National Bookstart Week 2014: June 9th - 15th

To go to: www.bookstart.org.uk/myhero click on the picture above

Other Library activities can be found by clicking here

D Day 70 commemorations

There are numerous events and activities taking place locally between June 3rd and June 8th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D Day .

Including 

• Ceremonies 
• Choral recitals
• Concerts
• Displays by the Red Arrows, Navy and Royal Marines
• Films
• Parades
• Presentations

And much more, details of which can be found on the Visit Portsmouth website 

Just Act - a new national website to help community groups

Just Act has been set up to provide practical advice for anyone wanting to make a difference and improve their community. This could be anything from running a street party to taking over a core community service.

You’ll find advice and information from a variety of organisations and people who are involved in community projects.

The Community Development Foundation (CDF), who are managing the Just Act site, believe in the importance of local people coming together and improving their community. But they know all too well some of the challenges which can crop up along the way. Every community project is unique, but the stumbling blocks are often the same.

That’s why they've created Just Act.

Just Act is divided into the following:

• The 10 Steps is a breakdown of the main stages of getting involved in your community, providing tools and support along each step of the way.
• The Knowledge Bank has information for different types of projects that you can browse or search.
• The Just Act Forum is the place to go for discussion and any questions you’ve got.
• Our Blog is the place to head for insights into how to make your community project a success.

And if you find this stuff useful, why not rate how good the resources are, share your own stories and tell each other what works and what doesn't?


Click here to go to the Just Act website

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.

Fratton Big Local seeks new partnership board members

Fratton Big Local (FBL) has been awarded £1 Million over ten years to help residents work together in partnership with other agencies to make a lasting and positive difference to the community.

Fratton Big Local aims to improve the education, health, living conditions, environment and community well-being of those living and working in Fratton through providing resources, grants and loans to organisations meeting those needs and by acting as a champion for the needs and aspirations of the residents and community of Fratton.

The Fratton Big Local Partnership Board is the decision making group that determines how to spend this money. The board is currently recruiting new board members who live, work or play in Fratton. We have recently employed a community development worker and administrator and are moving into an exciting phase of delivery. We’re keen to bring in new skills and energy to help develop and enhance our existing board.

If you are interested in joining as a Board member, please complete an application form and return it to us at frattonbiglocal@yahoo.co.uk by 20^th May.

Or you could send a completed application form to the following address: Fratton Big Local, Fratton Community Centre, Trafalgar Place, Portsmouth. PO1 5JJ

The Partnership Board Application Form and Terms of Reference may be downloaded from:

http://frattonbiglocal.org.uk/partnership-board-application-pack/

For more information about Big Local and Fratton Big Local please see:

http://www.localtrust.org.uk/big-local/

http://www.localtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Fratton-Big-Local-Plan-July-2013.pdf

Alternatively contact 023 9229 4341 or 07840 122224 if you have any questions or require further information.

Has your life been affected by cancer?

'Coffee and Cake Morning' event.

Has your life been affected by cancer, why not join our coffee morning, where you can get support, share concerns or find information in a relaxed and informal setting

Venue: 'Info Pod', First Floor, Central library, Portsmouth

Wednesday 14 May 2014 at 10.30am   

For more information contact: Suzanne Phillips on 023 9268 8259 or macmillan@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

 

Mental Health Awareness Week 12th - 18th May

1 in 6 people in the UK struggle with mental health problems, during the week of the 12th of May The Learning Place has teamed up with local support organisations to promote the services available for mental health sufferers in Portsmouth.

Drop in and have a cuppa and a chat with the services supporting mental health in your area.

Monday 12th May 10am - 2pm
     Portsmouth MIND & The Richmond Fellowship
Tuesday 13th May 1pm - 4pm
     Solent Mind (Employment Services)
Wednesday 14th May 11am - 1pm
     The Carers Centre
Thursday 15th May 11am - 1pm
     The Carers Centre
Friday 16th May 11am - 3pm
     The Richmond Fellowship Drop-in
Access other mental health services online via the NHS website

The Learning Place are also raising funds for their new garden project.

The Learning Place, 6 Derby Road, North End, PO2 8HH
(023)9262 1860
thelearningplace@portsmouthcc.gov.uk 
www.learnportsmouth.ac.uk

Put forward your views about the commissioning of local healthcare services in Portsmouth

Healthwatch Portsmouth is assisting NHS Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) with a research project into how it consults with members of the public and on the CCG’s its priorities for the next five years.

Portsmouth CCG is a NHS organisation responsible for buying healthcare services in Portsmouth. The group is led by five local GPs who are elected to represent all the GP practices in Portsmouth. Its job is to make sure that Portsmouth residents have access to the best healthcare possible.

Healthwatch is holding a focus group on the 30 April for Portsmouth residents to meet the Healthwatch Portsmouth team and share feedback regarding Portsmouth CCG and how its work affects healthcare services in the city.

The main purpose of the focus group will be to look at:

·         How Portsmouth CCG consults with the public before changes are made to local healthcare services

·         The healthcare services that matter most to you and improvements you would like to see to existing services

·         Portsmouth CCG's priorities for the next 5 years

The team would especially like to hear the experiences of people who have been affected, good or bad, by changes to local healthcare services in the city.

