Category: UCAN News

Become UCAN’s next Honorary Treasurer

UCAN has a vacancy among its trustee board for an Honorary Treasurer

UCAN has a vacancy among its trustee board for an Honorary Treasurer

Uttlesford Community Action Network is the charity at the heart of our community.    Working with VCFSE colleagues, statutory services and volunteers, we deliver a range of services to improve the quality of life for the residents of Uttlesford.   Our primary mission is to reduce loneliness and isolation amongst our population and enable people to live independent but supported and connected lives.

The UCAN board of trustees are volunteers who hold the operational management team to account, set strategy and develop policy and support the charity with compliance and governance matters.   We are now seeking to appoint a new Honorary Treasurer, as the previous post-holder has retired.

The role of the Honorary Treasurer (who is both a trustee and director of the charity) in addition to their regular responsibilities as a trustee of UCAN, is to have oversight of the financial administration of the charity.

Day to day responsibility for the financial management and administration of the charity is devolved to the Chief Finance Officer (CFO), supported by the Financial Administrator. The financial management and administration of the charity is governed by the Financial Regulations policy.

The Treasurer, in addition to attending regular trustee meetings, will also Chair Finance Sub Group meetings where they will work with the Chief Finance Officer to set and review budgets and budget performance, review the fundraising activities and funding pipeline and support the CFO with matters relating to the good financial governance of the charity. The sub group will make recommendations to the board on routine financial matters and issues arising.

  •  The Treasurer will provide support and advice to the Chief Executive Officer and CFO and through them the Financial Administrator.
  • The CFO will consult the Treasurer before committing to any non-budgeted expenditure or entering into any financial liabilities/agreements.
  • The Treasurer may be required to meet the external accountants and respond to questions from them.
  • The Treasurer will approve the annual accounts and present the examined/audited accounts to the board and at the Annual General Meeting.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR THE HONORARY TREASURER

Requirement Essential or Desirable
Financial qualification such as chartered accountant D
Financial management at a senior level E
Charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes D
Ability to analyse proposals and consider their consequences E
Willingness to be available to the SMT and trustees for advice and guidance on an ad-hoc basis E
Be eligible to serve as a trustee E

 

Your commitment as a trustee is to attend as many schedule board meetings as possible within the year.  These alternate between in-person main meetings and virtual (Zoom) online update meetings approximately every six weeks, plus participation in the finance sub group which meets two weeks before each trustee meeting.  Board meetings usually take place on a Friday morning in

If you match the eligibility criteria and are interested in taking an active role within UCAN and our community, please email your CV outlining relevant experience, and a covering letter to connect@ucan.org.uk   the Dunmow area, with virtual meetings taking place on Wednesday evenings.   This is a voluntar role, but expenses for attending meetings can be claimed.

Thank you for your interest.

UCAN Mobile Hub brings our services to you!

The UCAN Charity Mobile Community Hub was out and about in Uttlesford again yesterday, this time setting up in Hatfield Broad Oak.

The UCAN Charity Mobile Community Hub was out and about in Uttlesford again yesterday, this time setting up in Hatfield Broad Oak.
Our mobile hub brings access to information, services and support for people in our more isolated rural communities, and those who are separated by lack of infrastructure, access to online services and shortage of local amenities. We can provide help and support on a range of public health and wellbeing issues and signpost and refer to hundreds of voluntary groups active across our district.
If you would like the mobile hub to visit your community, please contact carol.butterworth@ucan.org.uk

Crisis Response Volunteers Induction Event

We are pleased to announce that we are holding an induction event to introduce an exciting new Volunteering Opportunity with UCAN covering the Uttlesford District.

We are pleased to announce that we are holding an induction event to introduce an exciting new Volunteering Opportunity with UCAN covering the Uttlesford District.

Saturday 4th May

10am to 12pm

Talbot Rooms, Foakes Hall, Stortford Road, Great Dunmow, CM 6 1DG

 

This opportunity has come about due to the success we have had over recent year in responding to and delivering the Ukrainian Welcome Hub and the Sudanese Humanitarian Assistance Centre at Stansted Airport. Together with all the learning and experience we have acquired through these Volunteer led operations, we now wish to capitalise and expand upon them to create a Crisis Response Team.

We are seeking Volunteers who are interested in being trained in Crisis Response and are able at short notice able to mobilise and respond to crisis and incidents in the Uttlesford District.

This induction event will provide you with an overview of the role, its expectations and the training programme.

If you are interested in joining or finding out more about this team and exciting opportunity, please attend this event to learn more or contact us to register your interest at: volunteer@ucan.org.uk or call us on 01371 404474.

 

Jacks of Dunmow supports UCAN’s winter warmth campaign

Jack’s has been part of the fabric of Dunmow since 1952, and business owner Darren Cox and his wife Jude are very much part of the local community.   UCAN was delighted to be supported by the store once again this winter, receiving a donation of assorted sizes of men’s and women’s base layer garments that can be distributed to residents struggling with the cold at this time of year

Jack’s has been part of the fabric of Dunmow since 1952, and business owner Darren Cox and his wife Jude are very much part of the local community.   UCAN was delighted to be supported by the store once again this winter, receiving a donation of assorted sizes of men’s and women’s base layer garments that can be distributed to residents struggling with the cold at this time of year

Each winter UCAN distributes clothing, blankets, bedding and appliances to people in need, to help them to stay warm and well through the colder months of the year.   We are grateful to Darren and Jude for helping the community once again, and the clothing they have been providing over the past two years has been incredibly useful in our work.

