LawWorks for Community Groups provides quality legal advice to those in the voluntary sector – free of charge! Thanks to a national network of volunteer lawyers, free business law advice can be provided to community groups, small charities and social enterprises who do not have funds to pay for legal fees.

LawWorks for Community Groups can help with a wide variety of legal matters, including:

• Company law: (such as advice on commercial contracts; how to incorporate as a company; updating and amending the organisation’s Articles of Association etc.); • Employment law: drafting, reviewing and updating employment contracts and staff handbooks. • Intellectual property law: advice on registering a trademark and data protection issues. • Property law: advice on lease terms; assistance with negotiating tenancy agreements. • Other areas advice is available on include: charity law matters; tax/VAT matters; insolvency and help in drafting contingency plans; insurance law matters; health and safety law matters; general commercial matters etc.

To apply, please visit the LawWorks website http://www.lawworks.org.uk and complete the online application form under the “Charities” section.

Applications are reviewed by the Community Groups team who will help organisations understand the scope of advice that they require. They will then select the right volunteer lawyer for the case and put you in contact with them. All of the volunteer lawyers treat these cases just as they would treat ones for which they have been paid. It really is that simple!

Any questions? Please call The Community Groups team on 020 7929 5601 or email lcg@lawworks.org.uk.

Volunteer(s) needed

To help with research and advocacy on disability issues. Must have a very high standard of literacy. Can pay travel and some expenses. For more information contact Ms Linney 01362 667033 (answering service)

Grassroots Grants

Norfolk Community Foundation has £1.1m to distribute before 2011. If your community group or project needs money to meet a local community need, you can apply for up to £5,000. The only requirements are that the group must be largely volunteer led, have a formal constitution and bank account, been active for more than a year and have an income of less than £20,000 per year. For more information please telephone 01603 623958 or email info@norfolkfoundation.com or download an application form from http://www.norfolkfoundation.com

http://www.norfolkfoundation.com/grant/app_pack.htm

Free Adult Education Courses

Update your maths and english skills for free, gain confidence and a national qualification at level 1 or 2. Most courses are held in Adult Education Centres, village halls, community centres or other centres near you, offering daytime, evening and weekend courses.

Choose the skills you need to improve such as spelling, reading, form filling, fractions, decimals or handling money.

For further information or details of local courses please contact your local office or visit http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/adulteducation

Parish Plans get thumb's up from communities

A study into the effectiveness of parish and town plans in Broadland, carried out by Broadland District Council and Norfolk Rural Community Council, has shown the commitment and enthusiasm of Broadland’s communities for identifying and addressing their own needs.

However, the report also shows that there are certain aspects of producing a parish or town plan that need more forethought, resources and commitment from other organisations. Click here for more information.

Services2gether Feasibility Report Published

This ground braking initiative looking at multi-provider service outreach as a means of getting services to isolated rural communities has published the finding of its feasibility study. The aim is to now look at a wider roll-out of the scheme bringing benefit to thousands of people across the county.

Click here for more information

Community play and recreation guide launched

Many communities own or manage open green spaces for use by their residents for a whole range of activities such as sport, play or gardening. These recreation grounds provide a valuable resource for the community but impose demands on local volunteers regarding their management.

In order to help communities with their important work, the Rural Community Councils in the East of England(RCCs) have developed support workshops and information for managers of community play and recreation facilities.

The toolkit can be found on the Rural Action East website (the regional body for the RCCs in the Eastern Region) under the projects section.

Or by clicking here to look at the section on information for playing fields and playgrounds

Post Office Closures

March 26th was Decision day for the announcement of Post Office Closures across the County. NRCC has reacted with surprise at a number of the decisions that have taken place and has attended public meetings to explain what communities should be doing to make their case to save their Post Office. We have until June 2nd when the consultation period ends and closure decisions become final.

The NRCC is working with District Councils and the County Council to co-ordinate action.

If you feel that your Post Office should not be closed and wish to fight the decision, then contact Peter Smith 01362698216

1000 Days to the Next Round Of Closures The latest subsidy expires in 2011, NRCC outlines its fears for the future of our communities, unless we take action NOW Open Letter On The Future Of Post Offices In Norfolk

In Kind Direct

In kind direct redistributes products left over from business practices to those charities that can benefit from such items. They have recently announced that they will no longer require an annual registration fee meaning charities only pay the handling and transport costs of goods received. Therefore if you haven't before go to http://www.inkinddirect.org and save some money for your organisation.

