The Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership is looking at ways to learn from the pandemic and make recommendations at local, regional and national levels. As part of this we are looking at the experiences of equality, diversity and inclusion across marginalised communities in order to learn from these, build better representation into future work and make recommendations to partners, with the aim of improving the timeliness, quality and relevance of support provided to those that need it the most during an emergency.

We would be grateful if you would be prepared to spend 15-20 minutes taking part in a short interview to tell us about your organisation and community/ies and your experiences over the last 12-18 months. 

For every interview we will be looking to make a contribution of a £100 to your organisation to cover or your time and involvement.

To book your interview please contact:  
Lancashire BME Network on 01254 392974 or
Email: Raeesah.patel@lancashirebmenetwork.org.uk

Are you aged 16 to 24?
Are you in receipt of Universal Credit?
Are you currently unemployed?
Are you looking for employment and/or training?

We are recruiting for two Apprentice Administrators to provide general administration and support related to the co-ordination of the Greater Manchester Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Social Enterprise Network.

Closing date for applications has been extended to Wednesday 30th June

The Healthy Start scheme provides free vouchers or payments every 4 weeks to spend on essential food items (more details via this link)

The Department of Health and Social Care has recently agreed to temporarily extend the Healthy Start scheme to British children (aged 0-4), whose parent/guardian meet the financial eligibility criteria and are excluded from claiming public funds as a consequence of their immigration status.

To qualify for the temporary extension you must meet all the following criteria:

• you have a child, or more than one child, who is aged 0-4;
• your families take-home pay is less than £408 per month; and
• your immigration status includes the condition that you cannot access public funds

Potential applicants should contact Healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk stating you believe you qualify and someone will reply to discuss the application process with you. 

For those Black-led VCSE organisations in Greater Manchester applying for the Global Majority Fund, the GM BAME Network held an online 'meet the funder' a few weeks back with Caribbean & African Health Network and Macc. 

You can catch up via the link below, which also includes all the links to further fund information and who to contact for additional support in relation to your application. 

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 4th July 2021.

Does your social enterprise, community business or charity work to support individuals, communities or businesses in Greater Manchester?

GMCVO's social enterprise team are inviting you to a weekly drop-in session for social enterprises, community businesses and trading charities to discuss your questions and support needs. Our team will be on-hand to offer advice and guidance for all things social enterprise; including setting-up, funding, social impact and social investment. So whether it's a quick question, or a more in-depth meeting you're after, drop in at your leisure and we'll provide a helping hand. 

Drop in sessions are 10-11am every Wednesday morning, starting from Wednesday 23rd June 2021. Sessions will take place on Zoom, with no need to register in advance. 

Here is the Zoom link for joining the sessions (same each week):
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82847319726

GMCVO has launched it’s very first podcast, and it’s available now for you to listen to.

Over seven episodes, we will bring together different guests each week to discuss all aspects of ageing, looking at everything from social isolation and loneliness to the benefits of ageing and building age-friendly places. Join host Kirsty each week alongside academics and policy makers, researchers, front line delivery staff and of course, older people themselves.

Episodes will be promoted weekly on our social media channels, but if you can’t wait, you can listen to the whole series now on Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast host. You can also listen directly on the GMCVO website.

Since January 2021, GMCVO's Health and Social Care Engagement project has  been running a series of hour long 'Bite-sized learning events' delivering information relating to a number of topics in a concise format to improve knowledge across the wider GM VCSE community.

Topics covered so far include:

• Top tips for simplifying complex information
• Influencing policy makers beyond the meeting
• An insight into the systemic inequalities faced by African Caribbean communities across GM
• An insight into the systemic inequalities faced by immigrant populations across GM

You can catch up on sessions already ran on our You Tube channel (link underneath)

The fifth session will take place on 12th July, 12.30-1.30pm online, exploring how community organisations can effectively reach out to people who do not have easy access to mainstream services and opportunities. You can find out more and book on via this link.

