The Consortium’s LGBT volunteering newsletter

Welcome to the February edition of The Consortium’s LGBT volunteering newsletter! February iSean important month for LGBT voluntary organisations as it is LGBT history month, and with it comes plenty of opportunities. This edition of The Consortium’s LGBT volunteering newsletter has the usual compilation of news, events, training opportunitieSeand updates relevant to your organisation, along with responses to your feedback.We wish you all an eventful and beneficial LGBT History Month! This Month…

1. LGBT Volunteering This Month

2. Free (or Cheap) Training and Events

3. Need Volunteers?

4. You’ve asked for…

1. LGBT Volunteering This MonthVolunteering for the LGBT CommunityAs part of their LGBT History Month programme of events, on Thursday 28^th February Southwark LGBT are hosting their Volunteering for the LGBT Community’ evening. This event takes place at 6:30 pm 8:30 pm at the Volunteer Centre in Southwark. For more information visit http://www.southwark-lgbt.org/userimages/G3_2(135×194).pdf or contact Dax Ashworth on 020 7525 5659 or email dax.ashworth@southwark.gov.uk.

Are you a Shining Star for Youth Engagement?If you work with LGBT Young People in your organisation and are willing to share your top tips in a case study format for a new better practice guide’ that the Consortium of LGBT Voluntary and Community Organisations is looking to develop around LGBT Young People and their involvement in Voluntary and Community Organisations, then please can you contact James-J Walsh Leadership and Engagement Development Coordinator highlighting you interest.Thanks in advanceJames-J Walsh | (t) 0207 064 6508 | (e) youthinclusion@lgbtconsortium.org.uk

Moving ForwardAt 2:00 pm on Monday 4^th February at

http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/calendar/LGB T History Month Events.php?recordID=179 or email baileyj@ageconcernstockport.org.uk.

ICT HubThe ICT Hub iSean online resource with information for Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) to improve their performance and relationship with ICT. We want to find a way or working together with community organisationSeand the ICT Hub (www.icthub.org.uk).The initial aim however is to focus on finding out what VCOs are struggling with in terms of ICT and to establish why it might be important for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered VCOs to use ICT, and direct people to the relevant areas of the hub website. To contribute to this project visit http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=837820.

Look Out For…To celebrate LGBT History Month the LGBT Consortium’s Darren Vella and Emma Foxall will be writing an article in the February edition of Volunteering England’s online magazine. This can be found at http://www.volunteering.org.uk/News/Volunteering Magazine/Volunteering Magazine.htm.

Not the Only Gay in the VillageA one-day conference, hosted by author and actor Stella Duffy, at The Courtyard Centre for the Arts,

Delegate fees are 75 VAT for individualSeand organisations from Herefordshire and 90 VAT for those out of county.For more information please visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/outinthesticks. To book a place please contact 01432 260244 or e-mail diversity@herefordshire.gov.uk.

LGBT Job FairOn Wednesday 5th March

2. Free (or Cheap) Training and EventsWorkshops for BME Service UsersThe Commission for Social Care and Inspection are offering a series for workshops to black and minority ethnic (BME) people who use social care services. The aim of these workshops is to gather viewSeand experiences of BME service users. The workshops are free and will be occurring throughout February. For more information visit www.csci.org.uk/professional or contact mailto:lucy.wilkinson@csci.gsi.gov.uk.

Free training from Southwark Volunteer CentreThis month Southwark Volunteer Centre are offering several free training events aimed at volunteerSeand voluntary organisations. The workshops are as follows: Mental Health AwarenessTuesday 12^th February, 10:00 am 1:00 pm @ Volunteer Centre Southwark. Presentation SkillsoTuesday 12^th February, 10:00 am 4:00 pm @ Inspire. Introduction to Volunteering and Being ActiveoWednesday 20^th February, 2:00 pm 4:00 pm @ Volunteer Centre Southwark. Speak Up! Speak Out!oWednesday 27^th February, 10:00 am 4:00 pm @ Inspire.For venue addresses, how to book and more information visit: http://www.volunteercentres.org.uk/Training/Calendar.htm.

Attend workshopsAs we mentioned in our last newsletter Attend are offering free 1-day workshops for voluntary organisations in London, LeedSeand

Supporting volunteers from diverse communities (Guest speaker: Emma Foxall, Volunteering Development Officer of The Consortium!)o Wednesday 6th February -

o Friday 22nd February -

o Thursday 20th March -

Volunteering

Transforming Passion into Power: Volunteering at the heart of social change23-25 April 2008If you only attend one volunteering event in 2008 make it this one. In one place, you will gain insight into the work of Volunteering England and of key organisations working in and with the third sector, enhancing your work to ensure that volunteering remains at the heart of social change. You will hear from a variety of third sector leaders at one of our inspiring plenary sessions including Question time: a volunteering special involving a panel of politicians including Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Third Sector, who will answer your questions, along with MP’s with responsibility for volunteering from the two other major political parties. Take your pick from 71 tailored workshops over this three-day event. Highlights of the Convention include: A debate on Volunteering and 2012: a lasting legacy or a publicity stunt? Common ground: volunteering and inclusive practice. This seminar works towards opening up volunteer opportunities to all. Speakers will discuss involving volunteers from potentially excluded groups such as homeless, LGBT and disabled people. This session look for common themes, and concrete steps organisations can take to make their volunteering more accessible. VolunteerSeand the Law: next steps. What needs to be changed in terms of the law? Mark Restall, Head of Information, Volunteering England, discusses the Criminal Records checks, what a volunteer is (and the arguments over definitions), and getting your own house in order. Power through the people: volunteerSeand campaigning. This presentation will be made by Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive, Stonewall For the registration form and latest announcements about the Volunteering England National Convention, go to www.volunteering.org.uk/convention. For further enquiries, e-mail events@volunteeringengland.org or telephone 020 7520 8928.

Student Volunteering Week25^th February 2^nd March 2008 is Student Volunteering week. For more information and updates visit http://www.studentvol.org.uk/celebrate/svweek.htm.

Looking to Recruit Trustees/Advisory Board Members/Steering Groups Members or Youth Panelists in

3. Need Volunteers?This newsletter is mailed to over four hundred unique email addresses each month, so why not use it to recruit If you would like to use space to advertise for volunteers in this newsletter please email me on cparker@lgbtconsortium.org.uk.Adverts are free of charge and will be listed on a first come, first served basis.

4. You’ve asked for… Would you like us to cover a particular topic or provide more specific information about a service? Do you think we’re missing something? If so, let us know!The Consortium is here to support you, so we will build this project around your feedback, which we welcome. Please send all feedback to Charlie Parker . We hope that, in the coming months, you find this newsletter helpful and we look forward to hearing more from you. ThankSeand have a great month! Charlie Parker and Emma Foxall

Charlie Parker

cparker@lgbtconsortium.org.uk

Web: http://www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk