News

Your Voice

How to take part in decisions that matter to you

It can sometimes seem as if decisions affecting our lives are made by others in far away places. But there are many ways for citizens to get their voices heard - from the village hall to the Palace of Westminster - from Truro to Brussels.

Take Part Cornwall and Parliamentary Outreach are organising a FREE event to explore how citizens can get more involved in informing and influencing decision makers.

11th February 2010 10:00am - 4:00pm Kingsley Village, Fraddon, TR9 6NA

Contributors will include;

The Speaker of the House Of Commons, Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP
UK Parliamentary Outreach
European Parliamentary Outreach
Cornwall Council
Take Part Cornwall partners
And, vitally, citizens who want to know more about how to take part

Click here to download the event flyer

Places are limited so book early http://takepart.cornwallvsf.org/

LINk in Cornwall Theme Event Cancellation

The LINk in Cornwall Theme Event due to take place in Bude on Thursday 14th January 2010 has been cancelled.

This decision has been taken, after much discussion, based on the forecast for continuing cold and icy conditions.

The event has been rescheduled, in the same place, on Thursday 4th March 2010.

Please come along to the Parkhouse Centre, Bude EX23 8LD – to have your say about health and social care services in Cornwall.

We will be there from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm on Thursday 4th March.

Pop by for 10 minutes or stay for longer – LINk in Cornwall is listening.

Travel expenses can be claimed.

In the meantime, if you have anything that you would like to let LINk in Cornwall know about relating to health and social care, please contact us:

Email: linkincornwall@cornwallrcc.co.uk Website: www.linkincornwall.org.uk

Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine

The 2009 Winter Edition of the Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine is here. Click here to view the magazine (4MB Download).

Deadline for articles to be considered for inclusion in the next Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine is Friday 26th February 2010. Please contact your Inter-Link Officer for further information.

Update on LINk Activity October 2009

Click here to find out about the latest news from LINk

LINK in Cornwall Newsletter - Summer 2009

LINk [Local Involvement Network] in Cornwall has been set up to capture people’s views and experiences about their local health and social care services and works with the people who plan and run these services to recommend changes for the better. We are an independent organisation made up of individuals, community groups and voluntary organisations.

Please click here for the latest LINk in Cornwall Newsletter

Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine

The 2009 Summer Edition of the Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine is here. Click here to view the magazine (1MB Download).

Deadline for articles to be considered for inclusion in the next Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine is Friday 6th November 2009. Please contact your Inter-Link Officer for further information.

Inter-Link Locality Meetings *Dates for 2010*

Networking events happening now!
Meet others groups, organisations and agencies who operate in your area!

Do you often wonder who else is working in your area that perhaps you could establish links with or signpost others too? Do you want to meet with other like-minded groups and organisations? Do you want to find out about the latest funding initiatives, training opportunities or general news or do you have a burning issue that you want to find an answer for?

Throughout the year Inter-Link Cornwall facilitates Inter-Link Locality meetings throughout Cornwall in various geographical areas throughout Cornwall. These informal meeting provide community groups, voluntary organisations and statutory agencies with the opportunity to network with one another, share information and best practice and access up-to-date information.

Find out about others, find out about funding and training opportunities and tell others about your group and services…Informal meetings for Voluntary and Community Groups. Click here to find the dates of the next Inter-Link Locality meeting.

Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine

The 2009 SpringEdition of the Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine is here. Click here to view the magazine (1MB Download).

Deadline for articles to be considered for inclusion in the next Inter-Link Cornwall Magazine 2009 is Thursday 23rd July 2009. Please contact your Inter-Link Officer for further information.

Inter-Link Conference 2009 "Here, Now and the Future"

On Thursday 9th April 2009, Inter-Link Cornwall members from all over the County came together to celebrate the success of the project since the last conference held 3 years ago. Presentations were given about the achievements of Inter-Link since it went Cornwall wide, The Inter-Link Capability Model (ILCM)- a standard for community groups and voluntary organisations to undertake with the support of their local Inter-Link Officer, to demonstrate how capable and how much capacity they have to deliver projects. The Grow-in Project and Cornwall Waste Action gave presentations about their experiences of undertaking ILCM and highlighted the benefits to there group.

Soapbox slots enabled various Inter-Link Cornwall members to inform others about their group or organisation. Strategic presentations were given by Cornwall Infrastructure Partnership, Voluntary Sector Forum and Convergence to enable delegates to find out what is happening and how they can become involved. Rob Andrew of Cornwall Council gave an overview and update about the Community Networks and answered questions from the floor.

Overall, the day was a great success providing members with the opportunity to find out what is happening locally, who they could tap into and work together with, collect information and network.

The evaluations from the day are currently being pulled together into a report and will be used to inform the Inter-Link Cornwall work plan to ensure that members needs are being meet. The final report will be uploaded soon!

Inter-Link Capability Model (ILCM)

The Inter-Link Capability Model (ILCM) is the next step for community and voluntary groups that are already members of networks, forums or Inter-Links, have made use of training courses, but still want to improve.

The ILCM is a new way of working and designed to improve capability and build capacity. The model aims to help members through an increasingly difficult period where funding is becoming harder to access and many more organisations are being encouraged to consider contracts (e.g. from Local Authorities).

The Inter-Link Model is a process for Voluntary and Community Organisations that allows them to demonstrate their capabilities so that they are in better position to bid for funding and/or contracts. For further information contact you local Inter-Link Officer Click here or alternative visit the ILCM website

Inter-Link Cornwall Database

Have you accessed the Inter-Link Cornwall database recently? The Inter-Link Cornwall database is an interactive tool!

Inter-Link Cornwall is continuing to improve the database of members to bring even more information for Voluntary and Community Organisations. Inter-Link Cornwall has recently undertaken the 'Sorry we Missed You' project and identified new members throughout Cornwall. The Inter-Link Cornwall database now has over 4000 members! Remember the Inter-link database is a searchable resource to enable you to find and contact other Voluntary and Community Organisations across Cornwall and discover what they are about. We would encourage our members to log on and check that the details about your organisation are up-to-date and ensure that you have tagged the relevant fields about your interests and what your project/organisation does.

By updating your organisations details it will enable the Inter-Link Cornwall Team to tailor services to meet your needs. Logon today by visiting: www.cornwallinterlink.org.uk and follow the link to the database. *forgotten your 'username' and 'password'? Contact your local Inter-Link Officer who will be able to re-issue this information for you.

Cornwall LINk

Are you a Community Group or Voluntary Organisation who is interested in Health and Social Care Issues in Cornwall? Cornwall LINk provides you with the opportunity to have a say!

From April 2008 Local Involvement Networks (LINks) replaced Patient and Public Involvement Forums in order to strengthen and extend the influence local people have on health and social care services. To read more about Cornwall LINk or to become involved Click here

Convergence

Convergence is the new European economic regeneration programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that runs until 2013. Convergence is investing in activities that will have a long-term impact on the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It will help to build a stronger more diverse economy by supporting businesses and helping people into employment and those in work gain new and up to date skills. This will include work with higher education to promote business friendly research and innovation. For further information, please Click here

Inter-Link Cornwall – Influencing change

Inter-Link Cornwall is part of one of the LAA blocks: Safer and Stronger Communities and is aiming to achieve the Stretch Outcome: To empower people to have a greater voice and influence over local decision making and the delivery of services. Click here to find out more.

Inter-Link Membership Cancellation form

If you have recently received a 'Sorry We Missed You' letter and wish for your details to be removed from the Inter-Link Cornwall database please click here and complete this form and return it to your local Inter-Link Officer.