EHRC Withdrawal of Funding
Government has pushed through reforms to the EHRC, including withdrawal of its grants function. From April 2012, organisations who were funded to advise and assist individuals experiencing discrimination under the Equality Act will no longer be funded to do so. We are calling for the government to put in place specific arrangements for funding of this area of work. Please sign the petition here to show your support! Also please view our campaign page.
Back to top
International Women's Day
The 4th March is International Women's Day. Chester Women's Aid have organised an event taking place at Hoole Community Hall from 11am to 4pm. Join them for music/dance performances, workshops and information/market stalls. There is also a café plus free crèche and children’s activities. Everyone is welcome and entry is free. You can download a poster advertising the event here. (PDF)
Back to top
Transforming Local Infrastructure Partnership
Last year the government released a new fund for ‘transforming local infrastructure’. For those who aren’t in the know infrastructure organisations are those that provide support and advice to frontline organisations. CHAWREC for example is a specialist infrastructure in that we give advice and support to BME led organisations, Voluntary Action are a generalist infrastructure.
The idea of the funding is to invest in local infrastructure to transform how they work day to day so that they are better equipped to help frontline organisations. We were involved in 3 different partnerships in the area and 2 of those – Cheshire West and Warrington – were successful. Both partnerships will be looking at how we do things better – how we work better together, reduce duplication of services and make ourselves more accessible and more sustainable for the future. The funding is for 18 months and we will keep you updated on progress!
For those who are interested in the details of the bids, we’ve outlined the key activities in each partnership to be achieved over the next 18 months:
Cheshire West & Chester
Key activities:
■ Develop a ‘gateway’ service delivery model which provides coherent and co-ordinated access to a tailored package of support services for Civil Society Organisations (voluntary and community sector)
■ Deliver a leadership development programme which incorporates mentoring support, skills development and succession planning
■ Set up a co-operative social enterprise to co-ordinate the delivery of commercial support services, back office functions and bulk purchasing
■ Redesign volunteering infrastructure services to extend coverage across the borough and deliver services to increase social action by private and public sectors
Warrington
Key Activities:
■ Map sector service provision across Warrington, classified by sub sector, community of interest and community of place
■ Develop and produce an online portal to meet the identified needs of Civil Society Organisations and support them in using this new service delivery
■ Implement a system to ensure training provision for frontline organisations is co-ordinated and effective to meet the needs of the sector
■Implement a volunteer kitemark to ensure that good practice in volunteer management is embedded within frontline organisations building capacity and sustainability.
CHAWREC will be contributing to these 2 partnerships on the steering groups and ensuring that equality mechanisms are built into all areas of work, considering the needs of diverse groups and follows best practice in equality.
Back to top
AGM
CHAWREC's AGM will be held on 29th February at The Unity Centre, members will be receiving invites over the next few days but they can also download the documents here. Non members are also more than welcome to come from 7:00-8:30pm, you can download the invite here (PDF) and Map here (PDF).
Back to top
Blog on Voice 4 Change England Website
Shantele Janes, Director of CHAWREC has recently published a blog entry on Voice 4 Change England's website, titled "Equality and justice? Only if you can afford them" You can read it here.
Back to top
Chester Diversity Festival
The University of Chester is holding its annual Diversity Festival from the 6th-17th February, you can download the full programme here (Word), and also download a poster for a Gender & Sexuality Event (PDF), Inspirational Woman Event (PDF) and a Research Symposium on BME students (PDF). You can also view this page on the University of Chester's Website for more information.
Back to top
Chinese New Year in Chester
2012 sees the Year of the Dragon return for the first time this millennium! The Wah Lei Chinese Association are celebrating on the 28th January in Chester City Centre, you can download a poster advertising their event here. (PDF)
Xin Hua are also celebrating Chinese New Year at The Unity Centre on the 21st January, you can download a poster advertising their event here. (PDF)
Back to top
Activities at the Unity Centre
You can now download the activities calendar for The Unity Centre for February-April 2011-12 here! (PDF)
Back to top
Internet Training
Do you know someone who needs training on how to use the Internet? If so we are offering "Online Basics" training free of charge. Sessions throughout November and December are now booked up but we have just decided on the dates for January and you can download a list of the sessions here (PDF). If they can't make the sessions then please contact Craig on 01244 400730 and we will try and find a convenient date and time!
