There is still time to complete Hounslow Councils survey of the organisations that make up Hounslows Voluntary and Community Sector. You will then have a chance of winning £50 in the Prize Draw.
All voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Hounslow are encouraged to complete the survey because it gives us the opportunity to give the council some feedback on our activities over the last 12 months and identify areas where we are facing challenges and need support.
It will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
The online survey can be found at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/vcse_survey_2016
Alternatively you can find a printable version of the survey by visiting:
http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/community_and_living/voluntary_sector.htm
Adult Safeguarding Survey
The Hounslow Safeguarding Adults Board is responsible for ensuring that adults at risk of abuse in Hounslow are offered effective support. It is also responsible for developing plans to prevent abuse. The Board is trying to improve its engagement with the voluntary and community sector and would like to hear from you about your current understanding of adult safeguarding and the issues that are important to you. This will help it in designing future events and information for you. Please could you take the time to complete their short survey here
New Hounslow Self-Help Directory
A new Health and Social Care Self-Help Directory has been produced by Hounslow Voluntary Sector Support Service (HVSSS) with support from Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Self-help is increasingly seen as an important part of recovery and prevention for health conditions. Many voluntary groups working in Hounslow provide support for people who may be newly diagnosed or living with long-term health conditions, and need advice on how to better manage their own health.
In any one borough there wont be a self-help group for every condition. But there are many national organisations for specific conditions who offer excellent free fact sheets, online information or free telephone advice and counselling lines.
If you or a family member have been diagnosed with a health condition, it can be a real benefit to talk to other people in similar circumstances. Long-term health conditions can also impact on other parts of life such as the ability to work, travel, take part in social activities and maintain self-confidence.
The Hounslow Health and Social Care Self-Help Directory is a resource for local people, their families and carers to find groups that can provide support on different physical and mental health issues. It is also intended as a practical tool for local GPs, GP Practice Managers, Community Nurses, Pharmacists, other NHS professionals, Council staff, Public Health staff and local Care Navigators.
This Directory is an online interactive document. This means we can maintain it as a live document should organisation details change or should new selfhelp groups start up in Hounslow. But if you would like a hard copy to have to hand in your organisation please email iain@ealingcvs.org.uk.
To see the directory click here
The State of Care in England
The Care Quality Commission has produced a new report on the state of care in England. It finds that most services provide people with good care, but variation exists. Some care services are closing, increasing pressure on other services including GP practices and hospitals. Strong leadership and collaboration will be important to ensure services improve and quality is maintained. To see the full report click here
Volunteer to Help People in Court
Going to court alone can be terrifying. The Personal Support Unit (PSU) is there so that people dont have to. Their trained volunteers give practical and emotional support to people who are going through civil and family court proceedings without a lawyer. This new service is open at West London Family Court, Feltham.
Overview:
The charity began 15 years ago, with just three volunteers in one court in London. Now more than 550 volunteers help people in 19 courts across England and Wales. In the last year, the PSU has helped people more than 44,000 times.
At the start of 2013, the PSU was helping people 1,000 times a month across the country. Since then this figure has quadrupled, as more people find themselves in court and unable to afford a lawyer. Legal aid for civil and family cases, involving divorce, arrangements for children, housing and employment, is now largely unavailable. Without a lawyer, most people are confused by the court system and feel at an automatic disadvantage.
That is where the PSU comes in. The volunteers are there to give one-to-one assistance, helping each person to represent themselves to the best of their ability.
There is a real need for PSU volunteers at the West London Family Court, where approximately 70% of all private law children act cases involve at least one parent who does not have the benefit of any legal advice. Volunteers can help people without an appointment, free of charge, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am to 4.30pm in the West London Family Court, Feltham. The volunteers help in many ways without giving legal advice: describing what might happen in court, helping to complete (or find the right) forms, sorting through paperwork and supporting clients to prepare it for a trained legal eye, guiding people around unfamiliar court buildings and sitting next to them in court to steady their nerves.
