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.
If you are looking for support over the holiday period we have put together a list places we know will be open. This includes foodbank opening times, mental health helplines and community centres.
BARC (Bridgend community outreach centre)
13 Ewenny Road, Bridgend, Mid Glam, CF313HN
Phone: 01656 451446
Email: barc.bridgend1@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/barccommunity/?ref=page_internal
Christmas opening hours
The Bridge
46-48 Dunraven Place
Bridgend
CF31 1JB
Phone: 01656 647 891
Closed 23 December – 2 Jan (except for Christmas Day)
Open 25 December Christmas Day – 11am – 2pm
Serving a hot meal and refreshments for the community, particularly aimed at those suffering from isolation and loneliness.
Raj Balti
59-61 Nolton St, Bridgend
Providing free meals on Christmas Day for the homeless/charities, social care, emergency service workers (Police, Fire Service, Ambulance), NHS and key workers. Please drop us a message so we can gauge how many meals to prepare for collection on Christmas Day evening.
Call: 01656 647229
www.instagram.com/rajbalti_bridgend/?hl=en
Call: 01656 750016
Wednesday 27 December
Thursday 28 December
Friday 29 December
Tuesday 2 January
hello@baobab-bach.org
07544 026265
Thursday 28 December
Friday 29 December
Talbot Centre Pop-up Pantry
Talbot Centre, Prince Rd, Kenfig Hill December 26 11am – 12 noon
Samaritans
www.samaritans.org/wales/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan
Phone: 116 123
Ffon Cymraeg – Welsh phone line: 0808 164 0123 7-10pm everyday
Papyrus
Prevention of young suicide
Contact HOPELINE247
If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINE247 for confidential support and practical advice.
Opening hours:
Line are open 24 hours every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included)
Suicide prevention advisers are ready to support you.
C.A.L.L.
Mental Health Helpline For Wales | Community Advice & Listening Line
Offering a confidential listening and support service
Freephone 0800 132 737
Or text help to 81066
SHOUT
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, anonymous text support service. You can text us from wherever you are in the UK.
If you are struggling to cope and need to talk, our trained Shout Volunteers are here for you, day or night.
Wales Learning Disability Helpline
Phone: 0808 8000 300
The Wales Learning Disability Helpline is available to everyone in Wales, whether you are a person with a learning a learning disability, a family member or a friend.
The Wales Learning Disability Helpline will be open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.00pm throughout the Christmas period, including Bank Holidays.
BAVO has measured its impact for 2022-2023 and provided a snapshot of year in our Annual Impact Report. The report was presented at out Silver Anniversary 25th AGM held on 8 December. Thank you to everyone who came and we have shared photos from the AGM on our Facebook page @BAVOhub.
Our Annual Impact Report, share facts and figures and showcases some of our member organisations. It also takes you through a timeline of BAVO’s 25 years of service.
Available in both English and Welsh, the Annual Impact Report 2022-23 is available to download below:
2022-23 Annual Impact Report – English (pdf 6Mb, 18 pages)
Adroddiad Effaith Blynyddol 2022-23 Cymraeg (pdf 6Mb, 18 tudalen)
BAVO is small but effective. The team provide vital support to local third sector organisations. From supporting governance, funding, learning, volunteering, connection and influencing decision making. BAVO is here to help and support a vibrant and sustainable third sector.
If you represent a club, church group, voluntary organisation or charity operating in Bridgend County and are not already members of BAVO please get in touch. We can help you with tailored services designed to support you.
BAVO membership is free. Please get in touch to find out more email bavo@bavo.org.uk or call 01656 810400
£25,979 per annum pro rata (18.5 hours per week)
Fixed term to 31 March 2025 (subject to ongoing funding)
The post-holder will join a team that helps individuals to access community support to meet their personal needs.
Deadline: Monday 29 January 2024, 2pm.
