South Wales Programme: A consultation about the future of consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine (A&E) for people in South Wales and South Powys.
The five health boards providing care for people in South Wales and South Powys have launched a formal eight week public consultation about the future of four hospital services, running from May 23 to July 19, 2013.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Aneurin Bevan, Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf and Powys health boards are consulting on four options for the future provision of a small number of hospital services – consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine (A&E) – with proposals to concentrate them on four or five hospitals across the South Wales area.
Frontline clinicians have been working together over the last 18 months to look at the challenges facing these services – including problems recruiting sufficient doctors – and ideas for their future to ensure they meet standards and are clinically safe and sustainable. Feedback from an extensive 12-week engagement exercise with public, staff and stakeholders undertaken in the autumn of 2012 has informed the options that are now being consulted upon.
The Health Boards are keen to hear people’s views and to encourage them to get involved in the consultation process. A South Wales Programme website has been established www.wales.nhs.uk/swp and www.wales.nhs.uk/swp/hafan (Welsh) which provides a wealth of information to support the consultation process, as well as a link to an online questionnaire and details of all public meetings being held across South Wales and details of other ways to share your views
VCVS, C3SC, Cardiff & Vale Action for Mental Health and the University Health Board will be facilitating a voluntary sector consultation event on Wednesday, 3rd July from 9.30am to 12.30pm in the Memorial Hall, Barry. To book a place, please contact Ceri Venners
New project for free legal advice in Wales
LawWorks Cymru is a project that has recently been set up to enable voluntary organisations and individuals in Wales to benefit from free legal advice. LawWorks Cymru is based in Cardiff and will help to co-ordinate pro bono provision throughout Wales.
Rather than provide a frontline service, their role is to identify areas of particular need in order to target pro bono work effectively, to broker casework, and to support volunteer lawyers in providing advice by telephone, by email, and face to face. Working with the Disability Law Service (DLS), they will also enable those seeking legal advice from the DLS to receive local, accessible help.
As part of the National Pro Bono Centre, LawWorks Cymru will draw on this expertise to enable the Welsh legal profession to respond most effectively to those seeking pro bono help. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the project has a broad coalition of stakeholders including the DLS, the Law Society, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, the Bar, WCVA and Cardiff University Law School.
LawWorks Cymru is run by Project Officers Joanna Bogacz and Naomi Morris. It became operational in April 2013, and will be officially launched with a public event in Cardiff in October. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the Project Officers.
Training and Meeting Room facilities in Cardiff
If you are looking for a professional meeting space then Learning Disability Wales’ training room can provide you with excellent facilities in a great location.
Pick a layout that fits your meeting:
Whether you’re looking for training facilities for a group or perhaps a room for an interview, we can meet all of your needs.
- Boardroom – ideal for formal meetings (24 Capacity)
- Theatre – for professional presentations (30 Capacity)
- Training– a comfortable education environment (20 Capacity, 2 Large Tables)
- U-shape – enables open discussion (16 Capacity)
Facilities available:
The training room price includes Interactive white board, laptop & projector, wireless internet access, audio equipment, teleconference phone, flipchart stand and pens, flipchart pad, OHP, air conditioning. Other facilities available on request tea / coffee machine (£4 per person). We can also order lunch – from sandwiches to buffet service – just ask us when you book. For more information please take a look at the meeting room brochure attached.
Accessibility and location:
We are located close to the M4 on the outskirts of Cardiff City Centre. Our modern, accessible offices have free parking and are well served by public transport.
Charges:
Room hire (VAT does not apply)
½ Day Full day
Members £45 £90
Non members £50 £100
Vat zero rated.
To hire training room from Learning Disability Wales call now on 02920681160 or email us
Appointment of Chair & Trustees
The Vale Volunteer Bureau is a registered charity and company limited by Guarantee; and are looking for keen individuals to join and lead the Board. We are particularly interested to hear from individuals who have specific skills, knowledge and experience in the field of business development, finance and HR to enable the board to fulfill its governance responsibilities.
These rewarding roles are voluntary positions requiring a small but important time commitment. Successful candidates will be involved in supporting the development of the organisations strategic aims and objectives and ensuring effective management.
To apply download an information pack on www.vvb.org.uk or for further enquiries contact Alison Steere on 01446 421782. The closing date for applications is Monday 17th June.
Volunteering Support Officer
Salary £19,621 – £ 21,519 pro rata for 31 hours
Funded until March 2016
The Vale Volunteer Bureau is an independent organisation covering the Vale of Glamorgan. We are looking to appoint a Volunteering Support Officer to run this new volunteering project. You will be required to recruit and support unemployed and economically inactive people aged (25+) to identify suitable volunteering opportunities that meet their requirements. You should also have experience of networking effectively with key organisations and agencies to meet the outcomes of the project.