Back to top
Archived news available here.
Government has pushed through reforms to the EHRC, including withdrawal of its grants function. From April 2012, organisations who were funded to advise and assist individuals experiencing discrimination under the Equality Act will no longer be funded to do so. We are calling for the government to put in place specific arrangements for funding of this area of work. Please sign the petition here to show your support! Also please view our campaign page.
Back to top
International Women's Day
The 4th March is International Women's Day. Chester Women's Aid have organised an event taking place at Hoole Community Hall from 11am to 4pm. Join them for music/dance performances, workshops and information/market stalls. There is also a café plus free crèche and children’s activities. Everyone is welcome and entry is free. You can download a poster advertising the event here. (PDF)
Back to top
Transforming Local Infrastructure Partnership
Last year the government released a new fund for ‘transforming local infrastructure’. For those who aren’t in the know infrastructure organisations are those that provide support and advice to frontline organisations. CHAWREC for example is a specialist infrastructure in that we give advice and support to BME led organisations, Voluntary Action are a generalist infrastructure.
The idea of the funding is to invest in local infrastructure to transform how they work day to day so that they are better equipped to help frontline organisations. We were involved in 3 different partnerships in the area and 2 of those – Cheshire West and Warrington – were successful. Both partnerships will be looking at how we do things better – how we work better together, reduce duplication of services and make ourselves more accessible and more sustainable for the future. The funding is for 18 months and we will keep you updated on progress!
For those who are interested in the details of the bids, we’ve outlined the key activities in each partnership to be achieved over the next 18 months:
Cheshire West & Chester
Key activities:
■ Develop a ‘gateway’ service delivery model which provides coherent and co-ordinated access to a tailored package of support services for Civil Society Organisations (voluntary and community sector)
■ Deliver a leadership development programme which incorporates mentoring support, skills development and succession planning
■ Set up a co-operative social enterprise to co-ordinate the delivery of commercial support services, back office functions and bulk purchasing
■ Redesign volunteering infrastructure services to extend coverage across the borough and deliver services to increase social action by private and public sectors
Warrington
Key Activities:
■ Map sector service provision across Warrington, classified by sub sector, community of interest and community of place
■ Develop and produce an online portal to meet the identified needs of Civil Society Organisations and support them in using this new service delivery
■ Implement a system to ensure training provision for frontline organisations is co-ordinated and effective to meet the needs of the sector
■Implement a volunteer kitemark to ensure that good practice in volunteer management is embedded within frontline organisations building capacity and sustainability.
CHAWREC will be contributing to these 2 partnerships on the steering groups and ensuring that equality mechanisms are built into all areas of work, considering the needs of diverse groups and follows best practice in equality.
Back to top
AGM
CHAWREC's AGM will be held on 29th February at The Unity Centre, members will be receiving invites over the next few days but they can also download the documents here. Non members are also more than welcome to come from 7:00-8:30pm, you can download the invite here (PDF) and Map here (PDF).
Back to top
Blog on Voice 4 Change England Website
Shantele Janes, Director of CHAWREC has recently published a blog entry on Voice 4 Change England's website, titled "Equality and justice? Only if you can afford them" You can read it here.
Back to top
Chester Diversity Festival
The University of Chester is holding its annual Diversity Festival from the 6th-17th February, you can download the full programme here (Word), and also download a poster for a Gender & Sexuality Event (PDF), Inspirational Woman Event (PDF) and a Research Symposium on BME students (PDF). You can also view this page on the University of Chester's Website for more information.
Back to top
Chinese New Year in Chester
2012 sees the Year of the Dragon return for the first time this millennium! The Wah Lei Chinese Association are celebrating on the 28th January in Chester City Centre, you can download a poster advertising their event here. (PDF)
Xin Hua are also celebrating Chinese New Year at The Unity Centre on the 21st January, you can download a poster advertising their event here. (PDF)
Back to top
Activities at the Unity Centre
You can now download the activities calendar for The Unity Centre for February-April 2011-12 here! (PDF)
Back to top
Internet Training
Do you know someone who needs training on how to use the Internet? If so we are offering "Online Basics" training free of charge. Sessions throughout November and December are now booked up but we have just decided on the dates for January and you can download a list of the sessions here (PDF). If they can't make the sessions then please contact Craig on 01244 400730 and we will try and find a convenient date and time!
Back to top
Archived news available here.