What do you think about VAL's services?

The VAL Annual Survey for Voluntary and Communty Groups is an important opportunity for you to tell us;

• what you think we are doing well and what we can improve on
• what has been happening with your group over the past year and what support you need in the future

Findings from last year's survey have been used to shape and develop our services to you, and also in our campaign work with funders to protect communities and VCS groups from the impact of spending cuts.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey online before 24 February. All responses will be entered into a prize draw to win vouchers for your organisation.

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Consultation on Leicestershire County Council Budget - Ends 31 January

Leicestershire County Council have released their budget proposals for the coming financial year and opened a short consultation on their plans - which closes on 31 January.

Find out what the changes mean for your group

To help groups understand what these changes mean VAL has produced an independent summary of the County's budget proposals:

• Download VAL's summary of Leicestershire County Council Budget 2012-13 Proposals 

Have your say

Make sure your views are heard by the council:

• Read the Council's budget summary and complete their online questionnaire on the County Council website.

• Alternatively send your group responses to budgetconsultation@leics.gov.uk
• Read about the Children and Young People's consultation running until 14 February alongside the budget consultation.

Stand up for Communities - Show your support

VAL has conducted research into how the VCS is coping with austerity. Based on our findings we want funders to do more to help voluntary groups protect their beneficiaries from the impact of cuts.

Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd's open letter to the sector

In recent months, the Coalition Government has made a number of policy announcements which have important implications for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises. Nick Hurd has written an open letter to the sector with an update on the strategic framework in which they sit.

Cutswatch LeicesterShire Survey – interim results

In the summer Voluntary Action LeicesterShire began a research project to examine the current issues facing the voluntary and community sector, the extent of funding cuts and the changes that are resulting from them. The interim results are now available and we would like to thank all those groups who contributed to it.
A summary of the results can be seen by clicking below.

£10 million funding available for community action against crime

Date and time: October 13 6pm-8pm
Venue: Voluntary Action LeicesterShire, 9 Newarke Street, Leicester LE1 5SN

Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) is working with Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Neighbourhood Watch Association to advise, help and support community groups in Leicester and Leicestershire to bid for £10 million of Home Office funding through the Community Action Against Crime Innovation Fund.

Children, Young People and Families Forum Event with Nick Davies from Children England and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rory Palmer

Date and time: Thursday 13 October 2011 9.30am – 3.30pm
Venue: Voluntary Action LeicesterShire

The next Children, Young People and Families Forum event is approaching fast. This event has been developed to provide opportunities to come together to share timely  information, encourage wider engagement with the local authorities and  develop greater partnership approaches and solutions to the needs of local children, young people and families.

WISE Social Enterprise

WISE is a new project designed to support new and existing social enterprises in Leicester, to create new businesses, turnover and jobs. Wise offers you free support, advice and training to help turn your Social Enterprise idea into reality. To be eligible for support you need to be a city organisation, or planning to deliver services in Leicester.
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VAL Community Café - Volunteering

Date and time: Thursday 15 September 12.30pm-1.30pm
Venue: Voluntary Action LeicesterShire, 9 Newarke Street, Leicester, LE1 5SN

VAL and Citizens' Eye would like to invite you to this month's Café. This time we will be looking at Volunteering.

Leicester Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Stakeholder Event

Date and time: Wednesday, 5 October 2011 from 2.30pm to 5.00pm
Venue: Voluntary Action LeicesterShire, 9 Newarke Street, Leicester, LE1 5SN

This event is an opportunity for those with a good knowledge of the JSNA to become more involved in its development and help influence future priorities for health and social care in Leicester City. For those with limited knowledge but who wish to become more involved we recommend reading a recently released step by step briefing on the JSNA.