I hope you are all well. A few updates, a funding opportunity plus dates for our Network Meetings from September 2021. Wishing you all a peaceful and restful summer.
This guidance note is for public library services in England and applies to operations in Step 4 of the government’s recovery plan which started on 19th July. The note has been prepared by Libraries Connected in consultation with Public Health England, and in line with guidance published by the Government. You can find out more here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zYSMRA3KXU25FDlBNp9vh6N8xEXU8Qw3/view?usp=sharing
2. The Arts Council’s Youth Advisory Board
Our Youth Advisory Board will consist of approx. 10-15 young people from across the North of England. Together they will work with staff from across the organisation to ensure the voices of young people are at the heart of what we do.
Our first cohort will be in post from September 2021 – July 2022, during our pilot phase, where they will have the opportunity to engage in arts and culture whilst developing skills to support them in their future careers.
We’re working with three organisations to support the delivery of this programme: Youth Focus North West, Youth Focus North East and Youth Work Unit Yorkshire and the Humber. Find out more > https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/news/we%E2%80%99re-recruiting-our-youth-advisory-board
3. Network Meetings from September 2021
Network meetings resume from September 2021, below are the dates for the meetings. On 9th September, we will discuss life post 19th July, and there will be a Speaker from the Low Carbon Network and another to cover all things digital. We are hoping to invite other speakers to all our meetings and will update you all in due course.
9th September 2021 13 January 2022
7th October 2021 17 February 2022
4 November 2021 24 March 2022
9th December 2021
4. Power to Change Community Business Market Survey is now live
The Power to Change annual Community Business Market survey is now live. The survey helps Power to Change and the rest of the sector understand and better support community businesses across England. Never has community-led business, nor the support they receive, been more important than in this time of recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year one of the key focus’ of the survey is the environmental impact and activities of community-led businesses. If you are, or think you might be, a community business, please follow the link for more information and to complete the survey. This should take no longer than 25 minutes. https://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p556611249606.aspx?P=3
5. Other Updates
A report by the Centre for Ageing Better offers examples of good practice and recommendations for organisations that deliver services to users and help digitally excluded people with skills training: COVID-19 and the digital divide: Supporting digital inclusion and skills during the pandemic and beyond | Centre for Ageing Better (ageing-better.org.uk)
The Rediscover Summer campaign will be based around a central page on GOV.UK, with dedicated ‘Shorthand Social’ pages that gather details on summer activities for children and young people across across the six main themes from government and partners: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aUn4yb8Kg4yxHoUJoHBXhof7Ijc9HJ5d/view?usp=sharing
Funding Opportunity
£100,000 donation for Charities working to support vulnerable people and communities impacted by COVID-19
As the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt, Barclays will be making a further 50 donations of £100,000 each to UK charities working to support vulnerable people and communities impacted by COVID-19, and to alleviate the associated social and economic hardship caused by the crisis. UK charities, with an annual income of at least £1m, are invited to apply to receive a donation of £100,000 to meet the needs of our communities as they emerge from the pandemic, including:
- help for people experiencing physical and mental health issues;
- financial assistance for people facing financial hardship;
- support for ethnically diverse communities disproportionately impacted by the crisis; and
- enhancing digital accessibility.
Applications close at 6pm on Friday 6 August, 2021. Find out more and apply here.
Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network 