Action News Portsmouth

The latest issue of the newsletter of Community Action Portsmouth is now available on line by clicking here.

It gives information about forthcoming events, consultations, funding and awards, training opportunities, resources, campaigns, advice and volunteering.

Email either Jacky or Hollie at Community Action in Portsmouth to be added to the email distribution list, or with information, comments or suggestions for future editions.

Carry a flag to celebrate Commonwealth Day

On Monday 10 March, Portsmouth will be raising the Commonwealth Flag in Guildhall Square as part of 'Fly a Flag for Commonwealth' - a nationwide initiative to celebrate Commonwealth Day. 

The event will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, representatives from High Commissions of some of the Commonwealth countries, councillors and other guests. A military parade will march into the Guildhall Square, which will then be followed by the reading of the Commonwealth Affirmation and then raising of the Commonwealth Flag at 10am. 

In addition to this, the event will launch the 'Portsmouth 2014 Commemorations Programme marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War'. To recognise the commitment of the Armed Forces from the Commonwealth, the flags of the Commonwealth nations which played a role in the D-Day landings and the First World War will be raised on the flag poles in Guildhall Square. 

How you can become involved 

Dynamite - Launch Party

Dynamite, a group for disabled young people is having a launch party, an Information Fair and Future Opportunities Event for all disabled young people aged between 11 to 25 years old.

When: Wednesday, 19th February 2014, 10am - 2pm

Where: Action Stations, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

(http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/actionstations/)

This is a TICKET event, which will give you FREE access to all the facilities including Lazer Quest & the Helicopter Flight Simulator.

Food and drinks can be purchased from the café. 

To book your place, please email: dynamiteproject@hotmail.co.uk 

or telephone: 07825 185608.

This event is supported by: Portsmouth Youth Parliament, Portsmouth Disability Forum, Portsmouth Parent Voice and Portsmouth Children's Trust. 

Nelson Ward Funding Event - 22nd February 2014

The Nelson Community Panel has funds to award to groups working with residents in the Nelson Ward, they are holding a funding advice event on 

Saturday 22nd February 

from 10am at the 

Stamshaw Community Centre, 

69 Wilson Road, 

Stamshaw, 

PO2 8LE

For further details or an application form look at the blog http://nelsoncommunitypanel.wordpress.com or ring Trish Webb on 023 9284 1698

This presentation, containing examples of groups that have be funded already, will be shown at the event

Nelson community panel presentation

Alert: Notice to appear in court email scam

The Business Crime Reduction Centre (BCRC) is warning people about a new email scam that threatens victims with court action.

The emails say you have been notified and scheduled to appear for a court hearing, and contains specific dates, times, locations and reference numbers. 

 It asks you to download a copy of the “court notice” attached. The downloadable.zip file actually contains an .exe file (a file that executes when clicked) containing a virus.

For more details on this and other scams go to http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/blog 

There is also information to help you in reporting fraud and internet crime, prevention and support organisations, campaigns and resources to download and information on the different types of fraud.

Find out more about FoodCycle Portsmouth!

How can you help? 

FoodCycle Portsmouth have volunteering opportunities to suit everyone! 

FoodCycle Portsmouth is a new volunteer project based at the the John Pounds Centre working to reduce social isolation and food poverty in the community. 

Come and find out more about volunteering roles: from Hub Leaders to ad-hoc 'FoodCyclers' at the FoodCycle Portsmouth information session on: 

Tuesday 25th February 

6-7pm 

At the John Pounds Centre Cafe, Queen Street, Portsea 

FoodCycle Portsmouth are looking to recruit volunteers into a number of 'Hub Leader' roles; session leaders, food collections and donor relations, fundraisers, community engagement and volunteer coordinators. These are regular volunteering roles, probably around 8 hours/month with a year-long commitment. They offer great work experience and levels of responsibility to help drive FoodCycle Portsmouth into a successful Hub. 

Alternatively, if you aren't able to commit to offering your time regularly, you can always sign up as a FoodCycler on an ad-hoc basis to help in the kitchen, welcoming guests or at events.