Please send an A5 SAE (£1.20) to:
Vale Volunteer Bureau 34 Holton Road Barry CF63 4HD
or download an application pack from www.vvb.org.uk
For telephone enquiries only (01446) 421782
Closing date: Tuesday 4th June @ 10am
The VVB is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee
Housing and Support for Veterans in Wales
Thursday 20th June 2013 at the Orbit Centre, Merthyr Tydfil
Cymorth Cymru is holding a half day event exploring how ex-service personnel in Wales can be better served by housing-related support services.
For more information, please contact Lisa Noice at Cymorth Cymru on 029 2056 4165
National lead for Cardiff clinician
A Clinician from Cardiff has been appointed to lead a national programme for the Royal College of Physicians.
It was set up five years ago based, in part, on the very successful work of Dr Johansen and his colleague Senior Nurse Sue Beck in 1994 when they first took on orthogeriatric liaison and support in Cardiff.
“The database collects information on 70,000 patients in over 180 hospitals across England, Wales and Northern Ireland each year and that data is used to profile patients’ care, to monitor outcomes, to promote good practice and to identify and support failing units.”
The programme, and Dr. Johansen’s work on the economic modelling for NICE’s 2011 Hip Fracture guideline , means that nearly all UK hospitals have now appointed orthogeriatricians. As a result the NHFD last year reported a fall in 30-day mortality after hip fracture by the equivalent of 1,000 patients across the UK.
“Antony and the Orthogeriatric team have worked increasingly closely with the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics here in Cardiff. The improvements we have made have genuinely improved the quality of care and reduced mortality rates offer a perfect example of physicians and surgeons working in partnership to treat and manage this vulnerable group of the population.
“The NHFD is a key tool in comparing our key clinical indicators and driving our continuous improvement in this important area and Antony’s role will drive this agenda further and faster and is to be welcomed.”
Charity Commission invites comments on proposals to change the Annual Return 2014
The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce changes to the Annual Return and the content of the Register of Charities for 2014 onwards.
All registered charities with an income of £10,000 and above are required to submit an Annual Return, which is used to strengthen the Commission’s regulatory work and keeps the charity’s record on the register up to date for the many members of the public and others who use it.**
Last summer the Commission consulted on the nature of information it should collect from charities to inform its wider information strategy. In addition, Lord Hodgson published a report of his review of the Charities Act 2006. In developing these proposals, the Commission has taken into account both the responses it received to the consultation and the recommendations in Lord Hodgson’s report.
There are ten proposals in total; some new questions will ask for information that should be readily available to charities, including whether the charity has particular policies in place, such as safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries, and whether the charity pays trustees for carrying out trustee duties.
In addition, charities with an income of £1million and above will no longer be required to complete a Summary Information Return. This is a significant proposal that involves replacing the requirement with an optional text box that offers all charities submitting an Annual Return the opportunity to describe their aims for the year and their corresponding achievements, all to be published on the register.
The remaining proposals do not require new questions but will have an impact on the information that will be made public on the charity register, including whether the charity is a member of the Fundraising Standards Board.
Jane Hobson, Head of Policy at the Charity Commission said:
“The Annual Return is an important tool that the Commission uses to inform our regulatory work, promote good governance by trustees and make sure that charities are accountable to the public. For all these reasons it’s really important that we get the right balance between the need for charities to share information about themselves, without making the Annual Return too much of a burden. We urge all charities and others with an interest to respond to this consultation. ”
To view the full list of proposals and to participate in the consultation, please see the Commission’s website.
The Commission would like to hear from registered charities that complete the Annual Return as well as anyone who uses the online register.
Welsh Government’s relationship with the Third Sector under review
How the Welsh Government and the Third Sector work together in the future is the focus of a new consultation launched today by the Communities & Tackling Poverty Minister Huw Lewis (Thurs 16th May).
The Third Sector describes the thousands of community groups, voluntary organisations and not for profit bodies active across Wales. The latest figures show there are 33,000 Third Sector organisations in Wales employing 55,000 people, with more than a million volunteers helping out in their communities.The consultation will ask for views on how the Welsh Government and the sector can work in partnership, especially in light of the current economic climate. It will also examine how voluntary and community groups in particular can best be supported in future.
Making the announcement before a meeting of the Third Sector Partnership Council, Huw Lewis said:
“This is the beginning of a vital discussion about one of the most important partnerships in Wales – that between the Welsh Government and Third Sector. As well as the staff and volunteers who run these organisations, the sector also includes many others who give their time and effort freely in their communities.
“Some organisations rely heavily on government funding while others receive little or no direct support. Small, local groups make up a large proportion of the sector and make a major contribution to the wellbeing of people across the country.