Application Pack
Community Navigator Job and Person Description (pdf)
BAVO Application Form (writable pdf)
Job Application Guidelines (pdf, 2 pages)
Privacy notice (pdf, 4 pages)
Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board (RPB) is looking to identify a third sector partner to support hospital discharge across the region through providing Trusted Assessor roles. For more information download the Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) document (Word, 10 pages)
The closing date is: 5 January 2024
Please send your EOI to sarah.mills@rctcbc.gov.uk not BAVO.
BAVO is proud to hold the Cultural Competence Certification Scheme silver award.
Diverse Cymru coordinate the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Cultural Competence scheme with funding from Welsh Government and independent validation from United Kingdom Investor in Equality and Diversity (UKIED). The scheme recognises good workplace practices, for provision of fair and equitable services for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in Wales.
There are two parts: cultural competency awareness training sessions and the completion of a self-assessment evidence workbook. During 2023 the BAVO team completed the training and the workbook.
In October 20 organisations, including BAVO, received recognition at the Cultural Competence Awards at Cardiff City Hall.
The event was compered by Diverse Cymru’s CEO Chris Dunn, Suzanne Duval Cultural Competence Scheme Manager and Dr. Charles Willie; the founder of Diverse Cymru. Diverse Cymru is committed to promoting diversity and cultural competence in creating a more inclusive Wales.
Guests enjoyed a meal, entertainment and the inclusive celebratory atmosphere. The City Hall was alive with harmonious singing from Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir, and Hubert Placide (Wahda) of Duo-Flex Sounds of Steel bringing the spirit of the Caribbean to Cardiff.
Gail, who attended with Laura from BAVO, said:
“What a lovely evening meeting people working toward same goals.
We are proud as a small organisation to achieve silver in first year of working on this….and be in great company. It was inspiring see what can be achieved. And the Duo-flex steel drumming was great!”
See the list of Award holders on the Diverse Cymru website.
BAVOs AGM is on Friday 8 December 2023 at the Heronston Hotel, Bridgend, from 11am -1pm.
Join us for our AGM and afternoon tea. We are joined by special guest speakers Professor Jean White CBE High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan and Jonathan Stock, Assistant Director of Communications at the Charity Commission.
Our AGM is open to any third sector organisation, however tickets will be prioritised for members first.
You can book online or email bavo@bavo.org.uk
At the AGM, the Trustees will present our annual impact report 2022/23 outlining BAVO’s performance and financial statements. The independent auditor will also report. The event will finish with afternoon tea. The 2022/23 year marked 25 years since BAVO started in 1997, so we will be celebrating our silver anniversary.
(Please note: A £15 pp charge will be made if you book but do not attend without giving 48 hours notice.)
Members with voting rights may be asked to vote on current issues such as appointments to the Board of Directors where there are more nominations than places. They may also be asked to vote on the re-appointment of auditors.
Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations is an incorporated charity that means it is both a registered charity No. 1146543 and registered company in England and Wales No. 07691764
Everyone is welcome to these informal and interactive events, including health and social care staff and the general public.
Join the conversation about the challenges that the health and social care sector is facing and have your say about:
Join one of the workshop events being delivered by the Bevan Commission, Wales’ leading health and care think tank.
The Bevan Commission will use the opinions and ideas from these conversations to produce a report for Welsh Government and each Health Board in Wales, making recommendations about what needs to change. Refreshments will be provided.
In person 10.30am – 1pm at the following locations:
Online 6pm – 8.30pm
Please book to be part of the conversation; select a date and location on Eventbrite
Share your views on crucial decisions about the future of health and social care in Wales by completing the Bevan Commission online survey
The Bevan Commission is Wales’ leading health and care think tank, hosted and supported by Swansea University. They bring together a group of international health and care experts to provide independent, authoritative advice to the Welsh Government and leaders in Wales, the UK and beyond. They ensure that Wales can draw on best healthcare practices from around the world while remaining true to the principles of the NHS as established by Aneurin Bevan.
