COMMUNITY NETWORK FOR MANCHESTER
EMAIL BULLETIN - 23rd November 2007

The Community Network for Manchester (CN4M) is part of the Manchester
Partnership (MP) that works specifically on behalf of voluntary and
community groups. CN4M is creating a more powerful voice for the voluntary
and community sectors in Manchester. For more information about the
Community Network for Manchester and to view contact details please visit
our website at www.cn4m.net


1.0 Network News
2.0 Training
3.0 Events
4.0 Information
5.0 Jobs

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1.0 Network News

1.1 CN4M Strategy Group
The next CN4M Strategy Group meeting will take place on Tuesday 11th
December at the Greenfish Resource Centre from 6pm - 8pm (refreshments
available from 5:30pm).
Papers will be available next week
1.2 Health Inequalities Pool
The next meeting of the Health Inequalities Pool will be held on Tuesday
(note change of day!) 11th December 2007, 10-12 midday at the MACC office.
For more information contact Jackie Kilbane mailto:jackie@macc.org.uk
1.3 Manchester's Online Community Directory
Free online directory of Manchester voluntary and community groups.
The Scarman Trust Manchester and CN4M are working in partnership to compile
a comprehensive online directory of voluntary and community groups
throughout Manchester.

You can use the Directory to:
• Promote the work of your group to a wider audience.
• Find the details of voluntary and community groups.
• Register the contact details of your group - FREE!

It is FREE to get your group's details listed on the directory. There is an
online registration form at:
http://www.thescarmantrustmanchester.org/index.php/Section47.html
Alternatively contact the Scarman Trust Manchester team on: 0161 839 2613,
mailto:support.manchester@thescarmantrust.org or the CN4M team on 0161 234
2920, mailto:catht@cn4m.net

2.0 Training

2.1 ICT Courses - January 2008

The Skills to Enable Community Learning Programme aims to develop the skills
of staff and volunteers working in community and voluntary organisations in
Greater Manchester. These community groups must work with disadvantaged
groups to deliver skills for life and key skills training.

Our IT Courses will be delivered through accredited learning opportunities
in the areas of Management, ICT skills and tutor training.

These courses lead to a level 2 or 3 eDCC qualification. Please go to
www.edcc.org.uk for more information on course content.

Final Few Places left for December 2007 Courses:-

Advanced Word Processing (MS Word) 6th, 13 & 20th Dec (Thursdays)
Intro/Intermediate Database (MS Access) 7th, 14th, 21st Dec (Fridays)

New courses scheduled for January 2008, due to high demand:

Intro/Intermediate Database (MS Access): 23rd, 30th Jan & 6th Feb 2008
Intro/Intermediate Spreadsheets (MS Excel): 24th, 31st Jan & 7th Feb 2008
Advanced Word Processing (MS Word): 21st, 28th Feb & 6th March 2008
Intro to Web design Using WORDPRESS: 3rd, 10th & 17th March 2008

All courses run 9.30am - 3pm, 3 x sessions, 15 hours in total - students
must attend all 3 sessions to gain the certificate.

For more information or to request an application form please contact the
Admin Team on 0161 833 8800 or mailto:info@wevh.org.uk.

2.2 Dealing with the system! - Free 6-week course

For women only - now with Urdu/Punjabi language support. Do you want to
know .
How to deal with bills & benefits?
How best to contact agencies & sort out problems?

We can help you .
Learn how to understand bills & official letters
Improve your letter writing & telephone skills

For more information contact Jo at Cheetham Hill Advice Centre Tel : 0161
740 8999 mailto:jo@cheethamadvice.org.uk

Some free crèche places available: please book in advance. You will need a
basic knowledge of English, but Urdu/Punjabi support is available.
Please note: this course is for women only

2.3 Visual Awareness Training

Action for Blind People's Visual Awareness training can be tailored to match
the needs of any organisation or company

Why is Visual Awareness training important? Nearly 2 million people in the
UK are blind or partially sighted. How your staff respond to their needs
will determine how likely they are to use your services again and whether
they will recommend you. If you employ someone who is blind or partially
sighted then Visual Awareness training can help their colleagues understand
how to best provide support.

Who can benefit from Visual Awareness training? Anyone who provides a
service! Whether it is frontline staff understanding that it is more useful
to give verbal directions rather than just point, whether access needs to be
improved for a client or customer or because there is a visually impaired
member of staff.

