News

Cornwall's Voluntary and Communtiy Sector Survey - have your say!

Calling all Community Groups, Charities and Voluntary Sector Organisation in Cornwall!

This will change the way that services are offered to you in the county!

Support Providers are eager to hear your views!

Please Click Here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kUKOJ6k2lAvrSXfTaiibRg_3d_3d

And lastly, please pass this on to any other groups that you know to encourage them to fill it in too!

Mid Cornwall Themed Inter-Link Meetings July 2009

Funding workshop – 1st July 2009

Venue--Cuddra WI Hall, St Austell

The first event is on July 1st and will be about putting together successful funding bids. Anna Hoyle from East Cornwall CVS will be talking about how to put together a successful funding bid and the pitfalls to look out for.

Big Lunch – 20th July 2009

Venue -- Chacewater Village Hall

Following on from the National Big Lunch events held on 19th July we will be having a Big Lunch of our own for anybody interested in issues around sustainability, gardening, allotments, transition etc.

Children and Young People -- 28 July 2009

Venue -- The Dracaena Centre, Falmouth

This will be a networking event for those working or volunteering in projects for children and young people.

For more details and if you would be interested in being one of the main speakers or would like to bring along display boards etc please contact Alison Mitchelmore as soon as possible.

Refreshments and a light buffet lunch will be provided.

You will need to book to attend so please contact Alison or complete the following booking form and retun it to Alison.

JIGSAW - How we all fit together

Volunteering Event - Thursday 7th May 2009

On Thursday 7th May the JIGSAW Steering Group organised a half day networking and information event for organisations that operate in the East of the County who work with clients who are furthest away from training, education and employment. The focus of this event was to show how volunteering can be beneficial in encouraging individuals back into employment or training. This event was funded by Working Links and facilitated by Inter-Link Cornwall. The presentations on the day included:

• ‘The V-Factor’ – a presentation about Volunteer Cornwall’s services
• ‘Step by Step’ – an individuals perspective on volunteering and the opportunities to get back to work
• ‘The Helping Hands Mentoring Project’ – an introduction to Pentreath and its Helping Hands Mentoring Project
• ‘Recognising Volunteering’ – Rezolve’s experience of using volunteers
• ‘Volunteering and receiving benefits’ – an explanation of how volunteering can effect an individuals benefits
• ‘V-Involved’ – update on the V-Involved project

As well as presentations there was time for organisations and individuals to network and share information.

32 speakers and delegates attended the event. The feedback from the day was very positive. Click here to view the report from the day.

LINk Cornwall Event

If you are interested in Health and Social Care and want to influence services in Cornwall come along to the LINk Theme Group meeting on Thursday 2nd July, 10:30 - 12:30 at St John's Hall, Penzance. Click here for further information.

Free Debt Advice

Sam Cartlidge is a debt specialist and is running a project in Treneere to help people in the area suffering with debt. Sam also covers Gwavas, Eastern Green and Lescudjack. People living in these areascan access free debt advice for the next 8 months with a possible extension if sucessfull.

For further information contact Sam on 01736 330102 or e-mail

Inter-Link Locality Meetings *Dates for 2009*

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.