South East Wales Participation Network
2012-10-02 10:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | The Wallich, Cardiff, The Wallich, Cardiff
This lively, participatory workshop provides an opportunity for peers to engage, share and support each other.
Attendees come from a range of different organisations in the public and third sector that focus on a variety of issues. The network is suitable for anyone from any level within an organisation that has an interest in practical participatory work, including consultation officers, trustees, volunteers, development workers and managers.

The network provides an invaluable opportunity to:

· Meet other practitioners in your area
· Share good practice
· Exchange ideas
· Problem solve
· Develop participatory skills
· Acquire new skills

October’s network event will look at developing a case study from a participatory project and a session from a network member on their engagement work.

There will also be opportunities for you to network and hear about each other’s projects, plus an icebreaker and an evaluation exercise.

For further information or to book a place, please email participationcymru@wcva.org.uk or call 029 2043 1757.

Launch of European Funding Scheme
2012-10-02 10:00 - 13:30 | Orbit Business Centre, Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Orbit Business Centre, Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil
This WCVA free event will launch a European funding scheme for the Convergence areas of Wales. The event will inform organisations about the Engagement Gateway project, what it can invest in and will include a Q&A session.
The Engagement Gateway project will invest in organisations that are working with the economically inactive and the hardest to reach. The project will focus on creating clear routes for progression for individuals to build their knowledge, skills and confidence through a structured, developmental approach to enable individuals to engage with mainstream employment activity.
The launch event is free to attend and designed to inform organisations about the scheme, what it can invest in, and how organisations can be involved.
To reserve a place, contact WCVA on 0800 2888 329. Places are limited so please book soon to avoid disappointment.
Engagement Gateway grants will be available to any organisation; however activities must be delivered to participants in the Convergence areas of Wales: Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly and Torfaen.
Engagement Gateway is funded by the Wales Assembly Government and European Structural Funds (European Social Fund).

Introduction to Trainer Skills, accredited by City and Guilds
2012-10-04 - 2012-10-05 | Cardiff, Cardiff
This NewLink Wales course is aimed at people new to delivering training or group work. The course aims to give learners an introduction into the skills and practices as a trainer.
Voluntary sector price: £155

The Basics of the Equality Act (2010)
2012-10-04 09:00 - 16:15 | Jasmine Enterprise Centre, Cardiff, Jasmine Enterprise Centre, Cardiff
A Diverse Cymru training course
An introduction to ensure understanding of the main obligations of employers and service providers.
Price: £70
Find out more on the Diverse Cymru website.

C3SC training: Grants - Fit For Funding
2012-10-04 10:00 - 16:00 | C3SC, Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF24 0EB, C3SC, Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF24 0EB
Fully booked
The course is suitable for those new to fundraising or those wishing to gain further insight into fundraising processes.You will examine all aspects of preparing a funding application and gain practical insight into identifying the most appropriate sources of funding for your organisation. The course will also provide an overview of the current funding climate in Wales and help you to understand what influences funders.
This course will help you to:• Write concise and compelling applications• Understand how good research, realistic outcomes and accurate budgeting can improve the chances of an application being accepted• Build relationships with grant givers and meet their expectations

“I’ve come away with lots of ideas and useful information for grant applications”
“Excellent course and well prepared and presented”
“Good, clear information; fantastic tutor”

Victim Support Hustings Event
2012-10-04 | County Hall, Cardiff Bay, County Hall, Cardiff Bay
Who’ll take care of you if you’re a victim of crime?
This autumn we all have a vote to decide who our new local Police and Crime Commissioner is. But as well as being in charge of local policing, they’ll soon be responsible for providing help to victims of crime too. Make sure your vote counts and help get the best deal possible for victims.
Come to a debate with local candidates to find out more and have your say.

Breaking Down the Walls BBQ
2012-10-05 18:30 - 22:00 | Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Castle
Diverse Cymru is pleased to celebrate the official opening of the accessible lift at Cardiff Castle, which for the first time in the Castle’s illustrious history provides access to those with barriers to access to the Main House.
This is the result of a long campaign by Diverse Cymru and the Cardiff Council Access Focus Group that helped drive this project forward to reach this successful conclusion. The event will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our Paralympics Team by inviting gold medal winning Paralympic cyclist Mark Colbourne to officially open the facility.
This is a reservation-only event, with 180 individuals already confirmed. Please contact Diverse Cymru to see if any spaces remain.
Diverse Cymru would like to thank Cardiff Council and GMB for their support and sponsorship.