“It is five years since we published the last major review of this relationship. There have been significant changes since then that affect the work we do together. The economic situation has become much more challenging, making life more difficult especially for our poorest households and communities. “The Third Sector has a vital part to play in building resilient communities and helping people to get by in these tough times. It is even more important now than in the past that resources and efforts are coordinated and used to the best possible effect. “The Welsh Government will need to make some important decisions about these issues later this year. Before then, I want to hear from a wide range of people and organisations on their thoughts on how we can work together.”
For more information please call the Welsh Government press office on 02920 898490.
The 12 week Consultation with the Third Sector on the subject ‘Continuity and Change – Refreshing the Relationship between Welsh Government and the Third Sector in Wales’ will end on the 8th August 2013.
You can access information about the consultation, including the relevant documents, and details of a series of consultation events, which you will be able to attend via the Welsh Government website at:
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/housingcommunity/welsh-government-third-sector-relationships/
Do you look after someone? Directory of support, advice and information for carers in the Vale of Glamorgan & Cardiff
Vale Centre for Voluntary Services (VCVS) in partnership with Cardiff Third Sector Council (C3SC), Cardiff & Vale Carers Strategy Working Group & Cardiff & Vale University Health Board has produced a directory of support, advice and information for carers in the Vale of Glamorgan & Cardiff to highlight the support available for carers from voluntary organisations, social services and health. We know that carers sometimes find it difficult to get the support they need and to know who to contact.
This directory is a comprehensive listing of services for carers of all ages and includes information on self-help groups, telephone helplines, advocacy, social support and many other services.
If you would like copies for display in your premises, or for circulation, please contact VCVS by completing the form below or telephone 01446 741706.
Free one day Sports Leader Training
Barry Communities First are putting on a FREE one day Sports Leader Training course for ages 16 – 24 at Holm View Leisure Centre on Wednesday 5th June from 9.15am – 4.30pm.
There are limited places available – please contact Mark Ellis of the Barry Communities First team to register your interest on 01446 709170.
SPORTS LEADER 1 DAY COURSE INFORMATION
The Day Certificate in Sports Leadership is a nationally recognised award by Sports Leaders UK that provides an introduction to sports leadership for participants aged 16+.
The training provides an overview of key considerations when organising sport and similar activities – including the abilities and motivations of participants and the resources (e.g. space, equipment) to deliver a successful session.
The course focus on the key skills needed to successfully deliver activities, including organisation, communication and teamwork. Participants will get a chance to practice these skills and develop their confidence in a supportive environment.
Participants can then use the training as a stepping stone to volunteering under direct supervision of a more experienced coach.
Trustee vacancies at Vale Volunteer Bureau
The Vale Volunteer Bureau are looking for a Chair and Trustees to join our Board of Trustees. For further information please click on the link below.
http://www.recruit3.org.uk/4440
Grow Wild Big Lottery Funded Programme
Do you work with communities? Do you have an unloved site near those communities with landowner permissions? Would £120k help you make it accessible to the wider community, highly visible and inspiring?
Grow Wild aims to bring people and communities together all across the UK to make a difference to where we live by sowing UK native wild flowers. This is an ambitious four year project led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. They are particularly looking to involve young people between the ages of 12-25, especially disadvantaged young people in positive and transformational community activity. Please contact Maria Golightly, Grow Wild Partnership Manger (Wales) gro.weknull@ylthgilog.m for further information.
Bridges Social Impact Bond Fund
Investments of up to £3 million are available to provide charities and social enterprises based in the UK with a sustainable source of capital and support, allowing them to focus on delivering crucial social outcomes-based programmes that will benefit society as a whole. Programmes should be designed to improve social outcomes in areas such as education, employment, housing and care for vulnerable young people. Interested organisations should contact Bridges Ventures by email to discuss their programme.
Crossroads Care in the Vale is looking for volunteer drivers
Crossroads Care in the Vale is looking for volunteer mini bus drivers who would be able to drive our mini buses. The drivers would be required to pick up our elderly clients who suffer from dementia from their homes across the Vale of Glamorgan and transport them to our day centre and later drop them home at the end of the day. There will always be an experienced and qualified care worker on the bus as escort with the driver. We have a Penarth/Dinas Powis mini bus which picks up clients from the Eastern Vale and a Barry minibus which picks up clients from across Barry town. We ideally need experienced drivers who have D1 on their licence and have undergone mini bus familiarisation/MiDAS training.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Susie Moreton, Care Manager on 029 2070 0057.
Public debate on end of life care, assisted dying and the NHS – 13th June
Vale of Glamorgan 50+ Strategy Forum
WELCOMES YOU TO A PUBLIC DEBATE ON
END OF LIFE CARE, ASSISTED DYING AND THE NHS
VENUE BARRY MEMORIAL HALL
Date and Time 13th June 2013, 7pm-9.30pm
PRESENTERS
Professor Paul Badham: Professor Emeritus of Theology and Religion, University of Wales, Trinity St. David; Patron of Dignity in Dying.
