It’s not too late to apply for The Royal Countryside Fund ‘Supporting Rural Communities’ grant programme!

The application window for Expressions of Interest closes this Friday (21^st February) at midday.  

Applicants will need to send a short video and complete a simple ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) form, letting us know who they are, what they aim to do, why their project is needed and how it will help their community.

Further information on the application process, as well as the programme aims and eligibility can be found here. 

Please make sure you read this guidance before you apply. You can also find further guidance on making a video submission here.

The link to the online Expression of Interest form is here:  Expression of Interest Form

Following the success of last week’s face-to-face sessions for professionals and members of the community on extremism and radicalisation, additional online sessions have been arranged in order for those who were unable to attend last week to join and find out more about extremism and radicalisation.

With the current trend in radicalisation cases getting younger, and the internet and social media being a major factor, these sessions are key in helping to provide professionals and parents/carers with increased knowledge around the current radicalisation tactics, with a particular emphasis on social media use.

To sign up for any of the free, two-hour online sessions that are taking place next week and to gain valuable knowledge and contribute to creating a safer community for everyone, please select one of the links below:

Tuesday 18th February 2 pm-4 pm – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/extremism-and-radicalisation-tickets-1246345485899

Wednesday 19th February 12 Noon – 2 pm – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/extremism-and-radicalisation-tickets-1246352867979

Thursday 20th February 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/extremism-and-radicalisation-tickets-1246354994339

Friday 21st February 2 pm – 4 pm – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/extremism-and-radicalisation-tickets-1246360119669

About easyfundraising

Through easyfundraising, 8,000 online retailers will donate money to your organisation when your volunteers, staff and supporters shop with them. Anything from a weekly grocery shop to a family holiday can generate a free donation for you.  Every 3 months you’ll receive all the donations raised by your supporters and as it’s unrestricted funding, you spend the money on whatever you need.

IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO MEET THE FUNDER:- 

Tuesday 25^th March 10am-11:30am -Online VIA Teams

Your easy route to unrestricted funding!! 

Does your community organisation need additional funds in 2025? Come along to our free online session find out how your organisation can receive free unrestricted funding via funding platform easyfundraising.

In this informal session, Becky from easyfundraising will show you how your volunteers, staff and supporters can use the easyfundraising platform to raise donations for free for your organisation when they shop with leading retailers. 

What to expect:

• A live demonstration of how it works 
• Instructions on how to get your organisation set up
• Tips on how to raise as much as possible 
• A Q&A session with Becky

Suitable for: anyone involved in fundraising for good causes of all shapes and sizes including voluntary groups, CICs, social enterprises, churches, schools, sports clubs and charities

Why not set up a free easyfundraising page for your organisation before the session? You can do that here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/merthyr-tydfil

For more information and book your place by 18^th March contact:-

Emily.whiteman-cranston@vamt.net 

The relationship between parents and their babies is one of the most important ways of helping babies develop in all areas of their life, especially during the First 1000 days (from conception to age 2 years).  However, there is a lack of understanding across services about why this period is so important, and how best to support families during this time. 

The Parent-Infant Foundation is supporting a Wales-wide awareness raising project to help make this information better known. We are co-producing this with parents to ensure we get it as right as possible. At this stage we are looking for examples from parents like yourself, of the little things that made the biggest difference to your confidence and how you felt as a parent/carer during this stage of family life.  It could be an act of kindness, something someone said, showed to you etc.

If you would like to contribute to this project please complete the following questionnaire via a short online survey

The survey is completely anonymous, but if you would like to be further involved with the project, you will have the option to do this at the end. 

VAMT, Interlink RCT, Cwmpas and Lloyds Bank Foundation would like to invite you to a commissioning conversation to strengthen relationships with cross sector partners, shape commissioning practice and the implementation of Wellbeing Economy principles in commissioning for the county.

Date: Friday, February 21^st

Time: 9:15am-12:30pm

Venue: Orbit Business Centre, Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 1DL

 Who is it for?

• Third sector organisations involved in commissioning i.e. charities and social enterprises
• Public sector commissioning professionals
• Those interested in public sector procurement.

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/finding-the-good-a-conversation-about-commissioning-across-wales-tickets-1225202346199

Book for free tickets now or contact ben.bostock@cwmpas.coop for more information.