Recovery Sunday
2012-10-07
Sunday 7 October is the first Recovery Sunday in Wales. On this Sunday, Living Room Cardiff is asking all Christians in Wales to unite in prayer for those who are slaves to addiction. The Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs has established the Living Room, a community bilingual recovery centre in Cardiff. In less than a year, the Living Room has reformed dozens of lives.Please visit www.livingroom-cardiff.com to find out more about Living Room Cardiff.

Walkies for Hope
2012-10-07 | Bute Park, Cardiff, Bute Park, Cardiff
Join George Thomas Hospice Care for a relaxed sponsored four-mile walk through Bute Park – and remember to bring your dog!

A Cultural Connection
2012-10-08 07:30 - 22:30 | The Gate, Keppoch Street, Cardiff CF24 3JW, The Gate, Keppoch Street, Cardiff CF24 3JW
Valley and Vale Community Arts presents ‘A Cultural Connection’ – an evening celebration of cultures through music, singing and dance.
Price: £3 (concessions: £2) Free entry for refugees.
All money raised will go towards refugee arts projects.

Advising Clients in Debt
2012-10-09 | Tondu, Bridgend, Tondu, Bridgend
Aims
To improve delegates’ ability to assist tenants in debt, in order to improve their financial situation and ultimately prevent eviction. Delegates will learn methods and tactics for dealing with a range of debts commonly experienced including rent, utilities, credit cards and other consumer debts.

Course includes
– causes of debt – priority & non-priority debts – sanctions available to creditors – maximising tenants’ income – disconnection of services & repossessions – negotiate with creditors

Find out more on the Shelter Cymru website.

Wales Third Sector Funding Conference 2012
2012-10-09 | Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Olympic fever has inspired WCVA to ensure that this year’s funding conference is worthy of a gold medal.First off the blocks: how to get ahead in funding your future will showcase the very best in Welsh fundraising and will guide you through key funding trends and funder policy – and make your group a front runner in the race for success.Expert speakers include: – Angela Hughes, Chief Executive of Wales Air Ambulance – Michael Hearty of Strategic Planning, Finance and Performance at Welsh Government – Sir Adrian Webb, Wales Chair of the Big Lottery FundSplit across seven streams there are 23 workshops to choose from. Delegates are free to move across the streams throughout the day and workshops include: – Starting community fundraising from scratch – Lucy Holmes, Fundraising Executive, Action on Hearing Loss Cymru – Meet the trusts: making a better ask – Santander UK Foundation, Waterloo Foundation, The Pilgrim Trust – Public sector tendering – your route to success – Winning in Tendering Project, Bangor University – EU funding opportunities – Kelly Davies, Managing Director, Vi-ability, Arthur Beechey, Chief Officer, Agoriad Cyf and Darren Hollick, WCVA – Using your charity’s assets to deliver successful corporate partnerships – Simon Hatch, Executive Director for Wales and Louise Morris, Corporate Fundraising Manager, Samaritans – Top ten tips for trading in tough times – Geoff Jones, Enterprising Communities Officer, WCVA – Driving donor loyalty through game-based marketing – Michael Dent, Head of Mass Market Fundraising, Macmillan Cancer Support – Making your money go further – funding staff development during hard times – Barrie Kennard, Leadership and Management WalesNetwork with other delegates at our breakfast session or book a slot at our funding surgeries to discuss your project idea with representatives from Esmée Fairbairn, the Pilgrim Trust and Capital Grants. Take a look at the full programme (PDF) and book your place here (PDF). Book now to ensure your group is first past the post in the dash for funding!

2-day Structured Approach to Autism, Interaction and Communication
2012-10-09 - 2012-10-10 | Newport, Newport
This eclectic approach will instruct delegates to respond to the needs of individuals on the Autistic Spectrum (ASD) with a much clearer understanding of the complexities of the condition, thus enabling their clients through a person centred, holistic approach to have more autonomy where possible.

