The Tower Hamlets small grants are open again for applications. Please find more details here.

We know that quite a high number of applications were rejected in the first round, and we would like to understand why that is and work with the council to improve the process so that an increased number of small voluntary & community groups can benefit from the small grants going forward.

Whether you were successful or unsuccessful in applying for the Mayors Community Grants or Small Grants programmes please fill out our survey here.

Wednesday 26 June / 1.30 to 3.30pm / on Zoom

Tower Hamlets is host to a significant number of refugees and asylum seekers from many countries, including Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan. They can make great volunteers, often being highly motivated to gain workplace experience, learn new skills and make connections within the local community. They can bring unique skills, experience and perspectives to your organisation, and often have a lot of time to spare. But what are the legal issues relevant to involving this group? Are they allowed to volunteer? What are the issues in terms of getting criminal record checks? And what should organisations be thinking about in terms of good practice when recruiting, welcoming and supporting this group to volunteer?

In this practical peer learning session we will hear from Teya Cooper, Support Coordinator at Praxis, an award-winning human rights charity based in Tower Hamlets, that provides advice, support, and campaigns so that migrants and refugees in the UK can live with safety, dignity and respect. You will also discuss concerns and issues and share good practice with other local Volunteer Managers in a safe and confidential environment.

This session is suitable for experienced Volunteer Managers as well as those who are new to managing volunteers. Priority will be given to voluntary sector organisations with a base/office in Tower Hamlets, or that have services aimed at Tower Hamlets residents.

Click here to find out more and book.

North East London Training Hub in collaboration with North East London Health and Care Partnership are pleased to offer new Suicide Prevention training dates for 2024/25. Training open to all staff, students and carers in North East London.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): Multiple dates available: A few funded places remain for this GOLD standard World Health Organisation endorsed Suicide Prevention course. ASIST is intensive 2 day training for care-givers and key community members. Click here to find out more and register.

Suicide First Aid Lite (virtually delivered 4hr workshop) / Multiple dates available: SFA Lite is comprised of 4 hours, interactive, small group workshop accredited by City & Guilds. The programme teaches the skills needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and to pass the person onto a suicide first aider. Click here to find out more and register.

The ASK Workshop: Assessing for Suicide in Kids (face to face) / Multiple dates available: This one day workshop is targeted at staff working with and caring for children age 5 to 15 years of age. Click here to find out more and register

safeTALK - Suicide Prevention awareness training (face to face) / Multiple dates available: safeTALK is a half-day training in suicide alertness. It helps participants recognise a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. Click here to find out more and register.

Demystifying Self-Harm (Virtually delivered 3 hours) / Multiple dates available: This workshop will allow the space for participants to have open conversations about self-harm, including unpacking our own feelings and attitudes around self-harm (including thinking about our own faith, beliefs, life experience) and acknowledge them so that we are informed of how they may present and impact the support we provide. Click here to find out more and register.

For more information and other mental health and suicide prevention training, please visit www.nelsuicidepreventiontraining.co.uk.  Please promote across your organisations and networks. 

Healthwatch Tower Hamlets are distributing the Stakeholder Perception Survey once again. Please share your thoughts to help Healthwatch know what they’re doing well and how they can be more effective for local residents. It will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

Please note that this survey is specifically intended for Health Watch Tower Hamlets stakeholder partners and not for the general public. Click here to complete the survey by Wednesday 3 July 2024.

The voices of people who draw on care and support are often missing from conferences and events. Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) are working with Social Care Future to change this, and they would like your help.

Ensuring that the voices of people who draw on care and support are present at events is crucial in shaping policies and practices that reflect people's wishes and aspirations, so that everyone can have the care and support they need to be able to live their life their way. The aim of this project is to make it easier for event organisers so that more people’s voices are heard at conferences and events.

If you have lots of experience of contributing to events or conferences you can complete a short survey to share your experience and ideas. Please email Angela Catley for the survey at angelacatleywork@outlook.com.

If you know of any great tools, resources, or guidance which event or organisers or contributors might benefit from using or any great event venues, please email Angela.
If you know of , please email them to Angela. 

Click here to find out more about TLAP.

Tower Hamlets Public Health team are working with partners to help understand young people's aged 13-19 years old (up to 24 if SEND) on the RSE education currently being offered in Tower Hamlets. They have a survey which they would like to use to get the views of young people to help inform next steps.