Promoting Health and Wellbeing – an event for people affected by cancer

26 March 2014 

09.30am – 4.00pm 

Venue: The Mountbatten Leisure Centre, 

Alexandra Park, Portsmouth PO2 9QA 

Have you been affected by cancer and would you like to find out more about how you can help yourself to feel more in control of your health and well being? 

Sessions will include:- 

Eating healthily 

The benefits of physical activity and how to get started Managing anxiety, worries and fears 

There will also be an expert panel to answer your questions along with a variety of information stands promoting local services 

For more information or to book your place: 

Call 01904 756410 or email: csweldadmin@macmillan.org.uk 

Introducing FoodCycle Pompey

Uniting the community so no good food goes to waste

FoodCycle Pompey is a new project based at the John Pounds Centre to bring the community together whilst addressing issues of food poverty and food waste. 

FoodCycle is a national organisation running volunteer-powered community projects across the UK – working to reduce food poverty and social isolation by serving tasty, nutritious meals to vulnerable groups. To find out more about who FoodCycle are, watch this short video.

The FoodCycle Pompey Team are currently looking to recruit volunteers into a number of 'Hub Leader' roles; session leaders, food collections and donor relations, fundraisers, community engagement and volunteer coordinators. 

Alternatively, if you aren't able to commit to offering your time regularly, you can sign up as a FoodCycler on an ad-hoc basis. 

There will be an information session for volunteers soon, so keep your eyes and ears open for further information! Please share the story of FoodCycle with family, friends and colleagues! 

The FoodCycle Pompey Team think this is an exciting opportunity for the city and can't wait to get started!

BIG Recycle has 6,000 residents now signed up

Over six thousand Portsmouth households have now pledged to bin their bad habits and be more environmentally friendly thanks to the Portsmouth BIG Recycle scheme.

The campaign was launched at the end of September 2013 by Portsmouth City Council to help improve recycling rates in the city. Even though lots of residents participate in recycling, Portsmouth currently only recycles 23% of its household waste - one of the lowest rates in the country - so we could all do a bit better.

If we can boost our recycling to at least 30% we could generate around £150,000 more a year, which helps protect other council services.

Since the launch, over 6,000 households have signed up to the scheme, funded by over £500,000 allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government to reward residents for doing their bit.

Every month, each household that has signed up to the scheme is entered in to a prize draw, 81 households are then randomly selected, and if they are found to be recycling in the right ways, they'll be rewarded, with the top reward being £250 cash.

So far only 10 households have missed out on prizes (with a combined total of £350) as they were putting the wrong things in the recycling bin such as the wrong types of plastic, metal foils, food waste, general rubbish and even clothing. If you're stuck with where to get rid of old clothes they can be recycled at bring banks, which can be found on the roadside of many main roads in the city.

Register for free by visiting bigrecycle.portsmouth.gov.uk or calling 023 9243 7843

For more information on recycling in Portsmouth go to the Portsmouth City Council web page www.portsmouth.gov.uk/waste/15862.html

National Libraries Day 2014

Saturday 8 February 2014 is National Libraries Day, a culmination of a week’s worth of celebrations in school, college, university, workplace and public libraries across the UK. Portsmouth Library Service is celebrating with loads of fantastic, FREE, events across our libraries.

Anyone who joins a Portsmouth library as a new member on the 8th will receive a voucher for one free DVD or CD loan, or if you're already a member and introduce a friend then you'll get a voucher as well!

National Libraries Day Programme

New 'Can do' guide for community events

The Cabinet Office have recently published a guide to 'help clear up any confusion over issues such as health and safety and food hygiene, which people often think will get in the way of community events'. 

This guide includes:

• What do I need to think about when planning an event?
• Do I need any licences or other sort of permission?
• How do I keep organisers, volunteers and participants safe?
• Do I need insurance?