This Oncoursetraining Team workshop:
identifies the complexities of the disorder
– introduces the theory of mind and executive functioning – identifies sensory sensitivities – identifies metabolic factors and diet – explores through practical demonstrations the relevance of body language – identifies a wide range of communication modes – develops an understanding of behaviours that ‘challenge us’ – introduces Functional Communication Training (encourages attendees to read behaviours and replace with positive communication aids) – Introduces Structured Teaching Principles and the TEACCH concept. – enables more positive interactions with individualswith ASD – assists in developing communication styles tailored to individual needs – gives insight into the world view/perspective of ASD – Considers sensory and environmental issues (in-depth explanations and practical demonstrations give detailed reasoning as to why the ‘right’ environment is important to individuals with autism. Demonstrations and scenarios will highlight that sensory issues need to be addressed at all times.

Each workshop is interactive and evolves according to the attendees and there valued input. The Autistic Spectrum is in itself complex; the condition is complicated and unique to every individual. Those attending these open workshops are generally from a variety of agency backgrounds and have differing knowledge bases which always adds an extra dimension to the course.

Price: £150
To book your place or places, please email Lynda@oncoursetrainingteam.co.uk or call 0800 999 4969 or 07527831397 (Lynda’s direct number for this workshop).
If you have large numbers of staff requiring this training, an in-house service can be provided.

Wales third sector policy event
2012-10-10 | Glamorgan Archives, Cardiff, Glamorgan Archives, Cardiff
Coming together: environment matters | Influencing equalities at a local level – a WCVA event
Our Chief Officer Sheila Hendrickson-Brown will be chairing this event. Coming together: environment mattersA look at community-led environmental regeneration. Litter, graffiti and vandalism can have a major impact on community and personal well-being. New research from the Carnegie UK Trust highlights the benefits of a community-led approach to dealing with these problems, which also bring significant benefits to the local residents. This event will share the research and showcase local projects which have achieved success. Influencing equalities at a local levelYou’ll look at the new public sector equalities duties, in particular the impact on local service delivery. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission will provide an interactive session outlining the duties and exploring how organisations can engage with them to influence change.You can view the full programme and book your place here (PDF). Delegates can attend one or both sessions, and a buffet lunch will be served.

Advanced Substance Misuse Awareness
2012-10-10 - 2012-10-11 | Cardiff, Cardiff
This NewLink Wales course is aimed at people who have completed NewLink Wales’ Substance Misuse Awareness course and it may also be suitable for people who have some knowledge of substance misuse already.
Voluntary sector price: £155

C3SC Training - RBA Theory & Practice
2012-10-10 09:45 - 16:00 | C3SC, Brunel House, Cardiff CF24 0EB, C3SC, Brunel House, Cardiff CF24 0EB
Fully booked
Results Based Accountability (RBA) Theory & Practice
This course will help you to:
· Get to grips with Results Based Accountability
· Understand its principles, values and practices
· Discover its context in relation to Cardiff
· Gain practical experience of completing report cards
“I have a good understanding now of RBA”
“Excellent; could do again”

Bringing Generations Together in Wales Training Day
2012-10-10 10:00 - 16:00 | Caerphilly Suite, ESIS Conference Centre, Nantgarw, Cardiff, Caerphilly Suite, ESIS Conference Centre, Nantgarw, Cardiff
The Welsh Local Government Association and the Beth Johnson Foundation would like to invite you to attend this FREE training day on intergenerational practice.
The training day will cover:• Intergenerational Practice and why it is important• Effective Intergenerational Practice and how it can enhance service delivery• The challenges of bringing different generations together• Importance of preparation and planning• Skills for Intergenerational Practice• Exploring good practice through the experience of participants• Understanding and demonstrating the impact of IntergenerationalPractice
Who should attend?
Strategy for Older People Co-ordinators, Elected Member Older Person’s Champions and Older Person’s Champions (Officer Level), Strategic Leads for Children and Youth Support Services and Elected Members for Education and Lifelong Learning
To book:Contact Barry Williams at the WLGA. Phone 029 2046 8662 or email barry.williams@wlga.gov.uk

Support World Mental Health Day
2012-10-10 18:00 - 21:00 | Tiger Bay Suite, CMC@Loudoun, Loudoun Square, Butetown, Tiger Bay Suite, CMC@Loudoun, Loudoun Square, Butetown
Hayaat Women Trust invites you to support World Mental Health Day.Representatives from NHS Psychiatric Department, Llandough Hospital and Somaliland Mental Health Group will be available on the evening.

