Communications and Engagement Officer
BAVO is about to launch our new strategy and forward programme of work and we are looking for someone who can lead and transform our digital comms and pull together the marketing and engagement work of the organisation.
Our new officer will have a can-do attitude, be dynamic and will already have a wealth of social media and digital tools in their skill set in order to hit the ground running with some pieces of work.
We offer:
We are a supportive organisation. Our team is our greatest asset, they have been instrumental in elevating BAVO’s reputation for delivery and to creating the successful organisation that we have become.
Staff wellbeing is important to us. We care for our staff and equally, our staff care about BAVO. We are looking for someone to join an awesome and dedicated team with the same level of care and enthusiasm.
We offer guaranteed interviews for those with disabilities, armed forces veterans and reservists who meet the essential criteria.
CLOSING DATE 15th JULY 2024 at 2PM
Fo an application pack, click here
The contribution of volunteers from across the county was celebrated on Friday, 7 June at the annual BAVO ‘Unsung Heroes’ Awards and formed part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of ‘Volunteer’s Week’
The ceremony, arranged by Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO), was held at The Best Western Heronston Hotel. The event was attended by over 100 volunteers and guests, including His Majesty’s High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan, Dr Richard Lewis, MBE D CStJ FRCGP and The worshipful the Mayor of Bridgend County, Cllr Heather Griffiths.
The awards celebrate individual and group contributions of volunteers in eight categories. Earlier in the year residents were invited to nominate volunteers in their communities who go above and beyond expectation.
A local panel then shortlisted candidates after careful consideration, and the selected finalists and the eventual winners were notified on the night.
The evening was hosted by Heidi Bennett, BAVO CEO, and Lee Jukes, Radio presenter. Awards were presented by a range of guests including The High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan, The Mayor for the County Borough and local Senedd members.
Guests were entertained by local harpist Angharad Edwards and the amazing ‘Sing with Us’ Tenovus Choir.
Heidi said: “ We had a huge number of nominations making it a very difficult decision for the panel. However everyone who was nominated has received a certificate of recognition and every single nominee can be proud. We are always incredibly humbled by the time, energy and commitment so many people put into volunteering and helping others.”
Steve Curry BAVO Chair of Trustees, said: “Volunteering has such a positive impact in our communities and people’s lives and the real life stories given at events such as this really demonstrate that impact on a very personal level.
“Congratulations to all our nominees and a huge thank you for everything you do and the difference you make.
“An incredible amount of work goes on behind the scenes to make the night happen so thank you to everyone involved. And thank you to BAVO staff for all your hard work year round.”
The categories and finalists were :
Libby Phillips – Nottage & 2nd Kenfig Hill Brownies & Newton Rainbows (Winner).
Lara Birtles – Boys & Girls Club of Wales
Seren Kenny – Nantymoel Boys & Girls Club
Lyn Williams – Wyndham Boys & Girls Club (Winner)
Josh Anscombe – The Wallich
Kerry Evans – Cornelly Development Trust
Western Beacons Mountain Rescue (Winner)
Cornelly Outreach Group
Greenspace SOS
Richard Howe – Bridgend Herons FC (Winner)
Theo Vine-Roberts – Raw Performance
Billy’s Gym & Wellness Centre CIC
Gareth Goth – Welsh Ambulance Community First Responders (Winner)
Sharon Lima – Nottage & 2nd Kenfig Hill Brownies & Newton Rainbows
Byron Lock– Nantymoel Boys and Girls Club
Porthcawl JOY-Riders (Winner)
Inclusability
Techtivity
Rob Williams – Boys & Girls Club of Wales (Winner)
Paula Lunnon – KPC Youth and Community
Manuela Hiett – The Bridge MPS
The panel also decided to pull out two groups for special recognition
It’s recognised that sometimes people need immediate help and support for their mental and emotional wellbeing, and now people across Wales can access free online therapy without needing to go through their GP.
Self-help Support
SilverCloud is a free online therapy treatment promoted by the NHS in Wales that uses proven methods like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help people aged over 16 manage a range of mild to moderate mental health conditions. The different programmes available cover depression, generalised anxiety, social anxiety and health anxiety, as well as OCD, panic, and phobias.
You can sign-up for a free 12-week course of SilverCloud online therapy via smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
To find out more about SilverCloud please SilverCloud – Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)
More detail about SilverCloud here……..
SilverCloud is a completely confidential internet-based system or platform developed by SilverCloud Health that delivers online therapeutic and psycho-education programs. A variety of programs aim to offer information and support for people experiencing problems related to mental health. The programmes consist of six to seven modules which can be completed at a time and pace most convenient to the user. Each module contains text, video and audio clips as well as interactive and engaging activities, applications and quizzes that can be completed as the user moves through the module.
SilverCloud is your space for thinking and feeling better. Most of us face challenges in our lives. From stresses caused by a particular situation at work or home, to deeper and more lasting feelings of anxiety or depression. No one teaches us how to handle these situations and so we’re left to think that there’s something wrong with us, that we’re ill. It does not have to be this way.
With the right insight, advice and actions, most people can take an active role in thinking and feeling better. And they deliver programmes that build on this belief. SilverCloud is clinically validated and is the result of over 17 years of clinical research and studies have shown that it works.
Third Sector Grant Scheme (Dementia Care): Revenue Grants
Deadline – 5pm, Thursday 28th March 2024
Supported by the Welsh Government Regional Integration Fund
Grants of up to £150,000 pa for a 2 year delivery period are available for projects
led by voluntary and community groups/organisations based and working in
Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil or Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Purpose:
Who For?
Projects will need to support one or more of the following beneficiary Groups:
How?
