COMMUNITY, CONNECTIONS, COLLABORATION... the Third Sector's contribution to nurturing Inverclyde

Thursday 1 October 2015, Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock

Community, Connections, Collaboration are the key themes for our Third Sector Conference this year – opening up the debate on how we can change the existing, somewhat competitive, culture between sectors to one that embodies a more collaborative approach.

Delegates will hear from a range of keynote speakers during the morning session in the Beacon Studio downstairs, with a range of workshops throughout the afternoon in the upstairs Gallery rooms.

Book your place now by visiting https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-connections-collaboration-the-third-sectors-contribution-to-nurturing-inverclyde-tickets-18174954779

Schedule

8.45 - Delegate registration at foyer – networking time with teas/coffees served in the Bistro

9.15 - Welcome overview, CVS Inverclyde Chief Executive Officer Ian Bruce

9.25 - Opening remarks from John Mundell, Chief Executive of Inverclyde Council

9.45 - Colin Mair, Chief Executive of Improvement Service

10.15 - Anne Mills, Chief Executive, Ardgowan Hospice

10.45 - Tea/coffee and more networking

11.00 - Time to review and vote for candidates for the Voluntary Organisation of the Year award, the main category in our Inverclyde Community Awards in November.

11.05 - Kenneth Hogg, Scottish Government Director for Local Government & Communities

11.30 - Dr Miles Weaver of Edinburgh Napier University Business School, on Young Trustees in Scotland

11.50 - Panel Q/A

12.00 - As delegates break for lunch in upstairs lounge, CVS Inverclyde members remain for AGM

13.00 Workshop 1 – Choose from:

Dr Miles Weaver, Edinburgh Napier University Business School: How to encourage more people to get on board? - Miles will outline how to identify ways in which Trusteeship can be encouraged and how we can build relationships and networks to support the development of trustees in Scotland.

Drew MacEoghainn, Community Ownership Support Service: Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill - The Community Empowerment Act has the potential to become one of the most influential pieces of legislation ever drawn up with communities playing a fundamental role at the heart of its development.

Amanda Ptolomy, Volunteer Service Co-ordinator, Trust Volunteering: Volunteering Collaboratively - Amanda will look at different ways your organisation can increase volunteer participation – whether this is about engaging volunteers in the traditional role of service deliverers, as influencers and designers of community led solutions, or as innovative, participatory action researchers - volunteers can be the key to unlocking your organisation's collaborative potential. The workshop will consider the practicalities of involving volunteers in the most meaningful and impactful way.

Aiveen Ryan – Laughter Yoga - We will hear from this inspirational Laughter Yoga specialist, who will provide two afternoon workshops to show us how Laughter yoga has huge potential for individuals and organisations in many ways. It can help us build up our immune systems, reducing cortisol levels in our body (stress hormone), making us more productive and focused at work and happier in ourselves – no wonder they say laughter is the best medicine!

14.30 Workshop 2 – Choose from:

Anne Kidd, CEO, Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire: Better By Design – Anne will tell us about how in East Renfrewshire this Third Sector Interface brought together a national provider, local groups and volunteers to provide a solution to the NHS's problem with people being stuck in hospital because they didn't have the necessary support to allow them to return home. Better by Design is an innovative approach to designing solutions using the knowledge and capabilities of people from all backgrounds, encouraging people to leave their preconceptions and current role at the door.

Bill Clements, Deputy Manager, CVS Inverclyde: Asset Based Approaches and Co-production - are two of the key buzzwords of the moment. With funders and commissioners ever more expectant that the people they fund can demonstrate their ability to work in an asset based or co-productive manner, then this course provides the guidance to ensure that organisations can do so. The workshop will provide people with an introduction to thinking in an asset-based way and help them understand what co-production looks like.

Susan Robertson, Strategic Investment Officer, CVS Inverclyde: What's 'hot' (and what's not) in grant funding? This interactive session will look at what's happening in the funding environment at the moment, and offer hints and tips on how to excel in an increasingly competitive market.

Aiveen Ryan – Laughter Yoga - We will hear from this inspirational Laughter Yoga specialist, who will provide two afternoon workshops to show us how Laughter yoga has huge potential for individuals and organisations in many ways. It can help us build up our immune systems, reducing cortisol levels in our body (stress hormone), making us more productive and focused at work and happier in ourselves – no wonder they say laughter is the best medicine!

16.00 Close

NOMINATE ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

The entry deadline for Reach for the Stars, the Inverclyde Community Awards 2015, has been extended to Friday 25 September, with nominations invited across nine categories from the region's vibrant third sector communities and its volunteers. The awards, run by third sector interface CVS Inverclyde in partnership with Trust Volunteering Inverclyde, celebrate the achievements of local volunteers, charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations in Inverclyde.

It is easy to nominate your own organisation, another or an individual for this year's awards. Forms can be downloaded from the CVS Inverclyde website, or picked up from the organisation's Ladyburn Business Centre office at 20 Pottery Street, Greenock, with nominations either emailed or posted back on or before Friday 25 September.

Nominate now! 

Local grant making trust, the Inverclyde Community Fund (ICF), has awarded funds to the Inverclyde Anti Knife Group (IAKG) to cover the costs of a new marketing roller banner, which will be used by the group to raise its profile at future events.

The ICF awards grants of up to £500 to help small voluntary organisations, community groups and charities get their great ideas off the ground, to improve the lives of people and their local communities in Inverclyde. The IAKG has been granted £154 to purchase the banner in time for its next event, Build a Cairn and Barbecue, on Sunday 31 May from 6pm to 9.30pm at the Beacon Bistro. The event, which will bring together those affected by knife crime and help to further raise the group's profile, will invite people to write their loved one's name on a stone to be placed within the cairn.