NEXT VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR FOCUS GROUP MEETING - THURSDAY 26th JUNE 2008

The next VCS Focus Group meeting will be held on Thursday 26th June 2008; full details can be found here.

All are very welcome at the Focus Group.

You can be added to our email list to receive updates about the Focus Group, and all our upcoming events, by contacting us on volunteers@vam-online.org.uk.

PAST VCS FOCUS GROUP MEETING NOTES

The notes from the April 2008 VCS Focus Group are available to download here.

The notes from the February 2008 VCS Focus Group are available to download here.

The notes from the December 2007 VCS Focus Group are available to download here.

PAST CONSULTATIONS, POLICY & FUNDING UPDATES

The April 2008 Consultations, Policy & Funding Update is available to download here.

The February 2008 Consultations, Policy & Funding Update is available to download here.

The December 2007 Consultations, Policy & Funding Update is available to download here.

FREE FUNDING ADVICE SESSIONS - TAKING BOOKINGS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER 2008

If you would like some funding suggestions for your group, come along and get some 1:1 advice from MBC's Funding Officer here at VAM. Contact Sue Ridge to book.

RESOURCE CENTRE & FUNDERFINDER

We regularly add new publications and information to the Resource Centre - for example, recent additions include VCS training programmes, guidance for trustees and information about IT resources.

We have also installed the latest FunderFinder updates, so we have new funding information for you to look at.

The Resource Centre is here at Marsham Street and is open 9.30 - 4.00 Monday to Friday.  Contact Caroline (see panel on the left) to book a slot.

A complete list of the publications held in the Resource Centre will be available on this website soon. In the meantime, please contact Caroline if there is a particular publication you are looking for.

VOLUNTARY ACTION MAIDSTONE IS AN UMBRELLA BODY FOR CRB CHECKS

The CRB umbrella service for the VCS in Maidstone is now well established.

You may know that the CRB does not accept applications from organisations unless they are a "Registered Body" and submit at least 100 applications within any 12 month period within the last 18 months. Some local voluntary and community groups are able to use their own regional or national structures to access checks, but many more local groups are not able to do that.  These groups must access CRB checks through an umbrella body such as Voluntary Action Maidstone.

We charge an administration fee for each check we co-ordinate (this applies to both paid and volunteer staff).  The current CRB charges are: volunteer checks – free of charge, standard paid staff checks - £31 and enhanced paid staff checks - £36.

Total costs for 2008/2009 are therefore

volunteer check - £12

standard paid staff check  - £46

enhanced paid staff check - £51

We see each applicant for a short face to face meeting where we check the form has been completed properly and check and record ID.

For more information about the CRB umbrella service, contact Caroline Newbury on caroline.newbury@vam-online.org.uk

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