The seven part guidance can be found on the gov.uk website

Tell a Fairytale Day

Activities and stories for under fives with their parent/carers 

(there will be cutting out)

Wednesday 26th February 

2.15pm - 3.00pm 

Beddow Library

*******************************************

Enquire at Beddow Library 

or phone 

Linda Collins on 023 9268 8144

Free advice clinics

Run by law students at the University of Portsmouth

FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES TO HELP WITH A RANGE OF DEBT PROBLEMS OR CONSUMER LAW ISSUES

Appointments are available from 1pm - 5pm each Wednesday at the John Pounds Centre, 23 Queen Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, PO1 3HN. http://www.johnpoundscentre.co.uk 

Call Vicki Brown: 023 9284 4114 or email: Vicki.brown@port.ac.uk to make an appointment 

Or once a month on a Wednesday at the Buckland Community Centre 1pm - 5pm 
Contact Angie at Buckland Community Centre, Malins Road, Buckland, Portsmouth PO2 7BL Tel: 023 9269 2914 for more information and the date of the next clinic.
*No Appointment Necessary* 
Just Walk In!

Also on twitter: @UoP_Advice

School for Social Entrepreneurs recruitment 2014-15

Click the logo to go to the HSSE page

Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs (HSSE) are running a series of Taster Sessions for budding social entrepreneurs including one in Portsmouth on 19th February, to promote the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme which could provide you with a place on the HSSE’ innovative learning programme as well as a grant to help you develop and grow your project.

If you are interested click here for the Taster session details.

First World War Centenary commemoration

2014 will mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. 

Using Portsmouth’s museums and archive collections and with your help Lest We Forget will tell the story of some of the people who took part in the First World War.

At the heart of this project will be an exhibition, opening July 2014, which draws on the museum and archive collections which hold First World War related material connecting to some 200 or so individuals: servicemen and women and civilians supporting the war effort at home. 

Click here to go to the First World War Centenary page 

Get Involved: you can add details of your ancestors who contributed to the First World War. 

Whether you have only have the sparsest detail or have researched more thoroughly you are invited to contribute. 

Click here to add details of your family members to the project

All Fora meeting

The next All Fora meeting will be taking place on Monday February 24th and will be held in Meeting Room 3 on the Ground Floor of Portsmouth Civic Offices from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

The meetings are open to all committee members, if you would like to attend please contact your neighbourhood forum chairman or email us at neighbourhood.forums@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

If you would like to have an issue put on to the agenda please let us know by Friday February 21st.

FREE!!!! BTEC Level 1 Workskills

For 16-18 year olds

Taking part in this course you will gain knowledge of entering into the work environment.

Discovering how to effectively search and apply for jobs, and creating a successful and up to date CV and Cover Letter, whilst engaging in classroom tasks to boost your team working skills.

60% of candidates have an interview by the end of the course with 40% receiving a job offer.

COURSE DETAILS

Enrolment on 15th January 2014 unit 5 commencing on this date and Units 6 & 7 on 16th and 17th January.

Units covered:

Searching for a job

Applying for a job

Preparing for an interview

To book on the course please call 023 9279 3400 or email office@staffordrhodesgroup.com 

Stafford Rhodes Group

1st Floor, East Wing, Prudential Buildings, 16 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2DD

Phone: 023 9279 3400

Recruitment drive for Victim Support Volunteer Visitors (South East Hampshire)

About the opportunity

This exciting rewarding role is to provide a structured face to face support service to victims of crime in their homes or a safe meeting location (depending upon the home visit risk assessment). Volunteering can fit in with work/family commitments as long as regular contact with the client is maintained.

A time commitment of approximately 2 - 4 hours per week for at least 2 years is expected, Full training and support is provided, along with out of pocket expenses.

Could you help us understand the social needs of older people in the city?

Adult Social Care's

Independence and Wellbeing Team at

Portsmouth City Council are looking for people to speak to about their experiences of social isolation and loneliness.

If you answer yes, to the following questions, they would love to hear from you.

Are you aged 65+?

Do you experience feelings of loneliness and isolation?

By speaking to one of their Volunteer Community Researchers you will help them to gather information to shape future services for older people in Portsmouth.

If you are interested or would like to hear more about the project, please call the team on 
023 9268 8705 
or email 
julie.roberts@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Cosham Kids Craft Club

Once a month on third Saturday from 11am 

Come along and join in the fun! 

For more details contact Julie Walker: 

email Julie.walker@portsmouthcc.gov.uk 

or telephone Cosham Library : 023 9237 6023