We have worked with a diverse range of clients, including the National
Theatre, Marks & Spencer, hotel chains, various colleges and libraries and
social service teams.

For more information, please call team on 020 7635 4854, or visit:
www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/information/VAT/
2.4 Drumroots Women's Drum Circle
"the drum as teacher, the circle as your space"

Want to develop your creativity but too shy to perform?
Need a safe space where you can meet like-minded women?
Interested in drumming as a healing tool?

Our 8 week course for women of all ages and abilities, taking you through
the basics of the drum as a tool to creativity and healing...find your
rhythm and place within the circle! Courses start in May and September each
year in Central Manchester.

Visit www.drumroots.org.uk (women's page) for a course outline and booking
form or contact Joanna Huddart on 07762 098393 mailto:jo@drumroots.org.uk

3.0 Events

3.1 'How Should Your City Grow?'

Consultation Event on the Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy
and Site Specific Allocations Issues & Options. Tuesday 4th December, 2007
at Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street

Councillor Neil Swannick, Executive Member for Environment, on behalf of
Manchester City Council, invites you to attend the 'How Should Your City
Grow? Consultation Event.

Event details:
Only half an hour to spare?
Feel free to drop in anytime between 12 midday and 8:30pm where you can chat
to Planning Officers about the options for the future development of
Manchester.
Have a little more time?
You can pre-register to take part in informal themed workshops which will
give you the opportunity to find out more information.
Please note: places for the workshops are limited to one person per invited
organisation. If you require further information, please call 0161 234 4579

3.2 Local Development Framework : Information session for community groups
6-8pm, 12th December, Mechanics Institute

. Heard about the 'LDF' but not sure how it applies to you?
. Confused by all the jargon?
. Want to have your say but not sure what issues the LDF covers?

North West Planning Aid are working with the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Pool
to provide an information session for community groups on the Local
Development Framework (LDF). This is to support groups in forming a response
to the consultation on the LDF taking place until 4th February 2008.

The LDF is a document which will set out planning policies for development
in Manchester. For example policies on affordable housing, the environment,
transport and energy.

For more information contact Julie on 0161 273 1736 or
mailto:sustainable@merci.org.uk.
Sandwiches provided. Travel/childcare costs may be covered - please ask for
more details. Booking is not essential but is helpful!

3.3 Eden Project talk at the University of Manchester

You are invited to a talk on Monday Nov 26th from 4pm - 5:30pm (followed by
refreshments) at the Cordingley Lecture Theatre, Humanities Bridgeford
Street (Building 35 on the
map -http://www.manchester.ac.uk/visitors/travel/maps/numerical/

The talk is by two speakers from the Eden Project, Mark Paterson and Sveva
Gallmann. Both Mark and Sveva wish to discuss what the Eden Project is and
what it has achieved to date, as a lead into the main topic, the design,
build and use of a dynamic third covered Biome, known as The Edge.

The Edge will be a visionary new building to address the great challenges of
the 21st century, including those of climate change and resource shortages.
It will look at what it will take for humankind to rise to such challenges.
It will look at different cultures, past and present; those who live in
extreme environments to remind us that even where resources may be limited.

For more information mailto:joanne.tippett@manchester.ac.uk

3.4 Capita's 4th National Local Area Agreements Conference - Moving Local
Partnerships Forward
This is a practical event on 4th December supported by the Centre for Public
Scrutiny and includes a Keynote Address from James Blake, Head of Local Area
Agreements, Communities and Local Government. It is being held at the
Millennium Knightsbridge Hotel, London.
If you'd like to book a place on this conference, please
mailto:dave.eastman@capita.co.uk with the delegate details.
For more information visit http://www.capitaconferences.co.uk/

4.0 Information

4.1 Free photocopiers

Bruntwood have 2 photocopiers to give away asap. The community
organisation/charity would have to collect from Manchester City Centre.
Contact mailto:gemma.hall@bitc.org.uk if you are interested.

4.2 New Sports Drop In
A new initiative in the form of a "sports drop in" is starting Monday at
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre Wythenshawe 1-3pm. This drop in hopes to
target young(er) men with mental health problems (although women and anyone
who attends won't be turned away).
Exercise is good for our mental and physical health so if you can get
involved please do. For more information please contact Alasdair Caddell on
947 2337 or Tony Sheppard on 436 5432.

