I've mentioned previously that there's a danger that this blog becomes a series of rants about things I'm angry about. Well not today, at least!
Our State of the Voluntary Sector report shows there are over 3000 voluntary and community groups in Manchester. I don't know them all but I do know a lot of them and one of the great pleasures of my job is that I get to see some of the amazing things happening in groups across Manchester and meet some fantastic people.
Since April 2013, North, Central and South Manchester Clinical Commissioning Groups have taken on responsibility for organising and paying for NHS Mental Health services in Manchester. They have just released their draft commissioning intentions document that describes how they think Mental Health services should look by 2015. You can find out more at their web pagehttp://www.manchester.nhs.uk/commissioning/mental-health-commissioning-… .
The closing date to be part of the preferred providers list for services to Troubled Families has been extended for 2 weeks to 5pm on Fri 2nd August. Applications can be made through The Chest and the name of the opportunity is "Framework Agreement for the Provision of Troubled Families Interventions". Read more here.
The Health Scrutiny Committee meeting is happening on Thursday at 2pm, Committee room 11 in the Town Hall.
It is a public meeting and anyone can attend.
If you want to ask a question you need to ask the Chair, in advance, to do this, please contact Kate Hines on 0161 234 3071 and she will check with the chair whether they will accept your question. You may be able to ask the chair on the day of the meeting but it is less likely they will say yes. They have a very full agenda on Thursday.
Manchester City Council (MCC) is very keen for organisations to apply for a new opportunity advertised on The Chest to be part of a preferred providers list for services for Troubled Families. The closing date is 19th July. They are hoping that a large number of organisations, small and large, offering a very wide range of services are successful in meeting the basic quality requirements.
ECORYS and Department of Health have announced the launch of the fourth Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund (HSCVF) local grant scheme 2013.
What is available?
The fund aims to enhance capacity in the health; public health and social care volunteering field and help organisations grow and develop. This is why HSCVF provides a combination of grant funding and capacity building support to organisations.
Public Health England (PHE) are developing a voluntary and community sector (VCS) engagement strategy and are welcoming input from voluntary organisations.
They are currently building on comments already provided about VCS as advocates and mediators for public involvement, but would like some more specific and general information to get a feel for the best framework within which PHE can engage with voluntary organisations.
The Board that is reviewing third sector funding for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations by NHS Manchester Clinical Commissioning Groups is setting up a Providers Advisory Group.
This group will undertake detailed consideration of the work of the Board, and is open both to VCS organisations that are already funded by NHS and to VCS organisations within Manchester that are carrying out health-related activity.
The Food Futures Team, with help from Fareshare has produced a map and directory of organisations providing emergency food and meals for those in need in Manchester.
Brook Manchester have been successful in securing funds to deliver free HIV resource training in Manchester. The training is designed for existing and experienced staff who work directly with young people. The resources are designed to fit into various subjects in Science, Citizenship, English and Media at Key Stages 3 and 4.