District Judge Middleton-Roy, is very supportive of the service and said Having a PSU volunteer in Court hugely assists in aiding the understanding of vulnerable Court users of the complex legal system and its processes, empowering them, helping them to feel less disadvantaged, reducing the prospects of disrupting the process and assisting in facilitating that party in engaging effectively in the dispute.
The PSU is the only organisation providing this service in the civil and family courts on a daily basis. It opened its doors in West London on 18th October, helping four people on that day alone, including accompanying an individual to his very first hearing.
The PSU Manager in West London is Klara Slater and she can be contacted to arrange appointments, discuss volunteering opportunities or for general enquiries on 020 8831 3573 or wlfc@thepsu.org.uk Website: www.thepsu.org.uk
Inter Faith Week
Plans for Inter Faith Week
Inter Faith Week runs this year from 13th to 21st November. Plans are still being firmed up, but Hounslow Friends of Faith hope to include the three events below.
1. Neighbours in Faith Follow Up
The report of the Mayors Meeting of Faith Leaders, Neighbours in Faith is now ready for distribution and will be circulated to all places of worship very soon.
A follow up meeting is planned to take place the week beginning 14th Nov.
2. Concern for Refugees
Many faith groups and others in the borough are concerned about the plight of refugees and are doing what they can to respond. Some have made collections for refugees in Calais. Others are considering sponsoring a refugee family from Syria or may be supporting people already here.
HFOF Vice Chair Tom Gillum, vicar of St Johns and St Marys Church in Isleworth is organising a meeting to consider together the extent of work already being done, to see what more might be possible and what volunteer or other opportunities there are. This will take place in the Hall at St Johns Church, St Johns Road, Isleworth TW7 6NY on Wednesday 16th November at 7.30pm. Please get the word out and let Tom know if you are interested in coming along on 07825 041432 mailto:Tom.gillum@london.anglican.org
3. Womens crafting event A day of craft for women is planned as a follow up to the Inter Faith Womens teaparty held in August. On Saturday 19th November, again at the Centre for Spirituality and Cultural Advancement, there will be day making craft items in felt. Address Manor House, Manor Road, Feltham TW13 4JQ. To book your place please ring 07812 833635.
For further information on these stories contact: 020 8560 5887 or 07812 833635 mailto:info@hounslowfriendsoffaith.org
Hounslow residents invited to Improving healthcare in Hounslow event
NHS Hounslow CCG and Hounslow Council are holding a public engagement event to discuss their plans to provide an even better health and care system for local people.
The NHS is particularly interested in residents thoughts on the five key things that the plans cover:
Preventing ill health
Long term care
Care for people aged over 65
Mental health
Quality of care
This public meeting is open to all residents and will be held on Tuesday 27 September 2016 from 2.30pm-4.30pm at the Conference Centre in the Civic Centre offices in Hounslow.
It will include presentations and an opportunity to ask questions and express views.
To reserve your free space, please email media@nw.london.nhs.uk or click here.
Interested residents can also find more details and an opportunity to express their views at a special website: https://healthiernwlondon.commonplace.is.
Hounslow Funders Fair
This years Funders Fair will be held on Wednesday 5th October, from 9.30am 3.30pm in the Lampton Park Conference Centre, Civic Centre, Hounslow. The event is organised by Hounslow Council s Community Partnerships Unit and is a great opportunity for everyone involved in the voluntary sector in Hounslow to meet some key funders and to get their expert advice on how to apply for funding for your organisation. This includes:
· Big Lottery
· City Bridge Trust
· Heathrow Community Fund
· Lloyds Bank
The keynote speaker will be David Warner from London Funders, who will discuss the current state of infrastructure services and capacity building support for the community and voluntary sector in London and proposals for London wider support.
For further information and to book yourself onto this event please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hounslow-funders-fair-tickets-27024020573