Signpost

Norfolk Rural Community Council publishes a bi-monthly e-bulletin called 'signpost' which contain information and advice on rural issues. To view the most recent copy of signpost as well as back issues click here

Reports and Press Releases

Below are links to a number of recent reports and press releases detailed in pages on this site. A full list can be found by looking and the research and reports category on the community insight section of this website

• Community energy initiatives: Embedding sustainable technology at a local level: A study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, of community renewable energy projects in Britain has found that so far, projects are largely based in the countryside, some quite remote. click here for link to main report 15:23, 3 August 2007 (BST)

• Carnegie Commission Calls for New Agenda for Rural Assets and Services The Carnegie UK Trust's new report calls for more rural communities to take control of their own local assets and services. The Carnegie Commission for Rural Community Development’s report calls for assets ranging from housing, renewable energy supplies and sports clubs to be managed at a local level. The report also calls for a greater role for networks such as rural stress helplines, debt counselling and support groups for older people, which constitute ‘social’ assets.

• Migrants, integration and local neighbourhoods Three reports published 29th May by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have examined the effects of migration to Britain.

• Government Issues Response To Post Office Consultation Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has confirmed that 2,500 post offices in rural and urban areas will be closing. The NRCC aims to support communities who lose their Post Office, contact us for more information.

• The Quirk Review findings on community asset management and ownership was published on May 15th and basically blows away many resistances to the transfer of public assets to community ownership.

• The Commission for Rural Communities have published a report looking at the effects of cash purchases for housing in rural areas. This report strengthens the need to address the problems that local people are faced with regarding housing needs in rural areas. NRCC has a dedicated team of Affordable Housing Enablers contact us for more details.

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FULLY FUNDED TRAINING COURSES IN NORFOLK

The following courses are designed for Voluntary groups/ Charities and Social Enterprises and delivered by The Guild.

Exploring Your Idea

Whether you are thinking of setting up your own organisation or taking your existing one to the next level, this one-day course will enable you to explore your idea and examine ways to turn it into reality. OCN accreditation available.

Dates and venues:

Monday 1st December 2008, Cromer

Monday 26th January 2009, Norwich

Monday 23rd February 2009, Great Yarmouth

Understanding and Starting a Social Enterprise

This is a one-day course introducing the world of Social Enterprise. You will learn what a Social Enterprise is and what makes it different from other businesses. Topics include Social Enterprise structures and legal and financial issues.

Dates and venues:

Monday 29th September 2008, Norwich

Friday 17th October 2008, Great Yarmouth

Friday 14th November 2009, Kings Lynn

Monday 16th February 2009, Dereham

Finances and Funding for a Social Enterprise

This one-day course will provide you with an understanding of the basic finances of running a Social Enterprise.

Dates and venues:

Friday 10th October 2008, Norwich

Monday 20th October 2008, Great Yarmouth

Friday 16th January 2009, Kings Lynn

Monday 23rd March 2009, Dereham

Money Management

This 5 day course helps you to learn the language of finance, plan how to meet future money needs and strategies for improving cash flow. OCN accreditation available.

The course will take place in Norwich on the following dates

Friday 24th October 2008

Monday 3rd November 2008

Monday 10th November 2008

Friday 21st November 2008

Friday 28th November 2008

Preparing a Business Plan

This 3 day course takes place over 15 hours of training and helps participants to write a business plan for their own project or organisation. OCN accreditation available.

The course will take place in Norwich on the following dates:

Friday 23rd January 2009

Friday 30th January 2009

Friday 6th February 2009

Project Management

This 3 day course enables participants with an idea for a Social Enterprise, or any type of organisation in the social economy / voluntary sector, to carry out a feasibility study to create pathways to ensure its success. OCN accreditation available.

The course will take place in Norwich on the following dates:

Friday 27th February 2009

Friday 6th March 2009

Friday 13th March 2009

All the above courses are fully funded through Seamless Support to any individual or group based in Norfolk. Outside Norfolk £75 + VAT per person per day (please note Exploring Your Idea is only available for participants based in Norfolk).

For more information please visit The Guild website [http://www.the-guild.co.uk ] where you can also download a booking form. Alternatively email us on services@the-guild.co.uk or call 01603 615200.

TELECLUB VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Are you a sociable person who enjoys a chat on the phone? Do you want to help your community but have limited time? By giving a short amount of time you can volunteer for Teleclub chatting to our members from the comfort of your own home at times which suits you.for more information phone 01603 785 261 and make a real difference to someones life.

One to one counselling - at a special rate!

Soul Journey - Inner Space, Norwich

Date/Time: Ongoing by appointment

One to one counselling offered by diploma students who have reached a point in their training where they are considered, by their tutor, ready to offer counselling. They will receive regular supervision, as all counsellors are expected to do.

Cost: £8 initial assessment, subsequent sessions £6

For further information or to book a session contact:

Anita Martin Telephone: 01603 502228
Email: souljourney@freeuk.com

For information on our events, courses and workshops, including counselling training, please visit our website:

http://www.souljourneyonline.co.uk