Application Form and Guidelines available from vamt.net/en/services/funding/
For more information contact:
Laura Dadic – BAVO: 01656 810400 lauradadic@bavo.org.uk
From time to time we all need some help and support.
With the rising costs of living, many people in Wales need that help now.
The Welsh Government is doing everything it can to put money back into people’s pockets.
There is support available to you that could help you with some of your living costs.
If you are unsure about what support is available to you, Advicelink Cymru can help you check what you are entitled to and to claim what’s yours.
When you call Advicelink Cymru, on 0808 250 5700, you will get free and confidential advice about money you may be entitled to.
Advicelink Cymru can help you:
The Advicelink Cymru helpline can also arrange for you to get help with debt and personal finance issues.
Call the free helpline on 0808 250 5700 today to speak to an Advicelink Cymru advisor.
Lines are open from Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm. Croesawir galwadau yn Gymraeg / Calls are welcomed in Welsh.
When you contact Advicelink Cymru, a trained advisor will talk to you about your circumstances and help you find out what support is available.
You will be offered support with the claim process and help to fill in any claim forms. Advisors can also let you know what evidence you will need to support your claim.
Advicelink Cymru is a Welsh Government funded Citizens Advice service designed to help people who are most in need of advice services, particularly those who would not usually seek advice.
As the Charity Commission’s current five-year strategy draws to a close, the Commission will be holding an event that will set out what you can expect from their new strategy, ahead of its formal launch in February 2024.
The Commission’s Chair, Orlando Fraser KC, and Chief Executive, Helen Stephenson CBE, will share how the Commission intends to achieve its ambition of being the expert Commission that operates with fairness, balance and independence.
The Commission’s Chair and Chief Executive will be joined by Board members, including Pippa Britton OBE, the Charity Commission’s Welsh Board Member. The Commission intends to keep the formalities to a minimum, allowing opportunity for informal discussion and networking.
The event will be held on 30 January 2024 at Makers Guild Wales, arrival from 6pm until 7.30pm.
The event is open to Chairs and Chief Executives of registered charities. If you wish to attend, please register in advance by contacting events@charitycommission.gov.uk
The Taff Ely Wind Farm Community Fund is provided by Ventient Energy Ltd. They have invested over £40,000 into local activities and projects in communities surrounding the site since 2001. The Fund is administered by Interlink RCT, the umbrella body for all local community and voluntary groups in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Each year £2,500 is available. Grants may be awarded for capital or revenue up to a maximum of £500.
The fund is available to community groups that benefit the following areas:
Grants can be applied for to support organisational aims and objectives, recruit new members, involve more people from the community and help to develop services.
Only one application can be made per group.
To find out more about the fund, please contact the Community Advice Team at Interlink RCT. Call 01443 846200 or email communityadvice@interlinkrct.org.uk.
Rockwool was established in 1937 and is a market leader for stone wool insulation. The primary Rockwool UK site is located in Pencoed, Bridgend. They organise a programme of community activity in and around their local community of Pencoed.
A programme of philanthropic donations and sponsorships forms a core part of their drive to make a positive social and environmental impact as a business, particularly in the fields of health, housing and the environment. The majority of the donations will be to local projects within these three priorities:
The donations programme also supports their staff team, who are active in organising charitable fundraising activities.
Grants: unspecified value
Deadlines: three times a year
For more information about the Rockwool UK philanthropic donations and sponsorship programme, and to request an application form, email community@rockwool.com
The Be Active Wales Fund offers grants from £300 to £50,000 to sports clubs and community organisations to support projects that promote equality, sustainability and innovation in sport.
Please Note: Applications to the Be Active Wales Fund this financial year need to in by Wednesday 31 January 2024. Any applications made after this date will not be processed until April and will be counted in the 2024-25 round of funding.
All not-for-profit sport clubs or organisations in Wales can apply, regardless of their size or location, if you meet the funding conditions and requirements.
To be eligible for the Be Active Wales Fund, your organisation must:
The minimum award is £300 and the maximum award is £50,000*.
Funding is awarded on a sliding scale. You will need to make a contribution of 10% for grants over £10k or 20% for more than £25k.
i.e.
There’s more about Be Active Wales on Sport Wales website
Youth Led Grants is an initiative funded by the Welsh Government to support a range of volunteering projects and activities that are led and carried out by young people.
The aim of the funding is to help young people to volunteer aged 14 – 25 to be more involved in community and voluntary organisations in their local community.
The Youth Bridgend Funding Group is made up of a group of young people aged 14 – 25 living in Bridgend County Borough. The panel is supported by BAVO.
Further information contact: BAVO T: 01656 810400 or E: volunteering@bavo.org.uk
Open once a year. Dates for 2024 to be confirmed.
There’s more about Youth Led Grants on WCVA website
With the pressures on the cost of living continuing, up to 1 in 5 of the UK population are taking out loans to cope. This is coupled with scams on the rise is creating a dangerous combination whereby those most vulnerable in society are increasingly at risk of falling victim to loan fee fraud.
Loan fee fraud is when someone who is looking for a loan is asked to pay an upfront fee before receiving it. They pay the fee, but they never get the loan.
To support people the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are running a campaign to increase awareness of loan scams and the 3-step check that can help protect people.
Looking for a loan? Protect yourself from loan fee fraud.
Pause and do the 3 step check.
Tick any of these? STOP it could be a scam.
If you need to apply for a loan, you should only deal with authorised firms. If you don’t, you won’t be protected if things go wrong, and you could end up losing lots of money.
A free toolkit is available to help raise awareness of the issue, which now includes Welsh translations. To help raise awareness please use the resources included in the Loan free fraud Partner Toolkit (pdf, 3.5mb)
If you have any questions or queries, please contact Geli Leach on Angelica.Leach@23red.com.
