In Aprils newsletter London Plus shine the light on social prescribing projects happening across London, offer small grants for Volunteers’ Week, and promote events coming up soon.

FUNDING

Reward and Recognition grants

In celebration of National Volunteers’ Week, Team London have partnered with London Plus to give small grants of £500 – £1000 to organisations. This is to develop additional activities around reward and recognition of volunteering in their locality throughout June 2019. We would love for these grants to be used to:

• Bring people together
• Acknowledge the contribution of volunteers
• Celebrate the different kinds of volunteering and different volunteers in your community
• Raises the profile of volunteering locally

You can find out more and apply here. Deadline Friday 26th April.

CASE STUDIES

Health and Wellbeing Buddies

What does social prescribing look like in Redbridge? RedbridgeCVS director Ross Diamond, shares key learning from their social prescribing scheme Health and Wellbeing Buddies.

Community Links

Building on their strengths Voluntary Action Camden, Age UK Camden and Wish Plus deliver social prescribing project Community Links. How can this service improve the health and wellbeing of Camden residents?

Building a connected community

In a borough where 1 in 8 young people live in poverty what can the voluntary and community sector do to reduce food poverty? Kingston Voluntary Action reflect on their annual health conference which had two topics: Food poverty and their digital social prescribing tool Connected Kingston.

INSIGHTS FROM CIVIL SOCIETY

Support, advice and long-term solutions

Case study: The London Borough of Ealing has the fourth highest levels of poverty and unemployment in London. Help through Crisis is a project in Ealing which identifies & supports those in food crisis, facing eviction or housing re-possession. Clients are identified at food banks and given immediate assistance as well as advice and support to achieve long-term behaviour changes.

Data in the city

Data collection is often in the headlines for the wrong reasons, but how do we go about collecting good quality data? The collection of good quality data is a vital first step in identifying and addressing the barriers people face. Our data and intelligence coordinator Natasha discusses this in the latest London Plus blog.

CAN YOU HELP?

Health Impact Assessments

Helen Price, the manager of Volunteer Centre Enfield is a member of a steering group for the Health Impact Assessment for a huge residential development in SE Enfield called Meridian Water. Do you work for a CVS or Volunteer Centre and have been involved in anything similar? If so she would love to hear about your experience/journey and any advice you may have. Please contact email Helen: h.price@enfieldva.org.uk.

EVENTS

Healthy and resilient communities: Masterclass

Do you have experience in community-centred approaches to improving health and wellbeing? The University of East London are delivering masterclasses to share learning and best practice on what works at the local community or neighbourhood level to develop healthy and resilient communities. You can find out more information and book your place on the GLA website.

FSI small charity training

This popular training is back in London this 14th – 16th May! Explore 16 different courses covering topics such as corporate relationships, trusts and foundations, fundraising strategy, charity leader responsibilities, demonstrating your impact and many more. These courses are heavily subsidised and fill up fast, so book now.