and Desk Space Available ( inclusive of services e.g. electricity, gas)

  1. Desk Space – from £1850 to £2200 a year
  2. 1st Floor office – suitable for 3 to 4 members of staff £4940 a year
  3. Basement office suitable for 8 to 10 members of staff £6910 a year

Spaces ideally suited for the start up and small emerging not for profit organisation that is looking for an affordable space to run their services.

For more details please have a look at our office and desk space brochure click here Willowbrook Centre Office & Desk Space to Rent

Support for Southwark Traveller’s Re-started

Southwark Traveller’s Action Group (STAG) has been very busy since re- starting it’s activities as a project hosted by Peckham Voluntray Sector Forum (PVSF) last November.

STAG’S main objective for 2013 is to set up as a constituted organisation so that it can have it’s own independance. We are working closely with PVSF in the pursuit of this aim. STAG’s usual work has continued in the meantime.

Here is a quick update on some of STAG’s work in the final few months of 2012.

HOUSING: STAG has been working with Councillors to scrutinise proposed new tenancy agreements for new tenants on Southwark’s four Traveller Sites. The agreements are welcomed as they give tenants more security of tenure. We are pleased that Councillors have agreed to review the agreement again to improve the terms regarding absence, animals and fire safety.

STAG is also overseeing the refurbishment of Spring Tide Close and has played a role in ensuring that repairs are properly reported and work is completed.

HEALTH: STAG has been involved in Southwark Council’s review of Health Inequalities experienced by Gyspies and Travellers, which focusses on maternal care. STAG has arranged consultancy sessions with community members and actively engaged with Councillors and Council Officers to highlight the health issues facing Travellers.

ONE TO ONE SUPPORT: STAG has supported community members through a range of personal difficulties.

ADVICE: In partnership with Blackfriars Advice Centre STAG has continued to provide drop in advice sessions for Travellers.

POLICE LIAISON: STAG has met with the Community Liaison Officer who deals with Southwark Traveller sites. Our aim is to ease unnecessary tensions between the police and Traveller community. The Officer praised STAG’s influence in the dropping of heavy-handed strategies which used to be used on Traveller sites.

REPRESENTATION: STAG has retaken its seat at the Forum for Equalities and Human Rights in Southwark.

SPECIAL PROJECTS: STAG has secured funding from Safer Southwark Partnership to put on a project which encourages community safety and improves employment prospects for young Travellers. We will keep you updated on developments.

For more details about STAG visit their website  www.travellersite.org  or ring 0207 277 6172

 

 

PVSF AGM & Forum Meeting 2012

Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum (PVSF) invites it’s members and friends to their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 6th December at Bells Garden Community Centre, 16 Buller Close SE15 from 10am to 1pm.

Come and find out about PVSF’s previous year’s achievement plus an update on the development of the SE15 Consortium for community groups.

This event is a great opportunity to meet the people behind PVSF, the trustess, staff and volunteers. Of course our meetings are always a great place to network and this year will be no different. Along with our 85 strong membership other  invited guests include the Mayor of Southwark, SE15Councillors, Southwark Council Commissioners and Grant funding Trusts and Foundations.

There will be an exciting showcase of  SE15 community groups services and activities- why not learn more about how these groups are making a difference in their communities.

As usual, our last members meeting of the year, their will be plenty of festive cheer after business is over with our customary delicious hot buffet and a glass of wine.

If you would like to attend or for free information stall queries please contact David Reid 0207 358 9777  david@peckhamforum.org.uk

Consortium Steering Group Elected

Dozens of PVSF members turned up to vote in a steering group which will help set up and develop a consortium of  SE15 community organisations. 

The idea of the Consortium is to bring small community organisations closer to securing public contracts through partnership working. The consortium will also help raise the degree of represenation of these organisations on decision making bodies,  enabling them to better infuence what happens in their neighbourhoods.

For more details go to www.peckhamforum.org.uk/category/peckham-voluntary-sector-forum-meeting .