Author: Charity Comms

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

UCAN Charity Fundraising Barn Dance

We’re delighted to announce details of our fundraising barn dance!

We’re delighted to announce details of our fundraising barn dance!
Date:  Friday 29th November 2024 at Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow
Time: 7pm to 11pm with live band, caller, cash bar and games
Price:  Tickets £20 per person including ploughmans meal
To book please visit:
All funds raised support our work in the Uttlesford community.
Hope you can join us!

Volunteer Opportunity – Audley End Explainer

Audley End has a large Volunteer team who look after the House and Grounds. The team are a wonderfully diverse and friendly group who help to give a warm welcome to all visitors at Audley End.

Audley End has a large Volunteer team who look after the House and Grounds. The team are a wonderfully diverse and friendly group who help to give a warm welcome to all visitors at Audley End.

We are looking for volunteers to become Explainers for visitors at Audley End House and Gardens. The role would include varying activities such as providing a warm welcome for all visitors, helping to tell the story of the house and collection, helping with family trails, helping to protect and preserve the collection and attending the relevant training courses and workshops to increase your knowledge of the site.  Full training on the role and health and safety will be provided as well as site and role induction with your dedicated Volunteer Manager.

Skills needed:

  • A friendly, enthusiastic manner and an enjoyment of dealing with people from all walks of life
  • Confidence in ability to communicate well with all age groups
  • Keenness to learn more about English Heritage sites
  • Confidence in being alone with members of the public

For further information:

Contact us on T: 01371 404525 E: volunteer@ucan.org.uk

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.

More cash to rescue community assets through expanded government fund

More community projects are set to benefit from funding to rescue prized local assets, such as sports clubs, music venues and historic buildings, as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launches the third round of its £150 million Community Ownership Fund.

More community projects are set to benefit from funding to rescue prized local assets, such as sports clubs, music venues and historic buildings, as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launches the third round of its £150 million Community Ownership Fund.

Changes to the fund will make it easier than ever for community groups to seize back control of prized local assets that are at risk of being lost forever – helping to strengthen and level up communities and restore optimism, hope, and pride in the UK.

The requirement for match-funding is also being reduced to as low as 10%, making it easier for communities to acquire assets without raising additional private funding. For the first time, parish councils will also be able to apply to the Fund, which has previously only been available to charities and community groups.

Further information

The UCAN Mobile Hub will be at Tesco Great Dunmow on Wednesday 10th January 2024 between 11am and 2pm.

Our team will be on hand to give practical help and advice about staying warm and well this winter, and there are some great free giveaways – so do come and see us!

Our team will be on hand to give practical help and advice about staying warm and well this winter, and there are some great free giveaways – so do come and see us!
Tesco Great Dunmow
Stortford Road
Great Dunmow
CM6 1SF
Everyone welcome!

Funding Opportunity for small orgs (less than £200k income)

The Leathersellers is currently seeking applications from small Charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations that are providing vital services for vulnerable people in deprived communities across the UK.

The Leathersellers is currently seeking applications from small Charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations that are providing vital services for vulnerable people in deprived communities across the UK

The Small Grants Programme will award grants of up to £5,000 to organisations with an annual income of less than £200,000. Partnerships are encouraged. The number of applications will be capped and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis e.g. the first 45 applications after each round opens will be able to be submitted.

The Committee will meet regularly to ensure charities receive a decision within a month of submitting their application.

There are 10 application windows throughout the year and each window will close when 45 applications have been received.

Click here to find out more about this funding

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.

Voluntary Sector Provider Grant scheme

Voluntary and charitable organisations in Uttlesford can apply for funding to help with the costs of providing essential services to local communities. Apply to UDC by 14th December.

Voluntary and charitable organisations in Uttlesford can apply for funding to help with the costs of providing essential services to local communities

You can apply for a Voluntary Sector Provider Grant if you are:

  • a registered charity
  • providing services to the local community
  • carrying out work that fits in with the UDC corporate plan priorities

The closing date for applications is midday on Thursday 14 December 2023.

Please note: The grant is for revenue expenditure only and cannot be used towards capital projects such as the refurbishment of buildings.

For further information and to apply visit https://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/voluntary-sector-provider-grant-scheme

 

 

Tender Opportunity: Training for people working in the Third Sector

Harlow Council (on behalf of the three West Essex Councils) is seeking to commission a suitably qualified and experienced training provider to deliver a series of training for people working in the Third Sector located in the West Essex area

Harlow Council (on behalf of the three West Essex Councils) is seeking to commission a suitably qualified and experienced training provider to deliver a series of training for people working in the Third Sector located in the West Essex area

The aim of the commission is to provide a programme of training and support that improve the knowledge, skills and competencies of the people who work and volunteer in the Third Sector locally which will as a result building the capacity of the Third Sector and support the sector to become more sustainable.

This commission is to be funded from the Councils’ UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) and is to be delivered between April 24 and February 25.

Interested parties should go to www.mytenders.org to obtain details of the tender.

They will need to register as a Supplier which is free of charge and will only take a couple of minutes.

In case of any difficulty, they should contact the MyTenders Helpdesk on 0800 222 9006

The deadline for this tender is 15th December 2023.