Introduction to storytelling in organisations
2012-10-11 | The Environment Centre, Swansea, The Environment Centre, Swansea
Many organisations are seeing the benefit of gathering “real-life” stories from service users, staff and volunteers to help improve their service delivery. This session explores the range of methodology being used to collect and share stories and offers some practical exercises to get you thinking about how you might approach story gathering in your work.
The course is designed for frontline staff and managers looking to use story telling to engage service users, citizens and communities.
Find out more on the Participation Cymru website.

Working with Interpreters
2012-10-11 09:30 - 12:30 | Barnardo’s Cymru Head Office, Trident Court East Moors Road, Cardiff CF24 5TD, Barnardo's Cymru Head Office, Trident Court East Moors Road, Cardiff CF24 5TD
Working effectively with interpreters should be a skill, which every professional possesses. Working with an interpreter does present challenges and to ensure that equal opportunities are upheld and that certain groups are not denied access to any services. To achieve this aim, all professionals should receive training in working with interpreters as a core part of their professional training.
Barnardo’s Neville Street has organised a workshop for professionals to provide them with the skills and knowledge required to work more effectively with interpreters.
Designed for:
Professionals who need to work with interpreters to enable effective communication with non-English speaking clients/service users.
Aim
This workshop aims to provide participants with better understanding of Working with Interpreters.

Tai Pawb Equality in Housing Seminar and AGM
2012-10-11 09:30 - 15:00 | The Culture and Media Centre, Loudoun Square, Cardiff, CF10 5HW, The Culture and Media Centre, Loudoun Square, Cardiff, CF10 5HW
Customer Profiling and Equality Information:Analysis, Outcomes and Improving Service Delivery
This is a chance to increase your knowledge about how the equality information that you gather through customer profiling and other sources can be used to improve service delivery and equality related performance. This is a practice-focused session and will include:

– Representatives from Hafod Housing Association exploring the framework they are developing for using and analysing customer profiling and equality information in relation to regulatory self-assessment outcomes. – Representative from Housemark will be looking at tenant satisfaction and equality information. – A presentation from Morgan Cole about Data Protection and collecting and using equality information. – A chance to find out about how Wrexham County Borough Council have identified and used equality information for outcomes as part of the results based accountability approach of their Community Cohesion Strategy. – Lively discussions on the practical application and challenges of IT systems in relation to utilising equality related customer profiling information for the tailoring of services, the wider analysis of information and issues around data protection. – Opportunities to explore innovative approaches to analysis used by housing associations based in England. – A chance to explore how profiling information can be used to influence communication strategies and approaches.

The cost for members is £35
The cost for non-members is £45
Attendance at the AGM only is free

For further information about the event, please contact mair@taipawb.org or call 029 2053 7635.

Code of Guidance
2012-10-12 | Swansea, Swansea
Steve Povey, Head of Shelter Cymru’s Legal Team, will provide a valuable insight into the revised Code of Guidance. The guidance provides a range of good practice to assist and work to prevent and tackle homelessness.This briefing will provide you with further details on the guidance that Local Authority staff and elected members must consider when exercising their housing, allocations and homelessness functions under the 1996 Housing Act. This is also relevant to Registered Social Landlords who help local Authorities meet the housing needs in their area.Book your place on this briefing to gain the insight into these working practices.
Find out more on the Shelter Cymru website.

Institute of Fundraising Cymru's South Wales Annual Conference
2012-10-16 | TBA, TBA
The Institute of Fundraising Cymru’s South Wales conference will offer delegates a holistic insight into fundraising.
An opportunity to enhance your fundraising skills with a full day of presentations and break out sessions with experienced practitioners in the field, and to meet up with other fundraisers in Wales.
Compere – Arfon Haines Davies
The Institute of FundraisingPeter Lewis – CEO Institute of Fundraising
LegaciesClaire Routley
Using the Social Media in FundraisingMatt Haworth
Preparing a Fundraising StrategySusan Robinson
There will be a forum at 3.00pm giving the opportunity to speak to the panel of experts.
Coffee & Registration at 10.30am
Refreshments & Lunch provided
£50 Members / £60 Non-Members
The number of places on this event are limited.

Supporting Parents to talk to their Children about Growing up, Relationships and Sex
2012-10-16 09:30 - 16:30 | Children in Wales, 25 Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BZ, Children in Wales, 25 Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BZ
Children and young people consistently say that they would like to be able to talk more with their parents about these issues. Parents also would like support and information to enable them to do this with comfort and confidence.

