Charity Awards 2007
The Charity Awards, sponsored by Charities Aid Foundation, recognise and honour outstanding performance in the leadership and management of charities. By highlighting the achievements of charities striving for excellence, the awards also promote best practice throughout the sector.
Visit www.charityawards.co.uk to download your nomination form. The closing date for entries is Friday 16th March 2007.

Winners will be announced at a glittering gala dinner on Thursday 21st June 2007.
Entry to the Charity Awards 2007 is free and nominations are welcome from charities of any size from throughout the UK. A full list of categories and criteria is available on the website,

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
A fantastic opportunity to get the recognition you deserve on organisational achievements. Various categories listed and worth having a look at the website.

eBusiness expo 2007, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st March 2007, East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham
Following its success in 2005, the emda-funded eBusiness Expo will be returning to the East Midlands Conference Centre over two days on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st March 2007.
It will offer a unique opportunity for businesses right across the region to meet some of the biggest international names in technology and talk to a raft of local suppliers about every aspect of ICT.
The Expo is free to attend and delegates can register online at www.ebusinessclub.biz/expo or by calling the eBusiness Club team on 0845 603 8370.

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
Whether it is a couple hours browse through the stalls or you are available for the whole day event, this is a good way of finding out more on getting the most out of ICT and increasing productivity. Important particularly for those that handle communications.

Directory of Social Change 'Governance for the Arts' Friday 23rd March 2007, London.
This conference will look at the difficulties faced by artists and arts organisations with the increasing range of legal and accounting challenges that now face them. This conference aims to provide a guide to the key legal issues and highlights the opportunities arising from recent developments in company and charity law. For further information please contact training@dsc.org.uk.

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
An informative event for arts organizations. There is a charge for this event and worth having a look at the day’s outcomes to gauge the benefits out of the conference.

Making Diversity Work Conference, Thursday 29th March 2007, Nottingham Forest Football Club.
A one day conference for Businesses, Local Authorities and Voluntary Organisations on the WHAT and HOW of embracing diversity; especially looking at Talent Pools, Community Cohesion and Supplier Diversity. For information and to make a booking, contact Beverley Toone at Business in the Community, 30-34 Hounds Gate, Nottingham, NG1 7AB
Email: beverley.toone@bitc.org.uk
Tel 0115 924 7415, Fax 0115 924 7401, Mobile: 07739 217926.

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
Mainly targeted at diversity in the workforce and how this can be used as strength to achieve organizational aim. Of importance to people performance issues and community service delivery.

Inter-Faith Mentoring and Leadership Training, Friday 30th March 2007, The Gateway Hotel, Nottingham
Theme: “Challenges and Opportunities”. National guest of Honour, David Blunkett MP
(Former Home Secretary) and keynote address by Glenis Willmott MEP.

Workshops for the day include:
1. Identifying and sharing best practices
2. Mentoring and Befriending
3. Developing Equality and Diversity Standards
4. Capacity Building to support

To book a place, contact ACETS by email at ledwardsacets@yahoo.co.uk or conference@acets.org by 16th March 2007.

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
Important event particularly for those working with Young people. The Guest of Honour should attract a good mix in the audience. A good networking opportunity and sharing of good practice.

VCS Engage 2007, defining the challenge Wednesday 28th March 2007, Church House, London
VCS Engage is a new programme which aims to make a real impact on the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to play an active and effective role in the delivery of services for children, young people and families.

A free one-day conference, VCS Engage 2007 will give delegates the opportunity to learn about VCS engage, discuss its direction and inform the development of specific initiatives. Those attending will also have the chance to find out more about contributing to the programme over the coming months, identify pressure points and discuss ideas with colleagues.

To find out more and book a place contact the VCS Engage team on 0207 8436356 or email eclouston@ncb.org.uk.

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
An important event for those involved in the Children and Young People Agenda. There will be opportunities for delegates to contribute to the future direction of VCS Engage. Well worth attending.

Engaging Faith…….
A conference for people of faith, active in the community, and people from the statutory and voluntary sectors who need to work in partnership with them Wednesday 21 March 2007, 3pm – 9pm, Conference Centre, Nottingham Bluecoat School, Aspley Lane Campus, NG8 5GY, Registration & Coffee from 3pm.

