Please click on a link below to download a back issue of Lambeth Link, LVAC's Quarterly Newsletter (you will need to have Adobe Acrobat reader installed to read these files). The current issue of the Lambeth Link is free to member organisations only. If you are a member organisation who has not received their copy, please contact us.

On 14th April 2010, at Brixton Town Hall, Lambeth Voluntary Action Council (LVAC) will hold a hustings event ahead of the local Lambeth Elections.

In the lead up to the local elections on 6th May, LVAC has invited the leaders from each of the major political groups to tell us how they plan to support an active Voluntary and Community Sector in Lambeth, and what commitments they intend to take forward in their manifestos for the incoming term.

This is a one-off opportunity for Lambeth’s diverse voluntary and community sector, local residents and community advocates to put their burning questions to Lambeth’s politicians. In turn, participants will hear from elected members their commitments to the Voluntary and Community Sector.

Conrad Hollingsworth, LVAC’s Director, says “It is essential as part of the democratic process to hear from our politicians on how they plan to spend our money and run the borough. LVAC continues to vigorously campaign for support needed to invest in the development of an active local Voluntary and Community Sector. This event aims to raise awareness of the incredible value that the Voluntary and Community Sector has to offer in helping achieve an increased quality of life for all Lambeth citizens.”

Councillor Ashley Lumsden, Leader of the Liberal Democrats group in Lambeth, says ‘Liberal Democrats have always supported Lambeth's Voluntary Sector. We are promoting a major switch of council services to being community run in our manifesto and I look forward to discussing these issues with the LVAC audience.’

Councillor Steve Reed, Leader of the Labour group says, “All political parties have signalled significant cuts in public spending after the General Election which means the public sector as a whole is looking at how they can deliver services differently in future. Labour in Lambeth has been working on a co-operative model that would allow us to protect frontline services through empowering the community to get more involved in delivering them. To deliver this, we want to work closely with LVAC and ensure the continued sustainability of LVAC’s Volunteer Resource Centre for Lambeth.”

Councillor John Whelan, Conservative Group Leader, says: “In Lambeth many of the most pressing social challenges have been identified and tackled by voluntary action. The voluntary sector is ideally placed to deliver solutions to youth crime, family breakdown, and substance abuse. Our task is to work together with LVAC to seek better financial support from the government and the local authority whoever wins the elections on May 6.”

To find out more about LVAC’s work on the local elections and political support for an active voluntary and community sector in Lambeth, please email compact@lambethvac.org.uk

ends


Contact Details

Annette Laidler, Compact Policy Development Officer 020 7737 9470.
Web: www.lambethvac.org.uk

Editors Notes

LVAC is Lambeth’s Council for Voluntary Service which is a member organisation, open to any voluntary or community organisation working for the benefit of Lambeth’s residents. LVAC’s work is to develop, support and empower Lambeth’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). We do this by providing information, training, advice and consultancy to groups in need, as well as representing Lambeth’s VCS to the wider community and statutory bodies.


PLEASE NOTE: LVAC are an independent charity and are not connected to Lambeth Council in any way.
Could you please ensure that any changes you intend to make to this press release are approved by us in writing.

LVAC releases a Progress Update following on from the recommendations of the recession busting event in April last year. Please download the Progress Update and Recession Busting Event Report below, which outline the priority issues affecting the Voluntary sector during the recession and potential ways to help tackle the negative affects.

Lambeth First are currently looking for partner organisations who would like to employ people under the Future Jobs Fund (FJF). They will provide funding to their partners of up to £6,500 for each job created. This money can be used to pay salaries, provide training and supervision, management support and business overheads. All jobs have to be new with community benefits that will help employees become job ready at the completion of their contract. Each job must be for a minimum of six months for 25 hours per week, paying a minimum of £5.80 per hour plus on costs.



Lambeth First has been awarded more than £1.2 million to help 18-24 year olds into local work. The new central government funding will help create 198 new jobs in the borough over the next six months for young people who would normally be at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.



If you are interested in finding out more about the scheme please visit the lambeth first website http://www.lambethfirst.org.uk/futurejobs/ which also includes information on current vacancies, call Louise Brent on 020 7926 2091 or email Futurejobs@lambethfirst.org.uk.

LVAC's Active Citizen's Hub has produced a range of guides on how to become more involved within the borough. The range is designed to serve as an introduction to a variety of roles and give a head start! There are 6 available:

- Your Guide to Being an Active Citizen
- Your Guide to Being a Local Councillor
- Your Guide to Being a Magistrate
- Your Guide to Being a School Governor
- Your Guide to Being a Trustee
- Your Guide to Tenants and Residents Associations

Please visit the 'Volunteering' page for downloadable versions of the guides and further information on LVAC's Active Citizen's Hub

- Want to learn more about local decision making processes?
- Wonder how local schools are run?
- Concerned about law and order?
- Interested in health and social care services?

If you answer YES to any of the above questions then we have training courses for you!

From our ever popular Community Advocates training to Introduction to Being a School Governor to Health & Social Care for Community Representatives plus many more, LVAC's Active Citizen's Hub has put together a package of courses to give you a head start in becoming an active citizen!

So why not take advantage of LVAC's Community Learning Programme?

For further information including topic outlines, dates and how to book a place on one (or more!) of our very popular courses, please visit the 'Volunteering' page of our website.