News

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.

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.

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.

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!

UCAN Community Response team visits Stansted

The UCAN Community Response team was out in Stansted yesterday as part of the UDC Housing Services multi agency event.

It’s great to spend time with partners and colleagues in the community, getting help and support to where it is most needed.

The mobile hub will be at Tesco Great Dunmow thus Friday from 10 am so come and have a chat and let’s see what we can do to make life a little easier.

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.