'Job Camp' is a project for people who are aged 18-30, identify as LGBT, living in the Black Country and who are unemployed or are working 8 hours a week or less.

It is designed to improve the employment prospects of LGBT young people. 

Many LGBT young people leave education or training early due to experiencing homophobia / transphobia and struggle to establish themselves within the workplace. 

The project seeks to build the confidence of LGBT young people, to raise their aspirations and to ensure they are aware of their rights under anti-discrimination legislation and are equipped with the interpersonal skills to improve their employability.

For more information about Job Camp contact Jane Morel, Terrence Higgins Trust  on 07789000148 or email jane.morel@tht.org.uk

Click here to see the latest news and photos from the GAPP network

Further details on the £16.5m Real Help for Communities; Modernisation Fund have been announced by Capacitybuilders and Futurebuilders, who are working together to deliver the fund as part of the Government’s £42.5m initiative to help the third sector through the recession.

Of initial interest in the Black Country will be the bursaries available from Capacitybuilders of £1000 worth of business advice support.

This advice and support will be the FTE of two days and be available from one of the business advisers on the list available from the local delivery agent for the Black Country, Wolverhampton Network Consortium, who are working in association with the Black Country Consortium of Local Infrastructure Organisations.

To be eligible for the bursary, organisations need to be in the income range of £150K to £750K per year and operate in the fields of:

• Wellbeing and Health
• Advice, Information and Guidance; and/or
• Loss of Income, Training and Skills

Please check your eligibility at  www.modernisationfund.org.uk  Organisations who gain a bursary and undertake a successful business support process may then be eligible in the autumn for a grant of up to £10,000 to undertake the advised work.  Organisations wishing to find out more about the fund, which comprises of a mixture of grant and loan funding, can now visit www.modernisationfund.org.uk to gain further details and register their interest in the separate elements of the fund.

A free workshop is being held in West Bromwich on Tuesday 9^th June to explore the impact of the economic downturn and signpost you to useful resources and funding. 

The Effects of the Recession on the Black Country Third Sector

With Pauline Heffernan & Sue Rawlings of RHCS Ltd

Tuesday 9th June 2009

9.30 A.M.  till  1.00 P.M with lunch

Bethel Convention Centre, Kelvin Way, West Bromwich, B70 7JW

http://www.bethelconventioncentre.co.uk/

The workshop is being run by Wolverhampton network Consortium who is acting as a Local Delivery Agent for the Government's NEW Modernisation Fund Grants Programme. During the workshop you will have chance to:

• look at how the economic downturn may be affecting the local communities you serve
• look at what your organisation can do to respond and increase your impact and become more resilient by working more closely with others
• learn more about a range of useful resources
• find out more about how to apply for the new Modernisation Fund Grants Programme.

To find out more about this event and register your interest in attending, please contact :  gboswell@w-n-c.org or 01902 572020  as soon as possible and we will book you in.

About the Modernisation Fund Grants Programme.
The first phase of the Modernisation Fund Grants Programme is aimed at helping you understand your needs better.  During June and July organisations delivering services that meet the needs of communities affected by the recession will be able to apply for £1,000 bursaries to pay for initial advice to explore how they can become more resilient and increase their impact  by working more closely with others.  Early applications are encouraged and will stand more chance of being successful. Visit http://www.modernisationfund.org.uk/ to find out more.

There will be two Modernisation Fund Awareness Events:

Bursary (Modernisation Fund) Awareness Event

With Geoff Boswell of CLIO and the Wolverhampton Network Consortium Business Development Team

Friday 12th June 2009

10 A.M.  till noon

The Crossing at St. Pauls, Darwall Street, Walsall, WS1 1DA

http://www.thecrossingatstpauls.co.uk/

And

Bursary (Modernisation Fund) Awareness Event

With Geoff Boswell of CLIO and the Wolverhampton Network Consortium Business Development Team

Friday 19th June 2009

10 A.M.  till noon

The Savoy Centre, Northfield Road, Netherton, Dudley, DY2 9ES

http://www.thesavoycentre.co.uk/

Wolverhampton Network Consortium are working in association with the Consortium of Local Infrastructure Organisations to bring you this information and this Event

For more information, or to book on any of the above sessions, contact Geoff Boswell at Wolverhampton Network Consortium on 01902 572020 or email gboswell@w-n-c.org

WNC is the local funder for the Targeted Support Fund, managed by the Community Development Foundation, and funded by the Office of the Third Sector.

The Targeted Support Fund has been specifically designed to give organisations in the third sector extra support, to help with the increasing pressure on services during the recession. 

WNC have £235,000 available for grants - Third sector organisations in Wolverhampton, who are providing a service in the following areas, can apply for a grant of between £10,000 and £40,000!!:

• Information, advice and guidance
• Employment and training
• Health and wellbeing

To find out if your organisation is eligible contact Steve Saunders on 01902 572020 or email ssaunders@w-n-c.org

The application form is attached below:

Follow the link at www.defra.gov.uk to find out more about the strategy  and the greener living fund