The Black Frontline oral history project is inviting Black doctors and nurses working with Covid-19 patients in either the UK, USA or Ghana to participate and share their stories of working on the frontlines combatting the virus.

This oral history project works to frame the pandemic through the stories of global Black healthcare workers across 3 countries and 3 continents. 

Every June since 2008, people from across the UK have celebrated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Through celebration, education and raising awareness, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month helps to tackle prejudice, challenge myths and to amplify the voices of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in wider society.

This year, our theme for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is ‘Make Some Space’. Will you join us in celebrating during June?

Follow the link underneath to access a participation pack filled with information, resources and ways of getting involved in the campaign. 

Manchester’s Climate Change Framework sets out the city’s commitments for 2020-25. Alongside reducing our CO2 emissions, the Framework recognises that the climate is changing and that Manchester needs to take action to respond. The Framework sets out the following high-level objective:

“To adapt the city’s buildings, infrastructure and natural environment to the changing climate and to increase the climate resilience of our residents and organisations.”

However, the adaptation and resilience dimension of Manchester’s climate change work requires further development to reach parity with our carbon reduction commitments and actions.

Catch on this Community Podcast instalment where Cllr. Aasim Rashid (Mayor of Rochdale) is interviewed by Mohammed Sarwar (CEO of Centre of Wellbeing, Training & Culture based in Rochdale). 

Greater Manchester Police are recruiting independent scrutiny panel volunteers across each of our 10 boroughs - it is open to everyone and anyone - they are particularly welcoming young people who have either lived experiences or simply have an avid interest in the Police Use of Stop Search Powers and would like to influence future policy on its use.

A partnership project between GMCVO and the Greater Manchester BAME Network is underway to build a Greater Manchester BAME Social Enterprise Network and help deliver business support to BAME social entrepreneurs. Specifically for BAME social entrepreneurs, we strongly encourage you check out the new project webpage. It’s full of helpful resources, information, links and the chance to register to join the network, become a mentor or request business support to help you grow your social enterprise.

To find out more about the project and the network, please contact hanif.alli@gmcvo.org.uk

The post pandemic world is going to be challenging for VCSE organisations. Now is the time to review where you are now and where you need to be to ensure you can continue to deliver your mission. Skills for Growth – VCSE Support is a fully funded service that can help you do just that. Our dedicated VCSE Skills Coach will work with you to develop a tailored development plan and access the resources and advice you need.

Contact Sittu (sittu.ahmed@gmcvo.org.uk) for an initial chat about what we can offer.

Throughout the pandemic, we have realised that the biggest challenge is coping with loneliness for many people. Therefore Dialogue Society in partnership with the Time to Help decided to launch a new project called "Talking Bubble" to bring together dialogue volunteers with individuals who need befriending support.

This will be a UK-wide project aiming to provide over-the-phone befriending service to individuals who need social support.

We will match people with our trained volunteers who are like-minded and share the same interests as them. Additionally, we offer befriending service in Albanian, Arabic, Greek, Kurdish, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, and many more languages. We have a robust vetting process; all the volunteers will be DBS and reference-checked, and they will receive proper training before participation.

For more info, contact Talking Bubble on:
Email: talkingbubble@dialoguesociety.org
Tel: 07923 342453

Visible Outcomes 4 U are are delivering Intercultural Employability Training and IAG for Refugees in Greater Manchester.

Please contact Irfan Syed for more information:

info@visibleoutcomes.co.uk
07388242754

The Growth Company are encouraging VCSE leaders to sign up to their Peer Networks programme. The fully funded programme gives participants the opportunity to learn from peers, discuss ideas, work through challenges in small online group sessions led by a professional facilitator. There is also access to one-to-one mentoring, coaching or advice for those that want it.

Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) are running 90 minute drop-in peer support sessions for up to 10 charity leaders at a time, every week, from June 2021 – via Zoom. Attendees will have a safe space to share challenges – like increasing or changing demand, taking care of your team (and yourself!) after a difficult year, blending online and face-to-face, and managing multiple balancing acts. 

