newsletterdec2007

The next meeting is to be held at St Nicholas Church Hall, Hetton le Hole. Lunch will be served at 12.30 meeting will commence at 1.00pm. Click here to view map.

w/c 17th Feb 2008. If you wish to include anything please feel free or contact us on 0191 3854935.

Want to hold a quiz? Do you need to hold a consultation event?
We can help with our interactive quiz kit

Houghton Racecourse Community Access Point (HRCAP) is a local charity, based in the centre of the Racecourse Estate managed by local people for local people. We encourage and support local people through training and education to lead to employment. We provide support with transport, childcare, confidence building, etc and are carrying out a consultation to identify a vision for the future.

If you could please take a minute to complete the attached questionnaire and return to HRCAP, 46-48 Queensway,Houghton le Spring,DH5 8EN, or e-mail: nicolmconnell@yahoo.co.ukTel: 0191 5534020

Digital Challenge New Project Manager - James Mackintosh
As a Project Manager, James is responsible for the delivery/management of specific projects within Sunderland City Council's Digital Challenge.

James has extensive experience within the Digital Marketing industry, spending several years as a Digital Marketing Consultant specifically targeting the email/web environments. He also worked for a top London advertising agency, managing all of the Regional Marketing covering Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

James graduated from Sunderland University with a 2:1 honours degree in Interactive Media and holds a CIM Professional Diploma.

Outside of work James lives a very active lifestyle that includes the Gym, playing Football and Outdoor pursuits that includes Sea Angling (scouring our local coastline for that big catch).

This year is also important in James life as he is taking the big step in Marriage at a local Sunderland venue in October. James can be contacted on his email - James.Mackintosh@sunderland.gov.uk

Easington Lane Illumination Switch on Event Easington Lane xmas Lights switch on - Mayor of Sunderland and 2 young people

Monday 26th November 2007 saw the second annual switch on of the Community memorial Christmas tree and Street Lights in Easington Lane. It was estimated that there was over 150 people at the celebrations which were switched on by two local young people. Nominations had taken place prior to the event. Megan and Conner Brass were chosen and were delighted to have been asked.

The choir from Easington Lane Primary School started the celebrations with two Christmas Carols followed by a speech from the Mayor of Sunderland, who commented on why he felt this tree was such a special one as it represented the massive amount of community spirit in the area.

The memorial tree was a pilot project by Easington Lane Action Group run solely by volunteers and led by young people from the community. Young people started off the fundraising in October 2002 by hosting their own Mc night with all ticket sales going towards the Fundraising of the Memorial Tree. They chose the theme for this as they felt it would be better respected if every-one felt part of the project. They came up with the idea of selling small memorial cards which families and young people could write messages on for loved ones past and present to be hung on the tree. Small children could also write a card out as a wish list for Santa or even to name a star.

Over the years there have been donations made by Hetton Town Council, The local Independent Methodist Church, Community chest and local people themselves. Community Fetes and Fun days have also played a key part in this project as all profits and proceeds over the past 7 years have contributed to this Christmas celebration.
The project is now being led by young people from “The Flatts Youth Centre” which hopes to see the project grow and develop and buy further lights for the High Street for Christmas 2008.

On behalf of the young people from Easington Lane I would like to thank every-one for their support in making this such a successful and emotional celebration event.
Donna Brass Centre Based Youth Manager.

In November, Capacitybuilders announced the lead partners for seven of the nine National Support Service workstreams. During the decision making process, the Grants Committee requested further analysis of the strongest proposals under the two remaining workstreams; ‘Responding to Social Change’ and ‘Collaboration’. Capacitybuilders have now announce remaining lead partners to develop final two national support service workstreams - 'Collaboration' and 'Responding to Social Change'

Presented with this analysis at a meeting on 17 December, the Committee felt that bassac's proposal – against tough competition – demonstrated the strongest and most focused set of activities for the Collaboration workstream, with a particular focus on support for smaller, neighbourhood organisations which often find collaborative working especially challenging, and also face pressures to work together to secure contracts from the public sector.

In reviewing proposals under the Responding to Social Change workstream and considering how the aims of the workstream might best be met, the Committee felt that NCVO's proposal stood out as closest to Capacitybuilders' original aspirations, having a sound basis for more detailed planning with support providers, to better work with the sector on a range of social trends and challenges facing the third sector

Workstream	Lead body
Campaigning and Advocacy	NCVO
Equalities and Diversity	Women's Resource Centre
Income Generation	ACEVO
Leadership and Governance	NCVO
Marketing and Communications	Media Trust
Modernising Volunteering	Volunteering England
Performance Management	Charities Evaluation Services
Collaboration	bassac
Responding to Social Change	NCVO

For further information visit www.capacitybuilders.org.uk

Wearside Women in Need (WWIN) www.wearsidewomeninneed.org.uk

Problems at home? When you are too scared to leave and too scared to stay. There are people who can help you.

Domestic violence is:

* Widespread: it affects 1 in 4 women at some point in their lives
* More than physical violence: it often includes threats, sexual assault, being put down, being controlled, being kept short of money, being blames for what’s happening
* Bad for your mental health: it can lead to feelings of shame, helplessness, depression and isolation
* Wrong: you have the right to live your life free from violence, fear and intimidation
* Something you can escape: the police and other services are ready to offer support and advice when you ask for help.

Who can help you during the day?

* Police (main switchboard) will listen and respond positively to your needs.

Tel: 0191 454 7555
* Wearside Women in Need can offer refuge and support all year round.

Tel: 0191 416 3550
* Housing Department (housing advice unit) can help with all your housing needs.

Tel: 0191 553 1610
* Social Services can advise you on local services. Tel: 0191 553 7128
* Victim Support can offer support and help. Tel: 0191 567 2896
* Reach can help if you have been sexually assaulted. Tel: 0191 565 3725

Who can help at anytime, day or night?

