Hello everyone this is our first e-newsletter for the South Forum let me introduce myself Jackie Noonan Development Coordinator.

This weeks edition covers

What is digital challenge and what it means for Sunderland City.

Sangini event

FREE training available

Volunteering opportunities

The Big Chillout - free water dispenser

Can do exchange website

If you would like to announce any thing or have a feature please contact me on 0191 5228447 or e-mail me on jackie.noonan@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

So what is digital challenge?

To give you a bit of background (which you’ll may probably already know anyway), in April this year the Sunderland Partnership put forward their ideas to the regional finals and where one of two partnerships from the North East to be selected to go forward to the national finals.

The partnership is made up from all sectors of the community, Community and Voluntary organisations such as yourselves, Sunderland City Council, and Education and Business.

In July a team from Sunderland went to London to present their proposals to the national judging panel and where successful in being chosen as one of the 10 finalists to receive £120,000 for them to put together proposals to be presented in London on 19th January. The reward…£7million!!!!!

Coalfields Consultation – Digital Challenge- £6 million for one City
“One size does not fit all”
11 October 2006 – 12.30pm-4.00pm
Bethany Christian Centre

I am delighted to have this opportunity to invite you to the Digital Challenge Coalfields Consultation exercise on the 11 October 2006 at 12.30pm in the Bethany Christian Centre, Houghton le Spring.
click here to download more details

click here for reply slip

Sangini Presents

Sunderland will be lit up on 20thOctober 2006 as Sangini presents a special cultural night, when they invite people to the Seaburn Centre for the Sunderland Diwali Evening - to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

The Diwali Festival is a very important event on the Hindu calendar - the 'Festival of Lights' represents India's rich and glorious historical past and teaches people to uphold the true values of life. It symbolises the age-old Hindu culture, which teaches people to conquer ignorance that hinders humanity and to drive away darkness that endangers the light of knowledge.

In India, Diwali is celebrated in much the same way the West celebrates Christmas or Hogmanay as it's recognised as the beginning of a New Year.

FREE TRAINING

The North of England Refugee Service (NERS) is offering Awareness Raising training FREE of charge to organisations interested in training their staff to be aware of the issues most affecting Refugees and Asylum Seekers. 

The North of England Refugee Service is an independent and charitable organisation which exists to meet the needs and promote the interests of asylum seekers and refugees who have arrived or have settled in the North of England.

The session lasts approximately 2 hours and offers training on all pertinent asylum issues, including misconceptions regarding the asylum process and the issues affecting refugee and asylum seekers.

The session also includes workshops that aim to put people in the shoes of a refugee or asylum seeker in the UK.

If you or your staff are interested in receiving this FREE training, please contact Richard Waggott at the North of England Refugee Service on 0191 5108685 or ricw@refugee.org.uk.

http://www.ners-sunderland.org.uk/

Volunteering Opportunities

Diabetes UK Sunderland Group

Need a volunteer Secretary to organise the smooth running of the group. Duties will include answering letters, organising speakers, promoting the group, taking minutes and other general administrative duties. An interest in Diabetes and some clerical skills are required.

Lifeline Project Sunderland
Volunteers aged 18+ are required to help provide support to service users and information concerning drug misuse and other drug services. Opportunities also exist for local community integration to inform people about drug misuse.

WRVS
The WRVS has just refurbished its shop in Sunderland Royal Hospital and needs volunteers on mornings or weekends. If you can help we would love to hear from you.

If you are interested in any of the above opportunities please contact the Volunteer Centre Sunderland on (0191) 567 8902 or call into 4 Toward Road, City Centre, Sunderland. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm. A postal application service is also available. Alternatively email us at: sunderlandvc@aol.com or visit www.do-it.org.uk

FREE WATER DISPENSERS

Northumbrian Water can make water dispensers free to Schools, Colleges, Universities and Businesses.

See the link below.

Paul Gray, manager from Healthy City has enquired to see if they could extend this offer to community
buildings also, or at least those ones dealing with young people, let you know what happens. As soon as I hear from Paul.

Shortcut to: http://www.nwl.co.uk/domestic/chillout.asp

Can do Exchange

Registration is FREE

About Can Do Exchange - Organisations on the Exchange can

- Access and Offer their resources and skills

- Start their own public and private communities or join other communities

- Publicise local and national events

- create a marketing page with a logo & web link to their Website

- Attract participation in projects and start campaigns

- Publicise locally and nationally & internationally

To know more about the Exchange visit www.candoexchange.org or emails at info@candoexchange.org

This email is distributed to all South Forum Members in the South area. Feel free to forward this to friends and colleagues with their permission.