There is still time to take part in the THCVS #StateOfTheSectorSurvey. We need your help to gather data to understand the pressures across the VCS in Tower Hamlets. The purpose of the survey is to:  

• Understand the challenges and current issues in the sector
• Address the situation by advocating to statutory partners and funders
• Enable THCVS to respond with appropriate support

Results of the survey will be published on the THCVS website and in our news bulletin so that it can be used to advocate to strengthen the position of the sector. 
 
The survey is anonymous however you may enter the name of your organisation and email address if you want to be entered in our prize draw of three x £50.00 prizes for your organisation. If you would like to speak to someone about the survey please email jane.bell@thcvs.org.uk. Deadline 5 July

Tuesday 4 July / Strictly Ballroom (PG) "A maverick dancer risks his career by performing an unusual routine and sets out to succeed with a new partner" / doors open @ 6.00pm, film starts @6.30pm

Tuesday 18 July / The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (15+)
'Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret' / doors open @ 6.00pm, film starts @6.30pm

Light refreshments provided. To book your place, please contact Ricky on registerricky.sian@bbbc.org.uk or call  07507556908

Wednesday 5 July 10.00am to 4.00pm / Mile End Stadium

Disability sports day will be filled with activities and all participants will have the opportunity to try out different sports like cricket, football, long-jump, relay and win awards! Please register your interest today by emailing subhiksha.manoj@apasen.org.uk with the following information: Number of service users joining on the day (including their carers if needed and food allergies you might have.

The Equalities Hub is key to the new direction for the Council’s equalities provision, providing a central strategic focus, responding to the community’s needs and issues. The Hub will be vital to bringing about a more coordinated approach to equalities in the borough. If you want to find out more on how to get involved or if you have information you would like to share with the networks please get in touch.

Sun’s out, fun’s out! Join in for the Summer of Wellbeing 2023!
From June to September, Well One is partnering with local health and community organisations in Tower Hamlets to bring you eight free, family-friendly festivals.
Enjoy music, stalls, delicious food, wellbeing activities, health advisors, workshops, face painting, sports, games, and more! Everyone is welcome to attend. Don't miss this chance to have fun while taking care of your wellbeing. #SummerOfWellbeing

Workshop 1: Monday 3 July @ 11.00am

Should there be more Black, Asian and minority-ethnic people in senior leadership roles in the borough? LBTH THINKS so – and it is calling on residents to take part in a project which aims to encourage more people from those communities to feel those kinds of roles are for them - and to apply. Ahead of the launch of the new “I Can Be” project in September, the council wants to find out more how residents would like to be communicated with and which channels work best for different groups.

The council is holding four workshops over the summer to give residents a chance to take part and give their views. The first one taking place today at 11am. This workshop will be held online. Click here to join the meeting.

Wednesday 19 July / 9.30am to 4.15pm / Conference Centre at Coin Street 108 Stamford Street London SE1 9NH

This community conversation event is intended to support sustained collaborative working between the London health system and London communities and will be relevant for:

• Community organisations supporting Londoners impacted by health inequality
• A broad range of health system colleagues focussing on community engagement and/or service planning and delivery

The event is also intended to provide an opportunity to learn more about this funding opportunity and the objectives of the project, explore existing and potential community led approaches to mitigating health inequality, and enable organisations considering applying to discuss their ideas with funders and grant managers, Rocket Science.

In north east London, organisations working across health and care, including local government; the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; the NHS and wider partners are working together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services.

The Big Conversation is about listening to you, the people in our communities, and understanding your views about health, care and wellbeing in north east London. It will help to focus on what matters to you and to work with you to make improvements. You can have your say online by completing the survey or attend an event in your local area. To find out more information please email nelondonicb.nelcommunications@nhs.net.

Please help LBTH shape a new campaign from Tower Hamlets, Hackney and City of London on misogyny and sexual harassment in the night time economy.

The campaign will be directed at men aged 18-30 using role models to challenge misogynistic behaviour, male ‘entitlement’ and negative views about women which have enabled unsafe spaces for women. The campaign will try to urge men to challenge their own/others behaviour using role models who they identify with.