Join us for some time to pause and reflect, and to hear other leaders’ experiences of adapting to and coping with leading in prolonged uncertainty.  

Sickle Cell Society, the only national organisation supporting the 15,000 people in the UK with sickle cell disorder (SCD), is recruiting black-heritage blood donors to help save and improve people’s lives.

SCD is a serious genetic blood disorder, most commonly affecting those of African and Caribbean origin. People with sickle cell often need blood transfusions from people of the same ethnic background as part of their treatment. Transfusions are used to help treat severe anaemia and can also help prevent serious complications associated with SCD, such as strokes and organ damage.  Not enough black- heritage people are giving blood to meet the current demand.

Sickle Cell Society is working in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, to help them reach their goal of quadrupling the amount of new black-heritage blood donors coming forward this year.

Make 2021 your year to quit smoking for good, with free support and treatment from our specialist nursing team at Be Smoke Free. 

If you're over the age of 12 and live in Manchester or have a Manchester GP, we can help!

It takes 5 minutes to refer yourself:

Call: 0161 8234157
Email: manchesterbesmokefree@cgl.org.uk
Facebook: @besmokefreemanchester
Twitter: @besmokefreemcr

This page lists information, sources of support and resources for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
If you see something missing that you think should be included, please email viki.lee@gmcvo.org.uk

Tuesday, 22nd June, 6pm
Online

Please join us for our next episode of Speak Easy – “Being a Black Man – for us, by us” where we will be joined by black male entrepreneurs’ to discuss what it is like to be a black man in modern society.

We will celebrate the often unseen support that these amazing barbers offer within our communities.

Steve and Tshak serve the local community. Their motto for living is "love life and love yourself". Errol is a kickboxing, kick ass, multilingual writer and father, currently living in France. Sydney is the poster boy for all things friendly and open-minded. He is the go-to guy for all your IT needs.

Join us to hear their varied perspectives!

Zoom link
Zoom ID: 895 9095 4604
Passcode: SpeakEast

Thursday, 24th June, 11-12
Online

Topics covered in this Centre of Wellbeing, Training & Culture session:

• What is meant by employability?
• What habits improve my employability

As part of our Supporting Young People into the media sector KickStart programme, we have an upcoming 1 hour Online Zoom Training Sessions on Career Development and Employability Skills. They are for young people aged 19-24. 

To join, please email: admin@cw-tc.co.uk

Sunday, 27th June, 11-1
Online

The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah (AIU) RACE (Race, Archives and Community Engagement) Centre is a specialist library and archive focusing on the experiences and stories of Black, Asian, global majority, refugee and migrant communities.

In 50 years' time or more, if anyone asks, "What was life like during the Covid-19 pandemic for Black, Asian, migrant and refugee communities in Greater Manchester?" we want to be able to answer.

Since last year, the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Centre has been running a Covid-19 collecting project to make sure these stories aren't lost. As part of this work, we are running Collecting During Covid, a series of events examining Covid-19 in Greater Manchester from marginalised perspectives. Our theme for this event is borders and migration.

Friday, 2nd July
Online

As researchers we all have things that help us do our work. This session is about sharing some of that with each other. Whether it's a concept, a theory, a publication, a website, a methodology or a working practice, come along and share your top tips. If we get a good number of them we may put a briefing together to share more widely.

Wednesday 7th July, 11.00-12.30pm (free)
Online

This event brings together a range of speakers to explore the essential work of the voluntary sector in delivering services for racially minoritised people and addressing race inequality in the criminal justice system. We will explore how specialist organisations led by and focused on racially minoritised people are faring in the current climate, and discuss how trusts and foundations, the wider voluntary sector and government can ensure these organisations are sustainable. We will also discuss the crucial role of specialist organisations in influencing government, and how the wider voluntary sector can help amplify the voices, knowledge and expertise of racially minoritised leaders in our collective pursuit of change.