Where: The Entertainment Hall, St James Hospital, Milton, Portsmouth, PO4 8LD

Date: 30 April 2014

Time: 3.00pm to 5.00pm

If you would like to attend this event you can register your attendance by clicking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/review-of-nhs-portsmouth-ccg-focus-group-event-tickets-11197033629

Free child car seat safety checks

Car seat safety experts will be on hand in supermarkets and stores across the city from Thursday 1 May to advise car drivers on whether their children's seats are correctly fitted.

The free child car seat safety checks, which have been organised by Portsmouth City Council, are carried out by IOSH trained staff from Baby 2000.  

The free checks take place between 10am and 3.30pm on the following dates and locations:

On	At
Thursday 1 May	Tesco North Harbour
Thursday 5 June	Asda Fratton
Thursday 3 July	Sainsbury’s Farlington
Thursday 7 August	Baby 2000, Copnor Rd
Thursday 4 September	Baby 2000, Copnor Rd
Thursday 2 October	Baby 2000, Copnor Rd

For more information call 023 9268 8582
Or search child car seats at portsmouth.gov.uk 

Questions to ask when you buy a car seat

Friends of The Learning Place

The Learning Place have designed a new scheme called 'Friends of The Learning Place’ whereby people can receive:

• Up to date course information 
• Early bird enrolment opportunities 
• Discount/offers on courses 
• Monthly newsletters 
• Chances to attend feedback sessions 

If you would like to become a friend of The Learning Place, please don't hesitate to contact them at: thelearningplace@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Easter Eggstravaganza

Events and activities at the City Museum this Easter bank holiday weekend

Click on the poster below for more details

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.

Free performances

Booking for these free events is essential, click on the poster below for details.

Finding Your Feet

A FREE 2-day programme of workshops and discussion sessions to support people adjusting to sight loss and those close to them. 

Venue: Holiday Inn Portsmouth, Pembroke Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2TA 

Dates: Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April 2014 

From: 9:30am - 4:30pm 

For more information and to book a place contact: 

Salisbury team: 01722 345440 

Or salisbury@actionforblindpeople.org.uk 

Action for Blind People

Salisbury Team

Tel: 01722 345440

Website: www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 205913 (England and Wales) SC040050 (Scotland)            

New cookery courses at the Learning Place

Cookies & Cupcakes
Wednesday 23rd April 2014
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Course fee: £67.50
Reduced fee: £36.00
4 weeks

Cake Decorating - Fairy Tale themed

Monday 28th April

9:30am - 12:30pm

Course fee: £26.00

Concession: £16.50

All ingredients included

Cake Decorating - Jungle themes
Monday 19th May
9:30am - 12:30pm
Course fee: £26.00
Concession: £16.50
All ingredients are included

Great British Bake-Off

Tuesday 20th May 2014

17:30pm - 20:30pm

Course fee: £26.00

(Reduced fee £16.50)

To sign up for these and many other courses please contact

The Learning Place, 6 Derby Road, North End, PO2 8HH

Phone:  (023)9262 1860

Email:   thelearningplace@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Web:     www.learnportsmouth.ac.uk 

Portsmouth In Bloom 2014 - open for entries

The Portsmouth in Bloom gardening competition is free to enter for residents, businesses and schools. 

There are 15 categories to choose from and you can enter up to two. 

Judging will take place during July, or earlier for schools. There are two new categories this year: ‘Eat my street’ and ‘Eat my school’ encouraging groups of neighbours, or a school, to grow fruit and veg in an innovative, environmentally-sustainable way. 

This year the competition is being run by community garden group Southsea Greenhouse, Aspex Gallery, parks charity GreenSpace and the council. 

If you’re new to gardening Southsea Greenhouse and other partners are holding workshops to give you inspiration and encouragement. 

Entries must be received by 30 May. 

For more details or to download an application form please click here

The Lost Hour - this Saturday

Please click on this picture for more information

Eastney Meets 8th April 2014

Tendering for public sector contracts – the essentials

A free event at

Portsmouth Civic Offices

Guildhall Square

On

25 April 2014 

from 

09:15 to 16:00 

Led by Alistair Little, Portsmouth City Council’s Procurement Professional for People, this one day training event is tailored to individuals from the voluntary and community sector with limited or no previous experience of writing or submitting tenders for public services. 

Working though a practical example, the session aims to improve the learners’ understanding of the essential elements required to successfully tender for services. 

By the end of the session participants should expect to develop an understanding of: 

• how to interpret a tender specification and identify the key points to address in a tender response 
• how tenders are evaluated 
• the basics of current regulation – and forthcoming changes

Registration is essential, please sign up for you free ticket by clicking here

Alistair Little is a chartered member of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply with 8 years’ experience of public sector procurement across Hampshire & Sussex covering health and social care, ICT, property and professional services.

An event run in partnership with 

Citizens' panel

Have you got something to say? Join our citizens' panel and be part of the conversation.

If you join the panel, we'll take your details and contact you at least four times a year to ask for your views.

There will also be other opportunities to take part throughout the year.

Information provided by the citizens' panel will help the council to shape services that are right for our residents, and will inform decision-making.

We will make sure you get feedback on how the views of the panel have been used.

If you decide you want to stop all you need to do is let us know.


For more information email marketresearch@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9243 7996.