You can find out more about Jack’s and their range of clothing and outdoor items by visiting their website https://www.jacks1952.co.uk/jacks-dunmow or why not call in to 19-21 High Street, Dunmow between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Saturday.

If you or someone you know would benefit from our support this winter, please call the UCAN Community Response Hub on 03333 408218 or email connect@ucan.org.uk and one of the team will be in touch to help.

Ukraine Welcome Hub operation draws to a close

Since May 2022 we have supported over 20,000 people fleeing the war – mostly women and children – and made them welcome in the UK

Yesterday marked our last shift at Stansted Airport welcoming refugees from the Ukraine Conflict

Since May 2022 we have supported over 20,000 people fleeing the war – mostly women and children – and made them welcome in the UK. Help given has ranged from addressing immediate needs for food and water, to seeing travellers safely onto trains and coaches to other areas of the UK, as well as booking and providing overnight hotel accommodation for those unable to continue their journey. We have distributed thousands of sim cards with six months of data kindly provided by Vodafone, and express our gratitude to the food retailers in the airport – Burger King, Costa Coffee, M&S and others who have issued food vouchers and additional kept our volunteers fed and watered.
We are especially indebted to these many, many volunteers – who have manned our help desk 18 hours a day, 7 days a week during this period, for their thousands of hours given freely to help people in need. There are not sufficient words to express our gratitude.
Although our welcome desk operation has been stood down, we continue to support the many Ukrainians who have settled in Uttlesford, as well as host families and the local authority to process housing applications.
We stand with Ukraine.
A formal thank-you event for UCAN staff and volunteers, and other supporters of the Ukraine Welcome Hub in Uttlesford is being hosted by Essex County Council on 11th January 2023, and we are grateful to all the aid and assistance ECC has provided during both the Ukraine and Sudanese crisis.

Luxury Hamper Winner

We were delighted to present Pamela Phillips with our luxury hamper raffle prize

We were delighted to present Pamela Phillips with our luxury hamper raffle prize, following a very successful funding campaign run over eight weeks during operation of the Covid Vaccine Centre in the Lord Butler Leisure Centre Saffron Walden.

All funds raised will support UCAN’s ongoing work supporting isolated and vulnerable people in Uttlesford.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

The Hats have been donated!

At the Jubilee Hub Saffron Walden we distributed over 400 hats, scarves and hand warmers knitted by volunteers between four charities – thank you to all those knitters who donated.

At the Jubilee Hub Saffron Walden we distributed over 400 hats, scarves and hand warmers knitted by volunteers between four charities – thank you to all those knitters who donated.

This project was run by our enterprising UCAN Volunteering Ambassador, Ann Holloway with assistance from volunteer Pat.

Volunteers knitted and donated, some of whom had knitted in the past but had stopped for whatever reason and this project encouraged them to re-start, providing a new hobby, enjoyment and purpose, knowing that the items were needed by the charities involved. The project benefited both the volunteers who were knitting and of course the charities who were given the items. Over 400 items were knitted.

We will continue to donate any knitted items to these charities, so if people would like to continue knitting, please do so and drop them in to the Jubilee Hub (3 Hill Street) Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm.

Interested in Volunteering?

Are you interested in volunteering but don’t know where to look?

Are you interested in volunteering but don’t know where to look?

UCAN Volunteer Centre are hosting a Volunteer Showcase Event to highlight voluntary organisations and their opportunities. Come and find out more!

What does UCAN do? UCAN strengthens communities

You asked for it, and we listened!

The delivery programme of workshops, activities and socials at the Jubilee Hub Saffron Walden will continue to grow and evolve, as the needs of our community change. This is our offer for the next few months. We have created a schedule for everyone – and focused on additionality – providing more, and not just the same as is already on offer elsewhere in the area.

Collaboration is key – and working with Saffron Walden Town Council (who negotiated the lease and manage the building) and Enterprise East (who bring expertise on inclusion, diversity and training) creates a powerful and strong partnership with the experience and passion to deliver for our #community.

What does UCAN do? We use our insight, experience and our partnerships to create better opportunities and happier lives for people in #Uttlesford.

UCAN strengthens communities.

What does UCAN do?

This week we were thrilled to hand over to the people of Barnston a beautiful new community #garden and shelter that we created for ECVYS – Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services in memory of Sharon Sellens

This week we were thrilled to hand over to the people of Barnston a beautiful new community #garden and shelter that we created for ECVYS – Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services in memory of Sharon Sellens

This wonderful new community asset increases opportunities for young people in Barnston to spend time together in a safe environment where they can be themselves, and know they are wanted and have somewhere to belong.

Thank you to the funders, volunteers and sponsors who made this dream a reality. This includes UDC Youth Fund, The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Anglia Land Drainage.

What does UCAN do? UCAN builds communities.