Author: Richard Corby

Directory of Social Change: Funds Online service

Funds Online makes finding the right funder simple, efficient and puts all the information you need at your fingertips.

The Directory of Social Change offers a great service for finding grants, which organisations can access on a flexible subscription basis. Funds Online makes finding the right funder simple, efficient and puts all the information you need at your fingertips. The service lists over 8000 sources of funding, including private and statutory grants, and enables you to track grant applications and the success of your team in securing funding.

Find out more information here.

My Community: All the latest tools, tips and ideas to make your community an even better place to live

My Community is a website for people and organisations who are passionate about their communities. Whether setting up a foodbank or planning finances, we all need a little help at times. My Community is the go-to place for this support.

Importantly, these are resources you can trust. All the content on My Community has been curated, written, designed or hand-picked by leading voluntary sector organisations who truly understand what communities need to survive and thrive, including NAVCA.

Check it out here

Introducing Uttlesford Community Action Network

We are very proud of our new identity and believe that it provides clear alignment with what we as an organisation aim to achieve and delivering action remains at the forefront of what we do.

We are very proud of our new idenity and believe that it provides clear alignment with what we as an organistaion aim to achieve and delivering action remains at the forefront of what we do.

Directed by our insights and local knowledge, we will continue to build a portfolio of services and projects to address unmet needs in Uttlesford, delivered in collaboration with local partners in the voluntary sector and beyond.

If you need to get in touch you can contact us at:  connect@ucan.org.uk

Stay connected and keep up to date with all our latest news and service offerings on our social media channels – Facebook and Twitter name @UttlesfordCAN

#community #rebrand #publichealth #uttlesford #newidentity #voluntarysector

Ukraine Support in Uttlesford

Uttlesford has a fantastic reputation for being a supportive community, and our residents have risen to the challenge time and again to support those in need. This was demonstrated throughout the pandemic, and latterly through our response to the Afghanistan situation. This kindness and generosity is being shown once again as we welcome refugees into the district, who have been affected by the conflict in the Ukraine.

Together with partners from Uttlesford District Council, Citizens Advice Uttlesford and TouchPoint Stansted, our Community Responders are actively working with people arriving from the Ukraine into Stansted Airport

Uttlesford has a fantastic reputation for being a supportive community, and our residents have risen to the challenge time and again to support those in need. This was demonstrated throughout the pandemic, and latterly through our response to the Afghanistan situation. This kindness and generosity is being shown once again as we welcome refugees into the district, who have been affected by the conflict in the Ukraine.

Our team of Community Responders are working with refugees from point of arrival at Stansted Airport. Passengers are currently triaged by the Red Cross on arrival, and then provided with hotel accommodation, or given access to transport to continue their journey to their final destination in the UK. For those staying within our district who do not have a host family in place, we are meeting with them daily to support with the provision of food and other essentials, providing access to phones and internet to help with arranging more permanent accommodation, access to Universal Credit and other advise, as well as mental health support for those affected by trauma as a result of the conflict.

We are working closely with the refugees to help them get to where they want to be. Most will transit out of Uttlesford, but for those that are remaining, or still in transition, we are providing a full package of support to help them feel safe and welcome here.

It is likely in the coming days and weeks that we will be calling on Uttlesford residents once again to help with our new guests. Please watch our social media channels (Facebook/Twitter) and this website for updates and appeals for help.

We acknowledge the support of the voluntary sector once again in immediately addressing the challenges presented to us, and thank you for your continued commitment.

Magic Little Grants 2022 has launched today and is open for applications

Localgiving is working with People’s Postcode Lottery, a grant-giving charity funded by Players of People’s Postcode Lottery, to offer charitable organisations the opportunity to apply for 2,650 grants of £500.

The Magic Little Grants Fund provides charitable organisations the opportunity to access funding to deliver a range of projects which fit one or more of the below funding themes:

  • Improving mental wellbeing
  • Enabling community participation in the arts
  • Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
  • Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality
  • Improving biodiversity and green spaces
  • Enabling participation in physical activity
  • Responding to the climate emergency and promoting sustainability 
  • Increasing community access to outdoor space

Organisations must either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000. Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work.

Please note that schools are eligible to apply if they are a registered charity. Groups in Northern Ireland are not eligible to apply for this funding. Groups may only apply once in 2022 for a grant.

It only takes 15 minutes to apply and if successful, you’ll receive funding within six weeks. 

If you’re new to Localgiving and your Magic Little Grant application is successful, alongside the £500 grant you will also be awarded a year of free membership (funded by the the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery). This means that you will not have to pay the £80 + VAT membership fee, but you will still be required to set up a direct debit upon registration. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application via email, regardless of whether they are successful or not, within two months of their submission.

Make sure to enter the promocode MLG2022 to claim your free annual membership as part of the grant. You need to complete the Localgiving validation process before you are able to submit your application. 

Click here to register and apply

Supported Hospital Discharge Scheme

UCAN in partnership with Rainbow Services (Harlow) and Voluntary Action Epping Forest is delivering a pilot project at Princess Alexandra Hospital to support the safe discharge of patients returning to their homes in West Essex

We know that planning for a successful hospital discharge starts at Admission, and as a community organisation there is a part we can play in making those return to home occasions safe and easier for both patients and hospital staff. From arranging for a food parcel to go home with patient, follow up shopping, prescription and welfare checks, installation of keysafes for property access by carers and services, and the provision of hot meals each day – there is a lot we can do to ease the transition.

UCAN is leading on the West Essex Help programme, funded by West Essex CCG for a pilot test and learn phase. Each week we will have a Community Discharge Supporter Worker in the hospital, visiting wards where patients have been identified as being ready for discharge. We will talk with them to establish their needs, and then make the necessary arrangements – which can even include delivery of assistance equipment like walking frames and wheelchairs to their homes. We are also providing a single point of contact for Ward staff to call with requests for help – as often things that seem impossible our Community Responders can accomplish – whether it’s getting a bed downstairs or a dog walked in the absence of the owner!

We are delighted to be working with Princess Alexandra Hospital. The scheme is being mirrored for patients being discharged into Hertfordshire, with our counterpart service being provided by the lovely team at Herts Help.

For further information on Community Supported Hospital Discharge email westessex.help@ucan.org.uk or call our SPOC on 03333 408218.