The Future Builders website has information on support to help groups towards tendering, and loans that are available to third sector organisations. www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/

MENCAP Training

Small organisations survey

The world of voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations that work with children, young people and families is changing. Children's trusts arrangements and the move away from grant funding to commissioning can offer new opportunities and chances to develop. However, understanding the complexities of these new policies can be challenging and even feel very threatening. The VCS needs to come together to share information and understanding and find innovative ways of working together so that each organisation can continue to work for children, young people and families. NCVCCO is carrying out a survey of small organisations (annual income less than £250k). This follows on from a similar survey conducted two years ago, published as 'Under the radar' (see http://www.navca.org.uk/news/radar.htm), which received national media attention and helped to highlight the strengths and challenges of smaller organisations. NCVCCO wants to find out how the current children's services agenda is impacting on small organisations and what has changed for them. Please respond if you can, and encourage others to respond. http://digbig.com/4xrrd or http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=C_2fz3dej_2bYyAJ5nU0F1RtGQ_3d_3d

Commisioning Support Providers announced

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has issued a press release with details of a new source of support that will help local authorities and their Children's Trust partners improve the lives of children, young people and their families, that has been announced by Children's Minister Beverley Hughes. DCSF Press Release

Parenting Fund Round 3 Funding

The third round of the Parenting Fund provides a grant fund from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly the DfES) of £16 million over two years (£8 million per year). It will be for a 24-month period for projects starting in April 2009. The application period will be 15 October 2008 to 12 December 2008. Recipients will be charities and "not for profit" organisations undertaking parenting support work where parents, families and children face significant challenges. http://www.familyandparenting.org/ParentingFundFunding

Homophobic Bullying and Human Rights

An executive summary, of a youth led research and social policy project, has been published by Independent Academic Research Studies. It looks into the social problem of homophobic bullying.
Homophobic Bullying and Human RIghts

Play Strategy:

An update on the Calderdale Play Strategy. There are four different strands to the strategy:
Play rangers: there are 5 staff as part of the play rangers project they will facilitate play with 0-19 year olds in specific hotspots around Calderdale. They have a mobile unit that is kitted out with natural play equipment. The team leader is Sabrin Gohir from the play service.
Mixenden Play: This has been a joint piece of work with different partners that work in the Mixenden area, it has been a very positive and inclusive piece of work. Children and young people have been consulted at each step of the way. The project is now at the implementation stage having gone through planning and design the end result will be a natural play setting at the back of the Mixenden adventure play centre.
Old Town School Playground: This project has also been developed with the community and is aiming to provide an adventure play space in the school grounds that can be accessed by the community in keeping with the extended schools ethos.
Lightcliffe and Hipperholme: Natural Play development underway as there is a shortage of play provision in this area, no further details on this project.
Play Builder Funding has been secured by Calderdale this is a one and a half million pound budget over three years to improve 22 playgrounds in Calderdale. Six sites have been chosen based on a complex scoring matrix these are:
Finkle St - Hove Edge, Crow Wood Park - Sowerby Bridge, Fairfax - Southowram, Grantham Rd - Boothtown, Holmes Park - Luddenden, and Spring Edge - King Cross HX.
For further information on the play builder funding go to www.playpathfinders.co.uk/playbuilder/index.html
The contact for this project is mick.wilby@calderdale.gov.uk

Children's Social Care Induction Workbook

The Children's Workforce Development council have issued a new booklet for people working with children in social care. The booklet is available on their website.
CWDC Induction Standards Workbook

Successful Commissioning Training

Training is available from the National Children's Bureau, entitled 'Successful Commissioning: Preparing Your Children's Service Tenders'.
NCB Training Update

Play England

Play England and government departments leading on play have published guidance which will help transform the design of play spaces. The guide is free and available at www.playengland.org.uk/resources

Calderdale Parenting Support Strategy

The Parenting Support Strategy describes Calderdale's ambition and key priorities for improving the lives of families, parents and carers in the Borough. The strategy has been developed following widespread consultation with partner agencies. This strategy symbolises the commitment we have in Calderdale to respect and support parents and carers because every child and young person matters. Calderdale are working to ensure that parents and families have access to the support that they need, when they need it, so that all children can benefit from confident, positive and resilient parenting, from birth right through to the teenage years.
Parenting Support Strategy

Sport Relief Funding

UnLtd Sport Relief Awards are offering cash and a package of support to individuals across the UK with awards of up to £500 (for 11 to 16 year olds) and £500 to £5000 (for 17 to 21 year olds). The scheme aims to support ideas that tackle conflict and promote understanding in communities through sport and leisure activities. You can find out more from the information leaflet .
UnLtd Sport Relief Awards Information Leaflet

Local Level Funding and Support

The Department of Children, Schools and Families has issued a leaflet with information on funding and support possibilities available to local communities who want to develop their own play spaces and facilities.
Local Level Funding and Support

Resource Catalogue

Calderdale Health Improvement Resource Centre have a catalogue of resources and materials for use with children and young people. The resources outlined in the catalogue are aimed at teachers, support workers, youth workers, carers and health professionals who work with children and young people.
CHI Resource Centre Catalogue

Play Work Partnerships- Play Ranger Support Services

This new national support service will provide play rangers or playworkers facilitating open access play in parks, open spaces and streets, with an access point to share experiences, information, advice and good practice. The group is supported by staff from Playwork Partnerships with funding from Play England.
Play Workers Partnerships leaflet

Homeless Young People

Calderdale SmartMove recently gave a presentation at one of the Children and Young People's Network meetings. SmartMove can support young people from the age of 16 upwards to find a place of their own to rent. Age limits the amount of housing benefit a young person can claim until they are 25, when they become eligible for standard housing benefit rates. For more information, referral forms and contact details, visit the SmartMove website.