Monday 12th July, 12.30-1.30pm (free)
Online

How can community organisations effectively reach out to people who do not have easy access to mainstream services and opportunities?

Join us for a lunchtime workshop led by Clare Bonetree, Project Officer, from GMCVO's Ambition for Ageing project who will share learning from a project connecting with isolated older people Bangladeshi communities in Manchester. Rabbi S Grant, Director of Community Services for the Binoh of Manchester will speak about working and engaging with the Orthodox Jewish Communities in Greater Manchester.

Wednesday 14th July, 2-3pm
Online

Members of the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group based at the University of Manchester will present an overview of a research project examining the impact of COVID-19 on 102 diverse older people aged 50+ living in Greater Manchester from multiple ethnic and identity groups. The presentation will review the way older people managed everyday life under three successive lockdowns, highlighting pressures facing particular groups, including South Asian women, and single men.

Thursday, 15th July 12-7pm (free)
Face to face in Manchester

Join us for an innovative knowledge exchange and peer learning festival supporting social entrepreneurs to connect, share and collaborate.

We have been listening to our networks and they want to:

1) see each other in person
2) share knowledge, learning and connect
3) know they are a skilled , capable and resilient bunch who have oodles of practical knowledge, expertise, view, tips and anecdotes to lead the change they see needed in communities

So we are convening a 'How to' Festival or 'Unconference' in partnership with our new host venue MIBA with short, sharp training sessions, discussions, demonstrations, live panels and running a Pop Up Spa with Beauty in the Community.

Are you aged 16 to 24?
Are you in receipt of Universal Credit?
Are you currently unemployed?
Are you looking for employment and/or training?

We are recruiting for two Apprentice Administrators to provide general administration and support related to the co-ordination of the Greater Manchester Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Social Enterprise Network.

Extended closing date for applications: Wednesday 30th June 2021

Current vacancies include:

• Assistant People Business Partner (closing 23rd June)
• Quality and Service Improvement Team Leader (closing 24th June)
• Project Manager - PMO Team (closing 27th June)
• Policy and Engagement Officer (Civil Service secondment - closing 4th July)

No application deadline provided. 

Director of Inclusion application deadline: 5pm on 23rd July
Creative Evaluation Assistant: 5pm on 19th July

This governance role is voluntary and unpaid

Click on the link below to access a wide range of current VCSE vacancies in Greater Manchester. You can also submit a form to get your own organisational vacancies listed, and there is also a board with trustee and volunteer vacancies, besides paid positions.

We currently have 37 external vacancies listed.

In Place of War’s (IPOW) Open Call is for creative practitioners (eg. artists, makers and curators) in Greater Manchester with a heritage of forced displacement (eg migrant, exile, refugee or person seeking asylum), who are looking to develop their entrepreneurial skills and professional opportunities in the creative industries.

CASE is an education and training programme for creative practitioners using social enterprise methods. The programme is looking for people whose practice responds directly to social and/or community issues, and who want to develop a specific project with seed corn funding.

Closing date: Wednesday 30th June 2021

In partnership with the Co Op foundation, School for Social Entrepreneurs are running the Environmental Entrepreneurs programme for a second year – helping organisations with environmental aims to grow, become more robust and increase their impact.

Across 8 months of support, we’ll help you to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes you need to develop robust models and deepen environmental impact. You will be part of a safe and supportive group of like-minded peers – committed to environmental causes.

Closing date: 1pm, Friday 25th June

Journey to Net Zero is a fully-funded online programme, exclusively for SMEs in Greater Manchester that are at an early stage on the path to net zero emissions. 

The programme is for any SMEs located in Greater Manchester. They can be any sector and the workshops are tailored to those who are at the start of their environmental journey, so beginners are welcome.

