Inclusive Communities E-Newsletter - Issue 3

Welcome to the winter edition of the Inclusive Communities E-newsletter. This e-newsletter is an opportunity for members of the Sunderland Partnership’s Inclusive Communities Group and Independent Advisory Groups to share information and provide updates.

FUEL POVERTY

As we hit the coldest spell in many years your support is needed to tackle Fuel Poverty - we need your help to get the right advice and assistance to those in need.
There are over 100 winter deaths in Sunderland as a result of people living in cold/damp conditions and not being able to afford their energy bills.

This has a huge impact on children and young people's physical health, psychological health and educational achievement and on older people.

If you are aware of people living in unhealthy conditions as a result of a lack of fuel please contact the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre number 0800512012. They will provide FREE and impartial information on energy saving and affordable warmth and the many available grants and discount schemes. Information is also available on www.nea.org.uk

Winter Warmth Packs 2010

Contents:
• Warm fleece throw
• Energy efficient light bulb
• Cup-a-soup
• 2 Room Thermometers
• Fire safety booklet
• Up to date Flu jab advice
• Topical Winter advice and further details on Age UK Sunderland’s services

Available from Age UK Sunderland’s Reception on Stockton Road
or contact 0191 5141131

Pride Radio

" Pride Radio is the north east's LGBT radio station which broadcasts on line 24 hours a day. The station was launched in the summer with a 4 week run on FM in Newcastle and Gateshead but available elsewhere on line through www.prideradio.co.uk.

The station has recently moved into a studio in Newcastle and intends to start broadcasting live programmes again on line in the next few weeks. They are always looking for volunteers to be on air or help fundraise.

The next spell on FM will be next summer in the run up to Northern Pride. If finance is available they would also love to do the same in Sunderland and Middlesbrough for the respective Pride celebrations in those areas.

If you'd like to get involved or get a promotion made about your group which could be broadcast on air, then please e mail info@prideradio.co.uk

2011 Census: help tomorrow take shape

On 27 March 2011 all homes will be taking part in a census. The census is carried out every ten years to count people and households in England and Wales. It’s vital that you complete your confidential census questionnaire as the information gathered is used to make decisions about our community. Our area receives funding from government, based on the number of people living here, funding that can be used for housing, schools, hospitals, transport and other important services. So, in early March you will receive a white envelope through your door with a purple census logo on it just like the one shown above. Inside the envelope you will find your 2011 census questionnaire. The form is straightforward to complete and should not take too long to do. If you want you can fill the form in online, otherwise once you have completed it simply post it back. Either way it’s all confidential so no one will see your personal information and if you need help there is a wide range of support available such as language guidance booklets, large print format, as well as online help and telephone call centres.

At the moment we are looking to recruit local people to be a part of the Census team. Find out more at www.census.gov.uk and the jobs at www.censusjobs.co.uk

Sponsored walk to support Asylum Seekers & Refugees in Sunderland

Recently Northumbria Police Neighbourhood Co-ordinators Jane Nikolarakis and Martha Bernal have been involved in a sponsored walk to support Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Sunderland. As their role involves acting as liaison officers with these groups they usually help with the organisation of the Christmas party. Jane became aware that this year due to the credit crunch, there has been very little money available to cover the costs of room hire, entertainment, food for the partygoers and presents for the children. She decided to organise a sponsored walk to raise funds for the party, those walking were sponsored by friends, family and colleagues, who have all been very generous.

Jane said, “We started at the pier in Sunderland and finished at South Shields, after a refreshment break in Whitburn. We were blessed with  mostly good weather after a cold and cloudy start. There were 7 of us in total, plus Max the dog, who helped us keep up the pace.
The group comprised of:

• 2 volunteers from NERS ( ( North East Refugee Service) Bernadette Gibson and Felicity Livsey
• Tracey Brown the ethnic minority education worker and Jackie Hepton her former student placement
• Bev Mcnight  from 'Y' Housing and her dog Max
• my colleague Martha Bernal  and me.”

The group estimate that they will have raised about £450 from the walk. They are also continuing to raise funds by holding a raffle and a group of workers are also being sponsored to live off £5 a day for a weekend (the amount of money an asylum seeker has to live on). If anyone would like to contribute please contact Martha or Jane at sunderland.nc@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

Free Volunteer Advertising with Guardian Jobs

As part of our commitment to Voluntary sector recruitment Guardian Jobs is pleased to announce a new service which will change the way organisations attract volunteers.

From November 2010 you can advertise your organisation's volunteer roles on guardianjobs.co.uk Click here to view more on this

Guardian Jobs' dedicated volunteering recruitment section   attracts 12,000 unique users a month with opportunities catering for the 207,000 charity/volunteer sector job seekers using the website every month. Click here to view more on this

To find out how to access this engaged, ethically minded audience and display your job adverts across guardianjobs.co.uk Click here to view more on this
email sales@guardian.co.uk. 

*Please note this offer excludes the following job roles: Trustees, Chairs and Honorary Board Members, Internships and Non-Exec Directors

OPPAG (Age UK Sunderland)
Following Age UK Sunderland’s Positive Ageing Conference held at the Stadium of Light in September this year, one of the issues that was highlighted at a number of the workshops was the fact that people were unsure of the role of the Primary Care Walk-in Centres.  As a consequence, a member of the PCT’s Public involvement team was invited to speak at all the forums giving information not only about the roles of the Walk-in Centres but about the Choose Well Campaign which aims to provide information about all the services available across the South of Tyne and Wear region.  Information cards and booklets were distributed. 

In addition to giving information, it was an opportunity to ask members of the public for feedback of the service that they have received; both positive and negative comments were taken on board.

Finally, the plans of the new Primary Care Centre at Houghton Le Spring were looked at and discussed.  The members of the Houghton Le Spring 50+ Forum had an opportunity to meet with the artist commissioned to produce the art work for inside the new building. They had an input to the types of artwork they would like to see there and some topics that could be depicted.

Gender IAG
The Gender IAG hosted a stand at the City Library on 25th November 2010 to raise awareness of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. They handed out home-made white ribbons and provided details on the services available for women within Sunderland who are/have been victims of domestic abuse. The next session is to be held in January - date to follow.

BME IAG
The BME IAG have been undertaking a review of the Compact BME code of Practice. They recently held an evening event to fill in school application forms, although Tracey Brown had all the necessary paper work unfortunately nobody came for advice. The group discussed other ways of ensuring the BME community know about the necessity of making an application a year in advance. BME IAG members also discussed the census there was a positive discussion and many ideas were given. Several questions were asked to the representative of the Census and she compiled a list of to take to her manager.

DIAG
The DIAG are holding regular meetings at North Moor Fire Station. They have been looking into accessibility issues and disabled parking in the city. Recently there have been presentations on the Census and Safeguarding Adults.

FAITH IAG
The FAITH IAG have set up a planning group which are meeting regularly to discuss plans for an event.

FEEDBACK & ARTICLES - Any feedback you have on this newsletter would be most appreciated. If you have articles for any future newsletters please email equality@sunderland.gov.uk or phone Linder Pott – 0191 5611285.