* Police. In an emergency or when you need to reach a place of safety. Tel: 999
* Wearside Women in Need:
* 24 hour helpline (Washington): 0191 415 1506
* 24 hour helpline (Sunderland): 0191 514 1972
* 24 hour helpline (for young women): 0191 514 1964
* Social Services, Out of Hours Emergency Service: 0191 553 1991
* Samaritans (24 hours a day): 0191 567 7177

Safety Planning Information: It is difficult to plan in a crisis. If you are thinking about leaving, even for a short while, then you may need to take:

* Personal ID papers e.g. drivers license, passport, birth certificates
* Legal papers e.g. mortgage papers, rent book, benefits book, insurance document, court orders/ injunctions, divorce papers, work papers/ visas
* Medication needed by you and your children
* Other items: money, bank/ credit cards, house and / or car keys, toiletries, change of clothes for you and your children, pictures of you and your children

SCN Logo Sunderland Community Network - New Administrator

The Coalfield Forum wishes to welcome Niki Mackay who has recently taken over from Wendy Hadlington, Wendy has now moved onto a new job at Sunderland CVS. If you wish to contact Niki please contact her on Wendy's e-mail (wendy.hadlington@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk) until a personal one is set up or tel 0191 5651566 www.sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

Sunderland Strategy - FIRST DRAFT

The FIRST draft of the Sunderland Strategy is now available for consultation for a period of one month (Comments back by the 21st Jan). This document is the product of a vast range of views, comments, agendas and input and as such will require considerable further development at the start of the new year.

All sections of the strategy have been drafted - some more outline than others, depending on the availability of information at this stage and on whether debates on issues have been concluded, for example work continues on the wording of the vision and aims, at the start of the document.

In considering the draft the important section to focus on is section four, which contains information around the priorities and provides suggested key objectives. It is important that we get these correct as these provide the context for the development of specific LAA targets. The priority chapters are still being progressed, and the inclusion of some priority chapters as cross cutting issues has been done as a first attempt, by the policy team.

Comments are of course welcome on all sections of the document.
I hope this is clear but please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions

Claire Rogers, Policy Officer, Corporate Policy Team, Office of the Chief Executive, Sunderland City Council, Tel: (0191) 561 1186 Email: claire.rogers@sunderland.gov.uk

DRAFT START ON WEBSITE

Everyclick.com Charity Challenge

Everyclick.com and Clear Channel are challenging charities to raise as much money as possible for their cause over a three month period by inspiring their supporters to use Everyclick.com’s search engine.

Everyclick.com is a search engine, launched in June 2005 that has been purpose built to automatically donate 50% of its revenue to charity. To date it has 76,000 registered users and 1,200 corporate users. To find out more about this challenge and download an entry form, please click here

Calling all UK Vocal Talent : Enter Now : Live and Unsigned Music Competition.

Live and Unsigned is a national talent competition which is coming to the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle in January 2008. They are seeking singers, musicians and bands to audition. To audition or for further information click here to view their website.

A life-saving mail drop coming to the North East of England in January gives the people of Sunderland the chance to send a message of hope to those desperately waiting for a transplant.

Homes throughout the city will receive the special letter from UK Transplant, which matches and allocates organs for transplant, as part of its 'My life My gift' campaign.

The letter includes information about organ donation, as well as a registration form for those who want to pledge the gift of life and join the NHS Organ Donor Register. If you would like to help, you can also ring the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400.

The Box Youth Project Sunderland is looking for Qualified Youth Workers for evening and weekend work and Basic Skills Tutors for day time sessional work. In the first instance, please send your CV detailing qualifications and contacts for references to :

Lisa Wilson - Project Manager
THE BOX YOUTH PROJECT, Hall Farm Road, Hall Farm, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR3 2UY

Sunderland Events, a website dedicated to keeping you informed about things to see and do in and around the city.

Sunderland’s wide-ranging programme of events and festivals means that you’re never short of something to share, experience and enjoy. From arts, heritage and music, to theatre, leisure, the written and spoken word and sport, Sunderland's events programme offers something for all ages, backgrounds and cultures. Look out for the See Sunderland badge, which highlights the city’s extensive programme of events and festivals, and is your assurance of an enjoyable and safe experience for you and your family.

If you’re an event organiser please add details about your own events by completing the simple form. Or, if you are considering bringing an event to to Sunderland our website includes information on venues, planning an event and the suport the City Council’s Events Team can offer you. http://www.sunderlandevents.co.uk/

A project that harnesses the spare processing power of Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) to help understand the cause of diseases has entered the record books.

Guinness World Records has recognised folding@home (FAH) as the world's most powerful distributed computing network. FAH has signed up nearly 700,000 PS3's to examine how the shape of proteins affect diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Sony are working with Stanford University's Folding@home project to harness the PS3's technology to help study how proteins are formed in the human body and how they sometimes form incorrectly. Improperly formed proteins are linked to a number of diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cystic fibrosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gherig's disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, better known as mad-cow disease. Visit Stanford University web pages here

Disease link - Distributed computing is a method for solving large complex problems by dividing them between many computers. They harness the idle processing power of computers to crunch small packets of data, which are then fed back over the internet to a central computer.

How does it work? - In short you download a piece of software from the online Sony shop and when you leave your playstation on it connects over the web and uses its processing power to help calculate.

We have a network of careers advisers based in Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and across Northumberland.

For nexstep services in other parts of England look at www.nextstep.org.uk and click on the map

Interested in becoming a nextstep provider?
If your company or organisation would like to help us to deliver the nextstep service and you

Sunderland Council's Community Development Team

Online Services form your Council and others

A look back at this year in video