We are looking for a proactive, dynamic and skilled Communications and Engagement Officer to lift our profile and help us shout about the excellent work we do, and that of our local voluntary and community sector.
Are you up for a challenge? Will you help us in our trail blazing ambitions? Are you a team player with a ‘can do’ attitude? If so, click this link and find out more about the job description!
There’s a lot of autonomy to the role and we need someone who can take some initiative to deliver engaging content across our platforms and introduce us to new ones!
Deadline for applications 14th June 2023, 5pm
Return your application to bavo@bavo.org.uk
Volunteers Week takes place 1-7 June every year. It’s a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our communities and say thank you.
Volunteers’ Week is supported and celebrated by small grassroots organisations as well as larger, household-name charities.
Together they run hundreds of activities across the UK, which showcase and celebrate volunteers and their contribution to our communities.
Volunteers’ Week 2023 is a time to celebrate and inspire. We aim to highlight that our diversity is our strength, show that there’s more than one way to volunteer and encourage people to be the change that we want to see.
Volunteers are always active at the heart of every UK community. So taking the time during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate and recognise their efforts and all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector and society as a whole have never been more important.
Every year hundreds of events, both online and in–person, take place to celebrate Volunteers’ Week and the huge range of ways in which volunteers give their time. This year will be no different.
A wide variety of activities will be happening across the country from volunteer recruitment events and open days to celebration and recognition events.
We are looking forward to you joining us in celebrating Volunteers’ Week 2023 to recognise the huge role volunteers play in our communities.
They are now entering the consultation phase of the draft document and are looking to gather views from across the sector including volunteers, those that access care and support, their carers and families.
There are a range of options as to how you can respond including Microsoft forms, via a word document or by submitting an email with your comments or a video or audio recording outlining your responses.
The consultation documents will be live until midnight Sunday 25th June 2023.
https://socialcare.wales/consultations/workforce-strategy-consultation
The Community Navigator Service operates geographically across the County Borough of Bridgend. The service is supported by Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC), Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board (RPB) and funded via Welsh Government Funding.
As a result of being based here at BAVO, Bridgend’s County Voluntary Council (CVC), we are able to provide an independent service to individuals needing help, or looking for activities to get involved in.
We hold a ‘what matters’ conversation with the individual and signpost them to a community based group or service that best meets their needs and interest.
Being based in community buildings, our Navigators are not only able to link into over 450 member organisations on our database, but they can tap into ad hoc local community provision as and when it in different community centres and buildings. They have up to date information on what is available by keeping their finger on the pulse.
As part of our ‘Resourceful and Connected Communities’ model , we are also able to collaborate with a range of agencies on specific pieces of work such as supporting food banks and distributing food and fuel vouchers. We recently also received a grant from National Grid and can distribute warm packs alongside supporting warm hubs.
Importantly, when people come to BAVO, they are not passed from pillar to post. They get the intervention they need in the right place and at the right time. Our navigators will even take them to activities a few times so they aren’t so anxious, and can be introduced to people to break the ice.
Our Navigators are trained in ‘making every contact count’ through our NHS partners, and a number of our Navigators have undertaken Wrexham Glyndwr University Social Prescribing degree level module. Each Navigator also comes with a specialism, such as green prescribing, housing, Mental health and substance misuse, physical activity and carer backgrounds for example.
The Community Navigators team forms the ‘supporting people’ element of our ‘transformation programme’ in partnership with BCBC.
The other crucial element to this programme is providing help to community groups. We offer robust volunteering, governance and development support as well as sustainable funding avenues to community organisations so that we can confidently and safely signpost to them and ensure they have all the help they need to to take on referrals.
We also provide brokerage through Social Services’ ‘Common Access Point’ and have previously managed Navigators on behalf of GP Cluster. If you would like to talk about our service and how it might expand to support your client base, please give us a ring.
The service is open from 9am – 5pm
For more information contact Gail E; communitynavigator@bavo.org.uk or call 01656 810400