Wednesday 5 July / 2.00 to 4.00pm / Online via Zoom

In this session you will gain an understanding of problem gambling issues specific to women, including domestic abuse, learn about the impacts and risks of problem gambling with link to domestic violence and gain vital knowledge about screening tools and referral pathways for support and treatment. To book your place please email tolu.davis@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Thursday 13 July / 2.00 to 4.00pm / Online

The Training Hub is delighted to introduce new dates for the two-hour introductory course on welcoming asylum seekers. They are keen to invite local health and care teams to enhance awareness and understanding of the challenges encountered by asylum seekers and refugees. With new dispersal accommodations being opened all around London, this training will equip staff with the necessary tools and knowledge to support the integration of asylum seekers into the community. The training will be delivered in collaboration with REAP (Refugees in Effective and Active Partnership).

Tuesday August 8, 15 & 22 / 11.00am to 4.00pm

A free interactive online workshop showing organisations delivering programmes in the voluntary sector how to collect and use impact data to support fundraising bids, service commissioning and business development. Topics covered include:

• What funders ask about your impact, and how you measure it
• Understanding different terms used in evaluation
• Understanding different types of evaluation data and what they do
• The different types of evaluation
• How to collect and report impact data

Coaching Session: Wednesday 9 August / 10.30am to 12.30pm

Do you look after a family member or friend? Want something to change? Sign up to receive FREE coaching sessions or join a coaching workshop to learn alongside other unpaid carers. Working with other unpaid carrers, you will learn tools and strategies to help you and make a plan to take away with you.

Please contact 07946 308 406 / 07912 422974 / hello@coachingforunpaidcarers.org.uk to find out more or click here for the referral form.

Session one: Wednesday 9 August / 10.00am to 1.00pm

Session two: Wednesday 16 August / 10.00am to 1.00pm

Join this online course led by identity-based violence prevention charity, Protection Approaches. The expert-led session will see participants guided through a series of interactive activities and discussions to explore how they can contribute to building strong, inclusive, connected, and equitable communities. Please note, you have to attend both sessions.

As part of the Early Help and Children and Families Service, the Parenting and Adult
Education (PAE) team coordinate courses, programmes and employment pathways for families with children from birth – 19 years old and up to 25 years for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The directory has details on all upcoming programmes and courses set to be delivered at your local Children and Family Centre. For information, email PAE@towerhamlets.gov.uk or complete the online enquiry application form here.

Exhibition open until Saturday 2 September

This exhibition documents the extreme poverty in East London over the last 100 years. It reveals shocking comparisons with today’s conditions of housing precarity, extortionate rents and homelessness. The exhibition also features new work by the artist Anthony Luvera, which addresses the rise of economic segregation in recent housing developments across Tower Hamlets, a phenomenon commonly known as ‘poor doors’

Photo: ©Topical Press Agency/Getty Images/Hulton Archive. New Houses. A slum clearance operation in Poplar, East London, 19th April 1951

Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 July / @9am / Mile End Stadium

As part of the NHS75 celebration, local health and care teams are encouraged to join the walk, jog, run, volunteer or simply come and watch – it’s up to you! The parkruns take place every Saturday morning across the country for friendly enjoyable 5k events, 2k Junior parkruns and more. No booking required, just run up! #NHS75parkrun #NHS75

Wednesday 12 July / 2.00 to 4.30pm / Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, E1 6LS

The East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) invite you to the East London Community Fayre - a celebration of 75 years of the NHS! The Community Fayre is a fantastic opportunity for VCSE organisations to come together, network, and celebrate the incredible work of the NHS over the past 75 years. The event is free to attend for all members of the public

Wednesday 19 July / 6.30pm to 8.30pm / Streets of Growth 6 Middlesex Street, E1 7EX

Deliverance records local voices of riders and restaurants. In 2018 riders went on strike and this film covers that story. It hinges between the conditions then and now and talks to riders today about the issues they face. What, if anything, can be seen as a legacy of strike gains? 

Thursday 20 July / 1.00 to 4.00pm / Mile End Hospital Gardens Bancroft Road, E1 4DG

After a 4 year hiatus, it's time to reconnect and reunite across Tower Hamlets Together, our health and care partnership! Come along to meet people working across Tower Hamlets, learn about each other's programmes and services, and enjoy refreshments, lunch, giveaways, wellbeing activities, games in the Mile End Hospital Gardens and a celebration of the 75th birthday of the NHS!