Programme content

• understanding climate change
• how to identify your impacts and calculate your carbon footprint
• what actions could be taken to reduce these
• how to engage with your workforce
• how to create sustainable supply chains
• how to write a relevant environmental policy
• how to promote your green credentials
• how to develop your environmental strategy.

The first workshop will take place online on Thursday July 1st. 

For all the details and to apply, follow the link below.

The Awards are the biggest celebration of the year in the social enterprise calendar, recognising the best in the sector - both organisations for their business excellence and contribution to society, as well as the incredible individuals who work at the heart of the social enterprise movement.

There are 15 different categories at this year’s Awards - all are open to social enterprises.

Applications close on July 2nd. 

These workshops aim to bring together women from all different ages, backgrounds, cultures and belief systems to empower them to become even greater peace and cohesion leaders within their community.

Community Futures are offering free training courses to help people to develop employment skills including how to present themselves and their business, word processing workshops, and interview skills. These courses are perfect for those looking for a job or starting their own business.

Innovative businesses from Ethnic Minority backgrounds have the chance to present their big ideas in front of global brands and investors through the Innovation Challenge in its fifth edition, which aims to help promote fairness and diversity to level up the corporate playing field.

In this year’s Innovation Challenge ‘Better Ideas for a Better World’ (aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), BAME-led start-ups and entrepreneurs will compete for prizes worth over £150k.  The Innovation Challenge aims to spotlight the best innovators across a wide range of sectors and technologies, including AI & Machine Learning, Sustainable Cities and Consumer Health. 

If you're from a Black or Asian background, then the IOPC Aspiring Professionals Programme may be for you. 

The Aspiring Professionals Programme is a paid four-week summer placement in the IOPC. Starting in late June, our IOPC Aspiring Professionals will work as part of a team on an equality project that will help us to engage better with our diverse communities. They will also gain experience of working in the public sector and receive guidance that will help with future applications to permanent IOPC positions.

We want to offer the programme to a group of diverse candidates, of all ages, who can bring a variety of life experience, unique skills and cultural knowledge into our organisation. We particularly invite applications from those undergoing career breaks, from care leavers and from Black and Asian candidates.

Queen Bee Coaching based at the Pankhurst Trust offers free leadership coaching to women in order to get more women from diverse backgrounds into positions of power in Greater Manchester. 

Are you leading work you truly believe in? Do you want that work to have an even greater impact than it already does? Have you got an idea of where you want to go and you’re not quite sure how to get there? Or maybe none of this applies to you, but you know a woman who fits the bill.

Queen Bee Coaching wants to help. Please contact via the link below.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK. Nominations for the 2022 Award can be submitted until 15th September, 5pm.

The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) are inviting VCSE organisations to be part of their new Community Coffee Club for the North West region.

Through our Access to Growth fund, we offer blended finance (mix of grant and loan) aimed at small and very small social enterprises and charities that trade, including new organisations. Whether you address social needs, strengthen communities, improve people’s life chances, enhance culture or protect the environment – if your business trades for the common good, this opportunity is for you.

The objective of this grants programme is to increase the wellbeing of communities of African and Caribbean people in Greater Manchester.

Grants are for £5,000, £10,000 or £15,000.

Deadline for grant applications is midnight on Sunday 4th July 2021

• Are you a legally constituted charity, voluntary sector organisation, or social enterprise?
• Do you require support for the development of your charity or social enterprise?

Get grants and learning support to progress your ideas and grow your enterprise activity through The Black and Minoritised Communities Enterprise Development Programme.

Support from the programme enables organisations to grow financial resilience and impact by providing a mixture of grant and learning support to help get enterprise ideas off the ground. If accepted onto the programme, participating organisations work collaboratively with The Ubele Initiative throughout the programme journey to best identify support needs (both learning and grants).

Stage 1 applications are open until Tuesday 6th July.

A new programme to tackle unemployment has been launched in April 2019 from the European Social Fund.