ENGAGING FAITH … building cohesion in our community.
• ‘Engaging Faith Communities’ – Research Presentation
• Speakers include Muhammad Khan, Patricia Stoat, Nick Spencer, and Professor Ted Cantle. Chair – Vipin Chauhan.
• Presentations from religious groups from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who are making a difference in their local communities.
• Fair Trade stall.
• Workshops on partnership, youth, telling our story, fund-raising, governance, and faith in the public square.
•Buffet Supper 6.30pm.
• Exhibition – Funders, resources, initiatives, books, music in Nottingham & Nottinghamshire.

If you cannot attend the whole conference, you are welcome to come and join us at any time, but please complete a booking form. For more details and booking form, contact ‘Engaging Faith’
– Tel: 01636 817246 or Email social.responsibility@southwell.anglican.org – giving your name and address.

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
Very important and key opportunity for those involved or interested in the Faith sector.

Recruitment of Accredited Voluntary Sector Peers, 29th and 30th March, Warwick
Peer Reviews are one of IDeA’s “big ticket” improvement offerings. These are intensive assessments of a local authority’s performance by “critical friends”, with the objective of highlighting where that authority is doing well, and where it may need to concentrate resources to improve. Peer Reviews have been developed for a range of services including Corporate (whole council), Local Strategic Partnerships, Planning, Children and Young People, and Healthy Communities. The different models vary from a one-day stock-take to an intensive five-day review.

A two day pilot information and assessment centre is being organised at Warwick. Expenses will be met by IDeA.

Who would make a suitable VCS peer?
Peers will need to be working at a similar level of seniority to the other peer team members – who will be Chief Executives, Corporate Directors and senior elected councillors with leadership experience.

Benefits for the Peers
Participating in a peer review offers a chance to learn more about local government and the public sector, the unique challenges councils face, and about managing partnerships to deliver services.

Benefits for their organisation
Peers will bring back their experience of reviewing an organisation’s performance against widely respected performance benchmarks.

Benefits to local government
VCS Peers will bring a unique perspective to the review team, and will offer new insights into the problems councils face and potential solutions. Local government is going through significant changes and new ideas from other sectors can help facilitate that change.

Commitment required
VCS Peers will be full members of review teams and as such will be required to commit to the whole review on-site at the host authority, plus a day to cover pre-review preparation and contributing to the final report.

If you or someone from your organisation would be interested in being involved in this initiative, please contact Donna Gray at IDeA email: donna.gray@idea.gov.uk, tel: 0207 2966453 for further information about the accreditation process and training event.

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
An Excellent opportunity to raise your national profile and improve the local Authority’s Practice. If you want to get involved in the Local Authority’s performance review, then this is your chance.

Managing Service Delivery to Reduce Health Inequalities, Tuesday 24th April 12.30 – 4.30pm, Trent Vineyard Easter Park, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2PX
Through action learning, managers across organisations will have the opportunity to explore:
• The meaning of health inequalities and national targets
• The demographic characteristics and key health inequalities across Nottingham
• What is happening locally to tackle health inequalities in partnership e.g. the Local Area Agreements and Floor Target Action Plans
• The causes of ill health and how social factors influence peoples health
• How health inequalities both influence and are influenced by service delivery
• The best ways to appreciate other partners’ agenda and share information

To book a place, contact sharan Jones at sharan.jones@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or Dara Coppel at dara.coppel@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
An important training event for community managers to learn more about service delivery and health inequality. Definitely worth attending if involved in delivery and service planning of health outcomes.

'Working Together to Achieve More': Community Engagement & Recruitment Event.
Wednesday 9th May, 2 - 8pm, John Carroll Leisure Centre and Mellers Primary School, Radford.
This event involves the coordinated input of;
• Nottinghamshire Black Partnership
• Nottinghamshire Probation Service
• Prison Service
• Nottinghamshire Pilice
• Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue
• Crime & Drugs Partnership

The event will offer:
• Recruitment & Careers Advice (talk to serving ethnic minority staff)
• Uniform / Equipment display (fitness testing)
• Scenes of Crime
• Community safety / crime reduction information (free home safety checks)
• Police Mounted Section
• Prison dog demonstration
• Chip-pan fire demonstration
• Entertainment (storytelling etc)
• Creative fun for kids
• Free buffet light & refreshments

Emphasis, East Midlands Public Health Conference. Wednesday 16th May 2007, Nottingham.
This conference will contain particular reference to mental and sexual health and well being.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear a of perspectives on improving health and tackling health inequalities across key priority areas, explore implications for health improvement and inequalities at both regional and local levels, network with colleagues and view exhibitions.

For further information please contact sarah.hassell@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Muhaj & Parul’s view’s
An excellent networking opportunity and sharing of best in reducing health inequalities. Important event for those who are involved in the improving health agenda.