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News from The Chamber and its Partners

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New Princess Alexandra Hospital
Job Vacancies

vHelp
HIV Testing Week
DWP Opening Hours
Lockdown Support Fund
Funding
AGM Info
Energy Workshops
Youth Sector
Covid-19 Guidance
BAME Support Group

New Princess Alexandra Hospital
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Have you signed up to PAH’s new hospital email newsletter? Be the first to find out all the latest news on your new Princess Alexandra Hospital
 
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Job Vacancies
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Integration Support Services are recruiting to the post of CEO/Operations Manager.  More info available on the link below.
More Info
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Mind in West Essex are looking to recruit a part time Volunteering Administrator.
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vHelp
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Volunteering payment start-up vHelp is adding a new feature to its app that will allow charities to claim Gift Aid on expenses claims donated back by volunteers.
 
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HIV Testing Week
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Monday 1st February to Sunday 7th February is National HIV Testing Week, a great opportunity to raise awareness and help to stop the transmission of HIV. Testing has never been easier and you can now order a free finger prick test kit to complete at home that arrives in a discrete package. Testing is the only way to know your status, and HIV is now a manageable condition.
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DWP Opening Hours
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From Monday 18 January, DWP are temporarily reducing jobcentre opening hours to 10am to 2pm daily for those customers who cannot access our services in any other way. The rest of the time customers will be served online or on the phone. Staff will be working the usual core hours (locally 9-5pm)
 
Harlow UC email address if needed for anyone is
  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Lockdown Support Fund
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Essex County Council are committed to continue supporting communities most in need and that have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and following on from the summer, half term and Christmas fund they are providing additional funding so that foodbanks, food pantries, community organisations and voluntary groups can provide food support through the current lockdown.
 
This funding is for the provision of food for families with children and individuals from across Essex County Council local authority areas who are most in need and adversely impacted by covid-19.  Applications will be accepted for up to £2000.  The application will open on Thursday 14th January  at noon and remain open until 12noon on Friday 5th February 2021.
 
The funding will be managed by  Essex Association of Local Councils and you will find the application and further guidance on their website.
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Funding
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Grassroots children’s/ youth clubs in Essex have been closed due to the pandemic, and many are hoping to re-open soon. Support is available to help re-mobilise these clubs.
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The Local Connections Fund is a new £4 million fund to help charities and community groups in England that are working to reduce loneliness by helping them build connections across their communities.
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AGM Info
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Coronavirus continues to have a major impact on charity events and trustees need to consider how and if they can hold meetings. Charitable companies and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) can hold AGMs and other members’ meetings online - this has been made possible by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 and applies until 30 March 2021.For other types of meetings, or for any other type of charity, trustees need to check if their charity’s governing document allows them to hold meetings online or by telephone. Where it does not, an alternative may be to amend it to allow meetings to be held in this way.

We recognise that for some charities virtual meetings are not a viable solution, nor are socially distanced face-to-face meetings. In such instances trustees may consider they have no choice but to cancel or postpone their AGMs and other critical meetings.

If you do consider such a decision is necessary, you should follow any rules in your charity’s governing document that allow for postponement,

Energy Workshops
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Could you be paying less for your heating? You could benefit from a free online workshop. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
Youth Sector
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According to the recent lockdown restrictions announced the youth sector can remain partially active within strict adherence to National Youth Agency's guidance for the RED readiness level.
 
This paper outlines what is permitted across the youth sector under Red Readiness level.
 
However they recommend that you read their version 4.2 guidance in full as this fact sheet works in tandem with that. You can read both here.

 
Covid-19 Guidance
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Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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BAME Support Group
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Mind in West Essex are creating an online BAME Support Group open to any member of an ethnic minority residing in West Essex, interested in a safe space to discuss matters relating to mental health including anxiety, isolation and racism. The support group will be held via Zoom on a Monday lunchtime.
Any interested individuals should please email 
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for more information and joining details. Participants are invited to attend any of the sessions – it does not have to be a weekly commitment. The list of topics covered in each session is below:
 
Monday 1st February 12.30pm – 1.30pm Anxiety
Monday 8th February 12.30pm – 1.30pm Depression
Monday 15th February 12.30pm – 1.30pm Environment
Monday 22nd February 12.30pm – 1.30pm Isolation
Monday 1st March 12.30pm – 1.30pm Racism
Monday 8th March 12.30pm – 1.30pm Co-produced with support group participants
 
The support group will be facilitated by Mind in West Essex staff from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences in mental health and aims to open up further dialogue with members of our community who are often under-represented when it comes to accessing mental health services.