We understand you are likely to have limited time with your clients: this brief training will focus on how you can help even if you only have a couple of minutes to spare.

Every winter in England and Wales, an average of 1,500 more people die per week during the winter months, when compared with the rest of the year. These deaths are due to the cold weather. It is estimated that the number of people who die directly from living in cold housing is more than those who die on the roads each year. The impact of cold weather on health is predictable and mostly preventable.

This training (30mins – 1 hour, depending on requirements) is aimed at frontline staff and volunteers who come into contact with vulnerable residents on a regular basis. We can come and deliver the session in your team meeting, or another time at your convenience. The session will cover:

• Understanding fuel poverty
• The impact of fuel poverty and cold housing on health
• How to recognise the warning signs of fuel poverty and cold housing
• Practical advice you can give to clients living in fuel poverty
• The support that is available to your clients
• How to refer clients for further help, including free financial health checks and a free winter home check

At the training, you will also be able to take free supplies of thermometer cards and booklets for your clients. Let’s make sure that our local residents have the information and services they need to stay warm and well.

To book a session at your convenience before the end of March, call the Working Together Project on 01273 810248 or email bookings@workingtogetherproject.org.uk.

The training is being delivered by Age UK Brighton & Hove, Brighton & Hove CAB and The Friends Centre. This is part of a wider winter project, funded by the Department of Health’s Warm Homes Healthy People initiative and lead by Brighton & Hove City Council and NHS Brighton & Hove.

www.workingtogetherproject.org.uk/community-training/events/event/supporting-volunteers-day

Survey of people in the community in Brighton and Hove completed in person: David Bennett from Electric Storm Youth wins an I-pod Touch! 

Survey of people in the community in Brighton and Hove completed on SurveyMonkey: Aine Walsh from Grassroots, Brighton Bothways & Friends of the Level wins tickets to the Komedia! 

Survey of people who work with or represent people in the community in Brighton and Hove completed on SurveyMonkey: Kaye Duerdoth from the Trust for Developing Communities wins 1 free course place of TDC’s choice from WTP’s professional development programme 2012.

However despite furious fundraising over the past year, WTP’s trustees have been forced to conclude that, to quote a comment in a recent Skills Third Sector report, “from March 2011 there are no government, regional or national sources of funding for workforce development. This is the first time in 20 years there is no recognisable fund for the sector to deliver its core programme of workforce development to the sector. Attempts to raise this concern at a time of recession are falling on deaf ears.”  WTP has therefore decided to close with dignity.

The words of support, shock and consternation that we have received from large numbers of people across the community and voluntary sector has been amazing, and edited highlights of these will be published in the “WTP to close” page in “about us” very soon. We will therefore leave it to some of the people that we have worked with over the years to say in their own words what the loss of WTP services means to them.

It has been a privilege to work with the sector in Sussex. We have provided nearly 1000 courses to over 3000 people from over 1000 organisations who booked onto nearly 10000 course places. What these statistics don’t show is the developmental work, the outreach in communities, the evaluation processes and administration that goes into making those learning experiences work for the sector.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the community and voluntary sector and the communities you serve, a better place over the last 13 years. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you all.

Trainer Nick Boston will go through the basics of making a good funding application. You will then have the opportunity to ask questions at the end. There will be a follow-up session with Nick on 19^th January 2012 1-3pm to cover any aspects which may not be covered on 15^th December. Lunch will be provided at the start of the meeting.

Places for this popular event are limited, so you must book in advance via Lisa Mytton, CVSF, on 01273 810242 or lisa@cvsectorforum.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you there!

For details of other forthcoming events for small community groups in Brighton and Hove please see the ‘neighbourhood training’ section of our website www.workingtogetherproject.org.uk/community-training/neighbourhood-training.

Next week we are delivering the much in demand Supporting, supervising, motivating and managing qualification training day. This can be purchased as an in-house bespoke course for as little as £325 for up to 12 people.

In the past month we have run Management committee training, Facilitation and Full cost recovery bespoke courses. Our bespoke training has been purchased by both leading charities and public sector bodies. Recent attendees on our bespoke training say:

“…very constructive and…extremely informative”

“skills [learnt] will enhance my role in the organisation thus strengthen it.”

Maybe we already have the training you need running, so take a look at our brand new Professional development programme if you would like to know what training we are currently running:http://www.workingtogetherproject.org.uk/organisational-development/view-all-courses/

If you would like to discuss anything you have seen on the website, or you have any other questions, do call us on 01273 810248 and one of the team can help you get the support you need.

If you would like a chance to vote in the AGM get in touch with us about becoming a member.

The AGM official business will begin at 5:15 and is due to be closed at 5:45. The venue is downstairs at the BMECP.

After the meeting we will be scratching our collective head for the pub quiz with a difference. You’ll just have to wait and see!

To let us know you are coming click this link http://wtp-agm.eventbrite.co.uk and enter your name and email address.

For future ease of reference, free and subsidised events will always be advertised in orange, and fully charged-for events will always be advertised in blue.  Please see the orange section of the website for current free and subsidised courses www.workingtogetherproject.org.uk/community-training , or let us know your training needs.  We are continuing to fundraise for these services.  To help provide evidence for future funding, please do complete the on-line survey which comes with a prize draw:

• For individuals in the community in Brighton and Hove www.surveymonkey.com/s/6HW2ZJD
• For people who work with or represent people in the community in Brighton and Hove www.surveymonkey.com/s/5LCDJ3Z

WTP has been busy working in partnership with all our colleagues in other support organisations to develop and offer training.  So far we have organised, amongst other things, training for different groups to help them secure community assets, training for Black and minority ethnic groups, Internet broadcasting for Whitehawk, and two events on Localism (see below).  We are planning community newsletter courses, first aid, food safety and health & safety, book keeping, fundraising, and a series of briefings for committees.  We will also be supporting Safety Net’s safeguarding courses with venues and the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum’s Small Groups Network with practical workshops. 

Fully charged-for courses will always be advertised in blue.  We are offering this new programme in response to demand for professional development training.  See the blue section of the website for current courses www.workingtogetherproject.org.uk/organisational-development , and the green section of the website for sources of funding for them www.workingtogetherproject.org.uk/learning-space/funding .  This programme is not intended to replace our free and subsidised services for smaller groups and organisations, and we are also offering small groups free of charge bursary places on these courses where possible, secured by a deposit.

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For those of you who cannot make a full day of training, we have an evening briefing with Mark Walker on Wednesday the 7^th December on how to use social media for fundraising.

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We also have vital training in on the 1^st December 2011, being held at Brighton Junction, just 5 minutes walk from Brighton railway station. Staff supervision courses are regularly held, however the advanced courses are less frequent. This one day course is suitable for those who are already supervising staff in their job, and wish to review their techniques for continued quality and performance.

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