19th MARCH 2007

COMMUNITY NETWORK FOR MANCHESTER

EMAIL BULLETIN – 19th March 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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

1.0 Network News

1.1 Quarter Report Due

To enable VAM to finalise Network funding for 2007, your quarter reports
must be returned by Friday 30th March 2007. Any underspend should be
returned, cheques should be made payable to VAM grants.

Electronic copies of the forms are available by email from Michelle
mailto:michelle@vamanchester.org.uk

1.2 CN4M Strategy Group Meeting
The next CN4M Strategy Group meeting will take place on Tuesday 3rd April at
the Green Fish Resource Centre. The meeting will be from 6pm - 8pm with
refreshments available at 5:30pm.
The papers for the meeting will be available on the website soon. For more
information about the meeting please contact CN4M on 0161 234 2916.

2.0 Training

2.1 Delivering environmental sustainable development taster sessions :
exploring local policies and strategies
Wednesday 28th March 2007, The Mechanics Centre Ltd., 103 Princess street,
Manchester M1 6DD
This course guides participants to deliver our strategic and policy focused
Taster Packs 5 and 6 for delivery at levels 2 and 3. You can download these
taster packs from our website -
5. Community Development and Environmental Action
6. Strategies and Policies to support Environmental Action
For more information mailto:admin@fcdl.org.uk or call on 0114 273 9391.
Our current programme of free training courses runs until the end of March.
It aims to equip community development workers, activists and trainers with
the confidence and knowledge needed to raise environmental issues with
communities and support them to decide what actions they want to take. For
full details of the Every Action Courses training programme, please see
www.fcdl.org.uk/projects/defra/documents/EAC_courses.htm

3.0 Events

3.1 ESF Regional Framework 2007-13 - Consultation Events
A regional consultation event was held in December 2006 to ensure that all
partner organisations were able to respond to the national ESF Operational
Programme and put forward their views on the development of the Regional
Framework.
The next stage in the consultation process is a series of sub-regional
events which will consider the draft Regional Framework document in detail.
The details of the Manchester event is as follows:
29th March at 10am at the Science & Industry Museum, Manchester Lunch will
be available at 1.00 pm for all events .
For more information contact Lesley Warburton on Tel: 0161 952 4033

3.2 Launch of Independent Living Guide

The Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People invite you to the launch
of our Independent Living Guide. The aim, is to provide disabled people in
the region with a directory of contacts and useful information around
Independent Living.

The event is to be held on Monday 19th March from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at: GMCVO,
St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North Manchester, M12 6FZ.

The guide focuses on the 7 needs of independent living which are:-
• Information
• Peer Support
• Housing
• Personal Assistance
• Equipment
• Accessible Environments
• Transport

Come along and find out all about GMCDP and what we do. You can have a tea
or coffee and chat to our team before taking your FREE Independent living
guide. If you are thinking of employing your own Personal Assistant, or
already do so, Manchester Direct Payments will be providing a short
presentation on the scheme.

Turn up on the day but we would encourage you to book in advance so that we
can ensure that your access needs are met. Just call Elliott to find out
more or to book your place on: 0161 273 5137 or mailto:info@gmcdp.com

3.3 Deciding Together - Planning a Local Involvement Network for Manchester

This event will be taking place at the City of Manchester Stadium on Monday
19th March from 11am - 3:30pm.

Manchester has been selected as a site to test out the new Government
proposals for patient and public involvement in health and social care,
replacing the current Patient Forums. These are called Local Involvement
Networks (LINks).

The event is an opportunity to help shape the Manchester LINk. For further
details call 0845 120 7111 or mailto:helpdesk@cppih.org

3.4 Greater Manchester Neurological Alliance Meetings.

GMNA organise neuro support meetings. If you have a neurological condition
or injury or care for someone who has, get in touch with The Neurocare
Centre, 554 Eccles New Road, Salford, M5 5AP or call 0161 707 2129 or
mailto:gmneuro@tiscali.co.uk

Next meeting: Thursday 22nd March 2007 4-6pm Ashworth Room, Bury Parish
Church Hall
Friday 23rd March 2007 1am - 2pm The Neurocare Centre, 554 Eccles New
Road.

3.5 Shape the Future of South Manchester

You are invited to shape the future of South Manchester... CN4M is running
two events in South Manchester to inform the new Strategic Regeneration
Framework that is being developed for the area. For further information on
the Framework see www.mymanchester.net/srfconsult.

The events will take place on:
- 21st March, 4-6pm, at Fallowfield Library, Platt Lane, for the South
Central Community Network
- 22nd March, 1-3pm, at Cafe Isis, 910 Stockport Road, Levenshulme.

Good food will be available at all events.

