Bulletin 2 October 2009

Personal Best
Want to gain a Level 1 City and Guilds Qualification in Event Volunteering??

Jigsaw Training has provision for 350 unemployed and economically inactive people aged 19+ within Tyne and wear (Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside and Sunderland)
-    The Personnel Best programme provides a unique opportunity to develop your employability and team work skills, as well as giving you a nationally recognized qualification.
-    Anyone who is 19 or over, not in paid employment living anywhere in Tyne and wear.
You are expected to contribute 15 hours or less a week to the programme over a minimum of 9 weeks. During your time with the programme you can be reimbursed for travel costs. Venue and dates are flexible
To find out more call Julie on 0191 491 4175 or email Julie Kelly.

A4e (Action for Employment)
Horizon is a project funded by the European Social Fund through the Dept for Work and Pensions. The aim of the project is to help people through specific barriers into employment.  Horizon offers an innovative and flexible approach to supporting clients into employment and is voluntary, flexible and tailored to the individual.
Horizon can provide advice, guidance, job search facilities, mentoring, soft skills, job specific training and work experience for up to 52 weeks. Once people obtain employment, they can provide up to 26 weeks of In-Work support. A4e have offices in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Shields and additionally, partner organisations deliver the service in the more rural areas of Northumbria.
The target client group are the following;
-    people with disabilities or health conditions
-    lone or otherwise disadvantaged parents
-    Older workers / people who are 50+ and looking for support to achieve employment
-    people from BME communities or whose first language is not English
-    people who have low or no qualifications

If you know of anyone who is falls into the above criteria, who may be interested in what the project can provide, please get in touch.  Horizon have a Freephone number 0800 588 4035 which will access an appointment with one of their Intensive Support Workers. Appointments can be arranged away from the office, at a venue in the client’s own community.  In addition, staff can make themselves available to visit an organisation on an outreach basis. The landline is 0191 221 2980 if you would like any further information.

Arts Development Small Grants Scheme
Durham County Council has launched a new small grants scheme for community groups, creative professionals and arts organisations who are based in the county. Social enterprises and parish or town councils are also welcome to apply.

A maximum grant of £500 will be available for arts-based projects which respond to the priorities in the council plan and our priorities for arts development, which are:
•    more people getting involved in arts activities
•    aspirations to achieve high artistic and creative quality
•    strengthening existing partnerships or building new ones
•    arts development – working across new art forms, learning new skills, reaching new audiences
Projects must benefit the people living in County Durham.

Applying to the Arts Development Small Grants Scheme is just one way in which local groups and organisations can get involved in Durham’s bid to be the first UK City of Culture. The county council is committed to supporting arts activities at a very local level, and we see the grants scheme as a great way for the community sector to become part of this exciting opportunity.

The new countywide scheme is being piloted for 2009/ 10 has grown from successful grant schemes operated by the former district councils.

The Arts Development Small Grant scheme is competitive and funds are limited. Projects will be scored objectively according to how well they meet our priorities for arts development and the council’s priorities. There are two deadlines for the 2009/10 round of the scheme: 12 noon on 30 October and 12 noon on 15 March.

Please find the guidelines and application form for the Small Grants Scheme on the Councils Website

For more information please contact Michael Farlow on 01388 816 166 ext 4378, or email artsgrants@durham.gov.uk