Over the next two years, adult education charity, The WEA will help thousands of people who face additional barriers in the workplace, such as lone parents, improve their employability and gain permanent employment.

The WEA will distribute grants of £20,000 to eligible organisations in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Applications for Greater Manchester close at 8am, Monday 28th June

Contact details:
ESFgrantsgm@wea.org.uk
or call the ESF Grants Team on 0151 2435356

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to give a helping hand to projects and initiatives across the UK that are seeking to bring music to their community. Deadline: 1st July 2021.

GMCVO, with funding from GMCA, have launched a grants programme to fund work that will be part of the development of a Greater Manchester Trauma Responsive and Adverse Childhood Experience Framework. The aim being to create a coordinated approach to reduce individual and community exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma.

Based in Bolton, Box Power CIC is a philanthropic not-for-profit energy brokerage. Through their grants programme, they are awarding grants of up to £20,000 to registered charities in the North West.

Grants up to £5,000 to support a project or running costs for a charity that equips people aged 11 and over with the skills ready for employment. No deadline stated.

Grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 available to organisations across the UK to fund projects which raise awareness of the Windrush Scheme (documentation), the Windrush Compensation Scheme or both.

Grants from £1,000 to support new and established groups and organisations to build capacity and deliver projects to support social prescribing to Be Well clients. No deadline stated. 

Grants up to £28,000 for charities, residents and community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and local partner agencies with projects which make a difference to the lives of their residents and their communities. Deadline: August

Grants from £1,000 to £20,000 for charitable organisations with outdoor and character-building projects for young people in North West England as well as for educational, religious and cultural activities and institutions in the North West of England. No deadline

Grants of up to £3,500 are available to promote a safer and increased quality of life through the prevention of crime and the protection of people and property from criminal acts. No deadline 

Grants up to £100,00 are available to cover captial costs, core costs and project costs. No deadline.

Action Together publish a monthly funding bulletin showcasing current opportunities, accessed through the link below. 

Action Together also have an online 'find funding' directory which you can access via this link. 

The latest monthly roundup of funding opportunities from Beware of the Bull.

EVENS is the UK’s first and largest survey of its kind to document the impact of Covid-19, and the lockdowns, on the lives of people from ethnic and religious minority groups. 

The survey will provide robust evidence to shift the narrative on racial injustice and ethnic and religious inequalities in modern Britain and is available in 14 languages.

We are looking for participants from ethnic and religious minority groups who are aged 18 or over and living in England, Scotland or Wales. 

How much do you talk to your family about climate change and the environment?

What do you and your family know and think about adapting to the challenges of climate change?

Do you think teaching about climate change reflects global perspectives?

Researchers from Melbourne and Manchester universities are seeking 14-18 year olds to participate in a research study. They are particularly keen to hear from families with roots in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Central or South America.

Researchers from Oxford University, THIS Institute, Health Talk and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine are looking for participants who have experienced Covid-19 and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to take part in a study aiming to develop new web resources for people with Covid-19 and healthcare professionals. 

They are particularly keen to hear from people from Black, Asian or other Minority Ethnic communities. The research team speaks English, Arabic, Urdu and Tamil. 

For more info on taking part, please contact Annelieke Driessen on:

Tel: 07737 637524
Email: annelieke.driessen@lshtm.ac.uk

The University of Huddersfield is looking for people to take part in an online survey about the use of stop and search powers by the police. They are specifically recruiting Black males between the age of 18-29 to take part.

Researchers at the University of Manchester are looking at how individuals have fared financially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and what impact they feel the pandemic has had on their finances. 

If you are currently working within gig-economy roles – on self-employed, zero-hour, or temporary contracts – the research team would love to hear from you.  Ideally, they are seeking people who work in social care, hospitality, delivery, health and fitness, or office administration. In particular, the researchers would like to speak to individuals aged 30-50 who are earning roughly between £12,000-£20,000 per annum and living in Greater Manchester or the surrounding area.