For Fallowfield/ Whalley Range contact: Lucy Thomson,
mailto:Lucy@SouthCentralCommunity.Net, 0161 232 1919
For Levenshulme contact: Nancy Brown, mailto:nancy@allnet.org.uk

3.6 District Based Voluntary Sector Network Meetings
We are planning to hold voluntary sector network meetings on a regular basis
within districts, so that the sector has a place in which to exchange
information and discuss policy and practice issues relevant to the district.
In some areas there are already suitable networks in place, and in others we
will be establishing networks for the first time.
We intend to hold a series of meetings in districts in late March to inform
you about where district commissioning is up to, and discuss how the
networks will operate and who will sit on the panel. Communication
mechanisms will be a particularly important aspect for the networks.
The meetings will be held as follows:
Wythenshawe Tues 27th March 10.00am - 12.00pm Family Action Benchill, 59
Gladeside Road, Wythenshawe
South Thurs 29th March 1.30pm - 3.30pm BMAG, 345 Burnage Lane, Burnage
Central West Friday 30th March 10am - 12.00pm Kathe Locke Centre, 123 Moss
Lane East, Hulme
Central East Tuesday 27th March 1.30pm - 3.30pm Northmoor Community Centre,
95-97 Northmoor Road, Longsight
North East Thursday 29th March 10am - 12.00pm The Grange, Pilgrim Drive,
Beswick
North West Friday 30th March 1.30pm - 3.30pm Woodville Resource Centre,
Shirley Road, Cheetham Hill
Please contact Ruth on mailto:ruth@macc.org.uk or 0161 834 9823 if you plan
to attend any of these meetings.

4.0 Information

4.1 Office to Let

The office (144 square feet) is located in the Northern Quarter. Rates of
£75 per week per person (negotiable) are fully inclusive (except phone).
Contact Jane or Lee for more information on 0161 832 4488.

4.2 District Based Voluntary Sector Issues
There have been two developments in the moves towards commissioning of
children, young people and family services at a district level - voluntary
sector representation on District Boards and voluntary sector network
meetings at a district level.
District Panel Voluntary Sector Representatives
The plans for moving commissioning to the districts are continuously
developing, although still in a transitional phase. There will be a
multi-agency District Panel in each district and during this transitional
phase, the intention is to have two voluntary sector representatives per
district. This is to ensure that voluntary sector knowledge and expertise
informs the commissioning process and the development of the Panels
throughout.
We would like to invite expressions of interest from people who wish to
apply to be voluntary sector representatives. It is anticipated that the
role will initially last for one year and take 2 days per month to fulfil.
In recognition of the commitment required, a fee of about £150 per day will
be paid. In addition, there may be some training days required, which will
also be remunerated. At this stage we do not know how many people will be
interested in the roles, however we do expect to have a district based
process to ensure that representatives are confirmed by the sector into that
role.
We recognise that some organisations work either citywide or across more
than one district. We do not yet have details of what will happen at a
citywide level, so would be grateful if you could indicate which district
would be most appropriate for you to work within.
If you are interested in becoming a representative, please contact Ruth
Craven at MACC mailto:ruth@macc.org.uk or 0161 834 9823.

4.3 Digital Strategy for Manchester

Digital Strategy for the Manchester City-Region is now out for consultation.
You can download it from the MDDA website
http://www.manchesterdda.com/digitalchallenge/168/ and the ONE-Manchester
Blog http://www.manchesterdda.com/onemanchester/ comments and input are
needed by March 31st.

5.0 Jobs

5.1 Capacitybuilders Vacancy Regional Grants Co-ordinator (full time)
Location: West Midlands/ North West Salary: £32 to £38k

Responsible for co-ordinating, planning and supporting Capacitybuilders'
regional relationships with the Voluntary and Community Sector, covering an
area consisting of the West Midlands and North West.

This role is for a minimum of one year's contract or secondment to cover for
Maternity leave, with potential for a longer contract in 2008.

Capacitybuilders are managing the ChangeUp programme of £70m in the next 2
years and your purpose will be to support the achievement of the objectives
of this organisation. You will use local knowledge and networks to identify
regional needs, support Grant Officers in making recommendations and helping
us to support the best projects in the region.

You will be able to demonstrate experience and success in developing and
managing multiple and diverse relationships in the Voluntary and / or
Community sector or Government Grants and will be capable of working
independently within a corporate context.

The closing date for applications is 20th march 2007. A full job / person
spec is available on request.

For more information please contact Rob Bailey, Recruitment Officer,
Capacitybuilders, 77 Paradise Circus, Birmingham, B1 2DT. Tel : 0121 237
5115 mailto:rob.bailey@capacitybuilders.org.uk


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.