The range of issues presented by parents can vary enormously, from responding to questions from young children, to dealing with changes at puberty, to supporting teenagers make decisions around their sexual health, identity and relationships.

This one-day Children in Wales course will be useful for anyone who works with parents, including: Parent Group facilitators, Early Years workers, Health Visitors, Parenting workers, Teachers and Volunteers supporting parents, etc.

Aim
For Parenting Practitioners to develop their skills and knowledge, and to work more confidently in supporting parents and carers to communicate with their children about sex and relationships.

Objectives
By the end of the course participants will:
– Be provided with relevant factual information including: the law, puberty and resources to support them in their work – Have considered the sex and relationship educational needs of children and young people, and how parents can support these – Identified strategies to support parents and carers to talk more confidently to their children about sex – Practised skills in responding to parents’ concerns and questions relating to sex and relationship education

A variety of training methods will be used throughout the day. These will include trainer presentations, discussions, quizzes, creative activities, time for reflection and structured exercises. The main focus of the programme is for practitioners to develop the confidence and skills to proactively work with parents in this area. A selection of resources to support this work with parents will be available for attendees to use and review on the day.
Price: Members: £115 Non-members: £135 (including lunch)

Disability Wales dinner, annual seminar and AGM
2012-10-17 - 2012-10-18 | Wrexham, Wrexham
Join Disability Wales as they continue their 40th anniversary celebrations.
– On the evening of 17 October, there will be a 70s themed anniversary and disco – Annual Seminar on 18 October: expert speakers and depate on forty years of campaigning for disabled people’s rights – AGM and Election of Board Members

Deafblind Cymru Awareness Training
2012-10-17 10:00 - 11:30 | The Cardiff Story, The Old Library The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1BH, The Cardiff Story, The Old Library The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1BH
This FREE training will give participants a greater awareness of what life is like for people with dual sensory impairments.
The morning session will be repeated in the afternoon from 2-3.30pm.

Introduction to e-participation and new social media
2012-10-18 | CAVS, Carmarthen, CAVS, Carmarthen
This Participation Cymru WCVA course will help you explore how to use social media within your own organisation to engage with service users and communities.
Target audience:Frontline staff and managers looking to develop the use of technology as a method to engage with service users and communities.
Content:Participants will explore the use of social media as tools for citizen, community and service user engagement. This course will enable participants to explore and identify opportunities for using e-participation and social networking technology within their area of work. Participants will evaluate methods of e-participation and social networking; identifying opportunities and limitations. With a focus on current technologies and relevance within Wales, this participative course will draw on participant’s experiences, case studies and examples where social media have been used in engagement and participation activities.Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course participants will be able to:
– Discuss methods for engaging people through use of social media, and identify those that may be relevant to their needs – Evaluate methods of e-participation and social networking in relation to their area of work – Analyse case studies where e-participation has been used – Explore the technology – Identify barriers to participation using social media – Recognise the needs of different audiences and steps to meet needs – Know how to access additional information and resources
Learning objectives
– To present a range of social media which can be used in participation – Present case studies where e-participation has been used – Evaluate the opportunities and barriers to using technology in participation – Discuss the wider context of social networking and digital inclusion – Draw on current technology – Draw on relevance within Wales – Identify resources needed to implement e-participation

Introduction to Person Centred Planning in Transition
2012-10-18 | Cardiff, Cardiff
This half-day Learning Disability Wales course serves as an introduction to PCP in transition and looks at how transition can impact young people. It looks to examine how the Real Opportunities Project works with young people, families and professionals to overcome some of the difficulties faced around transition.The course will look forward to the statutory reform and how PCP will be used within the new Individual Development Plans.

Black History Month Celebration
2012-10-18 04:30 - 18:30 | Cardiff Central Library, Cardiff Central Library
Cardiff Central Library, in partnership with Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales (BVSNW), presents Black History Month Celebration – with inspirational community champions: Betty Campbell, Glenn Jordan, Steve Khaireh and Sheila Hendrickson-Brown.
FREE admission.

NewLink Wales Annual General Meeting
2012-10-18 13:00 - 16:00 | NewLink Wales, Meridian Court, North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BE, NewLink Wales, Meridian Court, North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BE
NewLink Wales invites you to their AGM.
Speakers include Dr Josie Smith, Public Health Wales; Mark Erica, G4S; and Charlotte Hopkins, NewLink Wales.
Refreshments will be provided.