Professor Phil Fennell: Professor of Medical Law and Human Rights, Cardiff University.
Baroness Ilora Finlay of Landaff: Professor of Palliative Medicine, Cardiff University School of Medicine; Consultant at Velindre Cancer Centre.
Dr Richard Hain: Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Care, Cardiff and vale University Health Board; Visiting Professor Glamorgan University.
CHAIRPERSON
Wendy Bourton, OBE: Chair of the National Partnership Forum Older People’s Ministerial Advisory Group to The Welsh Government.
PROGRAMME:
7pm – 8pm Presentations: Dr Hain, Professor Fennell, Baroness Finlay, Professor Badham.
8pm -8.20pm: Interval – Refreshments
8.20-9.30: Debate and Questions
Admission to the debate is free but those wishing to attend should register for the event by contacting and leaving their contact details with:
John Porter Tel: 01446 450201
Laura Ellis Tel:01446 731628
Shelley Lloyd Tel: 01446 731628
To increase your opportunity to ask pertinent questions during the debate, please outline any questions you may have to the above contacts.
BACKGROUND:
An ageing society has brought to the fore major issues of how dying is dealt with in the 21st Century.
What is the role of individuals, families and health professionals?
What part do religious and other beliefs play?
What are the legal and moral issues involved in decision making? How are the rights of individuals balanced with societal and professional expectations of how the process of dying is to be managed?
The Vale 50+ Forum is providing an opportunity to inform and debate the ethical, legal and medical issues. Key speakers will make opening presentations followed by questions and debate.
Annual Age Alliance Wales Conference
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The Wellbeing Enigma |
As wellbeing becomes an integral part of Welsh Government plans for older people, the debate about how to define this concept continues. Age Alliance Wales believes that without an agreed definition, any measure of wellbeing will prove difficult, but how is it possible to define something so personal?
Our concept of wellbeing and the factors that contribute to it can change across the life course aswe begin toembrace the opportunities and face the challenges that growing older in Wales can bring. This conference will challenge representatives from third sector organisations, local health boards, local authorities and Assembly Members to join the debate and to gain a shared understanding of wellbeing and the role of preventative services.
Age Alliance Wales (AAW) is the alliance of 17 national voluntary organisations committed to working together to develop the legislative, policy and resource frameworks that will improve the quality of life for all older people in Wales and would welcome your support at this important event.
The day will also include a Ministerial address, a keynote speech and a panel discussion with Assembly Members. This is a free conference - please contact Laura Nott for a booking form
Clinic success
A new clinic to help lymphoedema patients in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan is proving a success.
Please contact Barbara Burbridge 02920 756192 for further details relating to the regional support group.
£27.3 Million Grant Fund to Help Low Income Families with Disabled or Seriously Ill Children
Parents of children and young adults who are disabled or seriously ill will be able to apply for a share of the £27.3 million Family Fund, the Government announced today as it continues its commitment for two years. Family Fund, the UK’s largest grant giving charity, is designed to make life easier for low-income families with disabled and seriously ill children and young people. The money can be used for days out, garden play equipment, computers, toys and kitchen appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. The fund helped more than 50,000 families in England last year, from a total of £27 million. The fund is now in its 40th year. Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information on how to apply, please click on the link: http://www.familyfund.org.uk/grants/how-to-apply
Protecting Girls – Preventing Harm
26th June – Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff – 9.30am
This one-day conference hosted by Media Academy Cardiff with support from the Home Office, seeks to explore the issues around the sexual exploitation of young girls in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Chaired by Maria Battle (Chair, Cardiff and Vale University Health board), and opened by Lesley Griffiths, Minister Local Government and Government Business, the day will comprise of a series of plenary sessions and workshops aimed at –
- Supporting all agenciesto develop their understanding of, and capacity to respond to suspicions of sexual exploitation amongst clients.
- Identifying best practice from other areas in Wales and the UK
- Creating a joined-up working environment tosupport both young people and practitioners
- Developing actions to improve the support needed for young people who are at risk / victims of sexual exploitation and organisations working with these groups.
Withcontributions from Barnardo’s, Cardiff Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Safer Wales and the University Health Board, key note speakers include Sheila Taylor (Chair, National Working Group) and representatives of The Institute of Applied Social Research, University of Bedfordshire. The day will conclude with feedback into a discussion session facilitated by Sophie Howe (Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner South Wales Police).
The day is aimed at those who work directly with young people from all sectors. This includes youth workers, school nurses, PCSO’s, police, YOS workers, social workers and those who work or volunteer with youth charities / organisations.
There is no charge for attending the day, which includes lunch and is being held at Chapter Arts Centre, Market Street, Canton, Cardiff, CF10 1QE.
Places are limited to 2 per organisation.
To register a place email ku.oc.notwen-drahcirnull@ofniwith your contact details.
A full conference agenda is available here