Saturday 22 July / 5.00pm to 8.00pm / The Create Place, 29 Old Ford Road, E2 9PJ

The Knit Club is a workshop by Craft Forward structured like a relaxed and welcoming knitting group, open to beginners and experienced knitters to come together, connect, learn more about the craft and its radical history. Knitters will be producing knitted squares to go towards the 'Blankets for London', a seasonal project where blankets are assembled to donate to homeless individuals in London through partner charities.

Registration: Wednesday 12 of July (midday), to Wednesday 19 July (midday) 

Deadline: Monday 11 September @5pm

The programme is offering unrestricted grants of up to £30,000 in autumn 2023 to help small charities and social enterprises develop, grow or become more sustainable. Successful applicants will receive:

• A grant of up to £30,000 of unrestricted funding spread over 1 to 3 years
• Access to free, highly skilled support provided by experienced professionals
• Access to our programme of skills training workshops, covering areas such as fundraising, communications, finance, strategy and more
• A fully funded place on an impact measurement course
  

Deadline: Friday 14 July @5pm

Workshop: Wednesday 5 July / 5.30 to 7.00pm / Register Here

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has launched phase two of the GLA Voter ID Awareness Campaign Grants, to raise awareness in London of the equality implications of the Voting System Changes brought in by the Election Act (2022), namely the impact on under-registered and under-represented Londoners of the introduction of photo Voter ID and the changes to postal and proxy voting.

There is a grant pot of £556,900 to support civil society organisations deliver this work. You can apply for grants between £25,000 - £50,000. A maximum of one project per applicant organisation may be submitted. #NoVoteNoVoice

Deadline: Sunday 16 July

The Inspiring Communities Fund will offer grants of between £100 - £5000 to THH residents, Tenants and Residents Association and other estate based groups with great ideas to improve where they live either through social activities or small environmental projects. Anyone who is a THH resident can apply. Individuals will need to partner with another organisation to administer the funds. Tenant and Residents’ Associations or community groups that provide services to our residents can also apply.

Monday 17 July 2023 @ 2pm

Come along to this informal session to find out how your voluntary group, CIC, social enterprise, church, school, sports club or charity can use the free easyfundraising platform to benefit from unrestricted funding.

Becky from easyfundraising will show you how your volunteers, staff and supporters can use the easyfundraising platform to raise donations for free for your organisation when they shop with leading retailers. What to expect:

• A live demonstration of how the website works
• Instructions on how to get your organisation set up
• Tips on how to raise as much as possible
• A Q&A session with Becky

If you would like to set up your free easyfundraising page ahead of this session, you can do that here: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/tower-hamlets. For more information, contact becky@easyfundraising.org.uk

Deadline: Monday 17 July

The Old Ford Community Panel is a panel of local residents funded and supported by Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group. The Panel are excited to launch the 2023 programme to help provide residents of Tower Hamlets and Havering more opportunities to make a difference in the local community. Residents can apply for any of the following Grant strands:

• Micro Grants – (up to £1,000)
• Resident Led Ideas – (up to £5,000)
• Grants to organisations – (up to £5,000)

Residents can email Elma.Arifagic@clarionhg.com for an application form or call 20 3840 0769 for an informal chat.  

Deadline Monday 7 August

NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North Thames has opened 3 new funded opportunities: research internships, career development fellowships and springboard grants.

Anyone working in or with mental health services across the North Thames region can apply, including staff from NHS Trusts, local government, public health, social care or community care organisations, charities and the voluntary sector. They would particularly like to see applications from staff who are currently under-represented in research, including those working in East London and Essex, people from minoritised backgrounds, and those working in areas of mental health and social care with limited opportunities to engage in research. 