Click here to take the survey by 25 July 2024.

You are invited to participate in a short survey (approximately 10 minutes) to share your experiences and reflections on peer and community research (P&C research) in Tower Hamlets. Whether you are a peer/community researcher or part of an organisation such as the local authority or a community organisation, your input is crucial.

The survey aims to understand current P&C research activity in Tower Hamlets and will help co-produce a model for the Tower Hamlets Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC). More information about the HDRC can be found here.

As a thank you, you will be entered into a prize draw for a £50 shopping voucher.  Please share this survey invitation with other P&C researchers and organisations involved in P&C research.

Click here to take the survey.

Saturday 22 June / 12.00 to 4.00pm / Mile End Park / Click here for map. 

Come and join SOS, a grass roots community group and meet locals who care about making our borough cleaner, healthier & safer. There will be lots of food. If possible bring a dish and let them know you are coming by registering here.

For the last two years, SOSS have campaigned to keep the safer cycling and walking routes in Bethnal Green. They would like to extend their campaign to encompass all of
Tower Hamlets and work collaboratively across the borough to create.

Wednesday 3 July / 2.00 to 6.00pm / Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Grocers Wings 1,2,3, 160 Whitechapel Rd, E1 1BJ

Join the Tower Hamlets Together - Health Care Careers and Jobs Fair 2024, an exciting event focused on health care careers. Whether you're a student exploring options or a professional looking for new opportunities, this fair is the perfect place to connect with potential employers and learn about different career paths in the health care industry. Don't miss this chance to network, attend informational sessions, and discover your next career move. See you there!

Click here to register.

Thursday 18 July / 1.00 to 4.00pm / Mile End Hospital, Garden Area, E1 4DG

Back again for another year, join Tower Hamlets Together in a summer afternoon connecting and learning with our wonderful teams and services across our Tower Hamlets health and care partnership!

Meet people working across Tower Hamlets, learn about each other's programmes and services, and enjoy refreshments, lunch, giveaways, wellbeing activities, and games in the Mile End Hospital Gardens. Open to all staff working in health & care setting in Tower Hamlets. Please share widely. Limited places so register early!

Click here to register.

What is the Mayor’s Small Grants Programme? The Council’s has a vision to support and invest in a thriving and diverse voluntary and community sector to enable it to improve the lives of residents. To support this vision the Council launched the Mayor’s Small Grants Programme on Monday 11th December 2023.

The programme will provide £800,000 of annual grant funding between November 2023 – March 2027.

The Small Grants Programme is targeted at small sized organisations with a maximum annual income of £150,000, to ensure a wide range of organisations can access Council funding and ensure all sections of the community benefit.

What projects will it fund?

The Mayors’ Small Grants Programme was developed in partnership with residents and partners and consists of 5 themes:

• Mayor’s & Young Mayor’s - Youth Empowerment Fund – Support young people to design, bid and deliver projects for their peers
• Mayor’s Positive Activities for Young People – Support activities during school holidays
• Community events – Support events that brings communities together, celebrate our diversity, national and regional celebrations
• Mayor’s Capacity Building Programme – Support organisational development which strengthens local organisations’ ability to deliver services
• Community chest - Very small grants to support community events and activities

How can organisations apply?

All the information on how to apply is provided here. The council's website includes information on eligibility, how much funding is available, what the funding can be used for, bidding process and assessment process. The outcome of the previous round is also available on the website.

If you have a question or need support, then please can get in touch with the Grants Team by emailing vcs@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Deadline: 28 June 2024

Ocean Regeneration Trust (ORT) manages a small community grants programme. This supports locally led charities and groups to deliver projects in the area. Grants are available for projects being delivered in the Ocean Estate area – please refer to the area map. Priority will be given to projects rooted in the geographical area and led by residents, though if you are on the border or can provide evidence you have been working in the area for a long period ORT will consider your application – you must be able to demonstrate you are actively engaging with residents from the Ocean Estate area.

Grants of between £500 and up to £5,000 are available. Applicants are invited to apply for funding for up to 12 months. Grants can cover any costs relating to your proposed project except full time staff salaries and big equipment purchases. Click here to read the application guidelines. Click here for the application form. 

For more information, please contact: zoe.eccles@oceanregeneration.org.uk

Deadline: 30 June 2024