4.3 Newspapers and magazines free to a good home

BUPA's marketing department receive many newspapers and magazines as part of
their work. They would love to give these to an organisation that could use
them or read them as they usually just send them to recycle.

It would mean that the organisation would have to collect weekly. Louise
Hanlon is the contact mailto:hanlonl@bupa.com

4.4 Weekly Sport and Physical Activity Sessions in Ardwick and Longsight

Weekly session will take place including football, boxing, aerobics and
dance classes.
For more information contact Yvonne Bradley (Community Sports Development
Officer) on 0161 225 5938 / 07919 321 064 or
mailto:y.bradley@manchester.gov.uk

4.5 5 Free Christmas Trees

BUPA will have 5 decorated Christmas trees following a training session on
11th December. They would like to give these to charitable organisations.

Organisation to collect but delivery by BUPA may be possible.

Louise Hanlon is the contact mailto:hanlonl@bupa.com

4.6 Volunteers from business are ready to help your community group!

Cares is an employee volunteering programme which matches enthusiastic
employee volunteers with local community organisations. Employees from
local businesses across Manchester are keen to use their time, skills and
resources to help make a difference by undertaking one-day team challenges
at community venues to help redecorate rooms, carry out garden makeovers,
organise social activities or workshops to develop skills around interview
techniques, CV writing, budgeting etc.

If you think you have a team challenge project and would like to benefit
from this free support please contact Business in the Community who run the
employee volunteering scheme called Cares. A member of the Cares team would
then visit you to discuss your project.

To find out more please contact Gemma Hall on 0161 233 7766 or
mailto:gemma.hall@bitc.org.uk

4.7 Free Professional advice and support

ProHelp, run by Business in the Community is a network of professional firms
committed to providing free (pro bono) advice and support to local community
groups and voluntary organisations. Firms engaged in ProHelp include
surveyors, solicitors, accountants, architects, consulting engineers, PR and
marketing agencies, landscape architects and Health and Safety consultants.

To find out more about how ProHelp can support your organisation, please
contact Guy Goodger on 0161 233 7771 or mailto:guy.goodger@bitc.org.uk

www.prohelp.org.uk


5.0 Jobs

5.1 Vacancy for a Project Administrator (African AIDS Helpline)

Part-time: 21 hours per week
Scale: NJC Scale 4 point 18 £16,536
Based: Zion Community Resource Centre, Hulme
Fixed term until 31/03/09 with possibility of extension subject to further
funding

The post provides administrative support to the African AIDS Helpline. The
service works with people with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS nationwide
through a telephone service. Requirements for the post are IT proficiency,
petty cash handling, excellent communication skills, and commitment to
equality of opportunity. Previous admin experience essential.

The Black Health Agency is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes
applications from all sections of society.

All applicants must have permission to work in the UK. For an application
pack, contact Melanie Lathrope
on mailto:melanie@blackhealthagency.org.uk or alternatively call
0845-450-4247. CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date for received applications is Friday 30th November 2007

5.2 African Aids Helpline: Regular and Bank Staff wanted

Do you have experience and/or understanding of African communities living in
England and their cultural attitudes about HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health?
Are you fluent in English plus any of these other languages? Portuguese,
French, Luganda, Shona or Swahili
Are you flexible?
Want to help others?
Do you want to offer culturally appropriate emotional support to people from
African communities affected by HIV, within the context of a telephone
service? Then join us at the African AIDS Helpline
If you're interested, please phone Melanie on 0845 450 4247 for an
application pack or alternatively email on
mailto:melanie@blackhealthagency.org.uk

Closing Date for receipt of applications Friday 30th November 2007

5.3 Manchester Youth Volunteering Project (MYVP) is looking for a new Youth
Volunteering Outreach Worker

The post is initially for 6 months with a view to extension.
Salary NJC SCP 23-27 £19,463 - £22,122 25 days holiday per annum

Please contact the project for an application form and information pack
via:mailto:job.myvp@googlemail.com
Tel: 0161 234 2788

Applications must be returned by 12.00 noon on Thursday 6th December,
Interviews to be held week commencing 10th December. Applications accepted
by post or Email

MYVP continues to pursue an active policy of equality. The post is open to
job-sharing applications. Secondments will be considered.

See Guardian Jobs online for further details.

If you have any information you would like to circulate in a future email
bulletin, please email mailto:catht@cn4m.net by Thursday 12.00pm the day
before. If you have any comments or suggestions about the email bulletin,
please email mailto:catht@cn4m.net.