Deadline: Friday 11 August

Microgrants are available at the value of £2,000 or £5,000 to fund community initiatives that scope, develop and/or deliver sustainable and community-led methods of building partnership between communities and health services, towards building our shared resilience, mitigating health inequality, and improving access to health services. If you have any questions, or to sign up for updates about the microgrants programme, please email ella.johnson16@nhs.net

Deadline Tuesday 15 August

The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme wishes to commission research on interventions aimed at reducing loneliness. Although social isolation and loneliness often come together, they are conceptually and empirically distinct from each other. This call is primarily interested in intervention aimed at reducing loneliness. The PHR programme is predominantly interested in interventions that are likely to have impact on populations at scale, addressing health inequalities and the underlying wider determinants of health

Deadline: Friday 25 August

The Carbon Reduction Community Grants Programme is open to any Community Group, Community Interest Company and Charity in Tower Hamlets. The grants help support carbon reductions through building retrofit projects or community engagement activities. The £460,000 fund is part of a larger £700,000 package which responds to the climate emergency locally by funding carbon reduction projects for 36 local organisations.

Do you have an idea for a community project in your local area that you want to raise money for? Spacehive, a community fundraising platform helps communities raise funds to improve their local areas: everything from spruced up playgrounds and new street markets, to city farms and learning hubs. Together with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Spacehive can help you crowdfund the money you need to bring your idea to life. You could get as much as £10,000 towards your fundraising total. 

Does your charity support nature, connecting your community with the great outdoors, or aim to do a spot of tree planting? If so Aviva Community fund have some +Extra funding to help get your Crowdfunder started!

Crowdfunder has partnered with Aviva, WWF, and RSPB to launch the Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund, and they’ll give you £2 for every £1 you raise, to help your project reach its fundraising target quicker.

Rolling deadline until 30 September

Wakefield Tetley Trust will offer grants from £500 to £6,000 for local initiatives that support their fund priorities to support marginalised communities and individuals by:

• Supporting urgent work 
• Supporting core activities and services
• Making a practical difference  

Grants of £6,000 will be exceptional; most awards will average £3,000. Please get in touch with them first if you intend to apply for the maximum amount. Organisations with an annual turnover under £600,000 and a track record of delivery are eligible to apply. Deadline for applications are open on a rolling basis, but the round will close when funds are allocated and no later than 30 September.

Deadline Tuesday 31 October 2023

Magic Little Grants is open for applications for £500 grants. It has simple 20-minute application process and an outcome within six weeks. Organisations must be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250k. Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations working with children and young people can apply for Project Costs grants for up to £15k from BBC Children in Need. No deadline.

The National Databank provides free mobile data, texts and calls to people in need via Good Things Foundation’s network of local community partners. Think of it like a ‘food bank’ but for internet connectivity data. Community organisations can apply to access the databank, enabling them to provide data to people in their communities who need it.

Do you run a community group or any small organisation that supports One Housing or Riverside residents? One Housing have made £250,000 available in 2022/23 through their new Community Fund to help fund projects that promote opportunities and wellbeing and tackle poverty in our communities. If you’ve got an idea that could make a difference, they want to hear from you.

This funding aims to help communities across the UK to address climate change.

National Lottery Community Fund are looking for projects that focus on the link between nature and climate. They want to fund projects that use nature to encourage more community-led climate action. The NLCF expect these projects to bring other important social and economic benefits. Like the creation of strong, resilient and healthy communities or the development of ‘green’ skills and jobs.

Grants of between £300,000 and £500,000 are available, with grants of £50,000 to £150,000 over 12 to 18 months also available to constituted groups or clubs, voluntary or community organisations, registered charities, CIOs, SCIOs, CICs and more. The deadline for applications is ongoing.

Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available for charities, voluntary groups, schools, and local authorities in England to carry out projects that will improve their local community. The aim of the grants programme is to support communities to thrive by funding projects that build strong relationships in and across communities. The deadline for applications is ongoing.

Do you require support with putting together or reviewing funding applications? The East London Business Alliance (ELBA) is a charity brokering opportunities to connect the corporate and community sectors. They are currently offering volunteer support to organisations who need help with writing and reviewing grant funding applications.

Employee volunteers from across ELBA's member companies are able to assist you with writing the application and/or reviewing a completed application. In some cases, they may be able to write a grant funding application on your behalf.

Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions, please contact Orlaith: orlaith.mcguinness@elba-1.org.uk