Fairtrade for Bassetlaw and Notts Fairtrade Working Group have organised a conference exploring how to be an ethical consumer in a modern world. 

If you want to make a difference through your every-day activities, then this conference is for you. Through workshops & talks this will be an opportunity to look at how to be an ethical consumer. Contributors will include:

• Paul Butler, Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham
• Michael Clifford, University of Nottingham & Tearfund
• Toby Quantrill, Fairtrade Foundation
• Moses Renee, Banana Grower from St Lucia
• Mads Vaughn, Traidcraft
• Craig Gunton-Day

When: Saturday March 3rd between 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Where: Newstead Centre, Newstead, NG15 0BS

Cost: £5, numbers are limited so please book early

More details from Leon Duveen (01909 514600/07879497801) secretary@fairtradeforbassetlaw.org.uk

The group offers the chance to share positive and negative experiences of looking for work and offers some practical help with CVs and application forms as well as free access to the internet for job-related searches.

The Work Club is being set up by unemployhed volunteers supported by staff from Gedling CVS who believe that having access to the opportunities and support available from a voluntary group will be an exciting addition to the existing services of organisations such as Jobcentre Plus.

The group is planning a programme of guest speakers/support workers from a range of other organisations including employers and training providers.

The meetings will be from 10 00am – 11 00am on:

• Tuesday 31 January 2012
• Wednesday 8 February 2012
• Break for Half term holidays
• Wednesday 22 February 2012
• Tuesday 28 February 2012
• Thursday 8 March 2012

If YOU are interested in coming along telephone 0115 987 1981 or email: admin@gedlingcvs.org.uk.

Image credit http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2664

Have you considered tendering for public sector contacts?

Not quite sure how to go about it successfully?

Then look at the information about training sessions which will address these questions, follow the link on the website to Learning & Events, Local Training Courses or http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/org/1851098617?s=6826129

On Saturday 28 January at Arnot Hill Park and  Arnold Arnot Hill Park Bowls Pavilion, Gedling Borough Council and Gedling Play Forum present free activities to mark the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon. 

A fabulous opportunity for Gedling families to hear traditional Chinese stories and a variety of Chinese inspired arts and crafts activities including lantern making and dragon themed costumes.

 11am – 1pm Targeted session for SEN children and their families

2pm, 3pm, 4pm Hourly workshop sessions in costume making and Storytelling

Please note there is limited capacity and booking is required

4.45pm Traditional Lion Dance in the Civic Centre entrance hall

5.15pm Lantern parade around the lake Places will be limited at all workshops

To book a place or to find out more call 0115 9013714 or visit www.gedling.gov.uk/leisure

Full details in the brochures

Chinese New Year Brochure Chinese Version

Chinese New Year Brochure English version

Do you know of a community group that would like to deliver a community project or celebration event this summer to support the torch relay or 2012 games?

The Big Lottery Fund in partnership with a range of local organisations are delivering their own Torch Relay across the East Midlands in February for community groups wanting to deliver community, environmental, educational or health projects to link in with the games or Torch Relay.

The briefings will provide information about Awards for All and other small funding opportunities to help you celebrate the games as well as informing you how you could be part of the Breath of Fresh Air strand of the East Midlands Cultural Olympiad.

Find out what makes a successful application and what types of projects we could potentially fund.

The Big Lottery Fund East Midlands team would like to invite you to one of our free briefings taking place in your local area.  In Nottinghamshire the date is:

Nottinghamshire –

Thursday 16^th February 2012 (1:30pm – 4:30pm) New Mechanics, Nottingham.

Please fill in the registration form to book a place (one per organisation).  For full details download the invitation 

Big Lottery Fund’s Torch Relay Event Invitation

They offer a friendly place where isolated older people can meet, chat and have a laugh.  Coffee, tea and toast are available when they arrive and lunch is served at midday.

They play bingo with help given to anyone finding it difficult; cards and dominos are also available.  They have fornightly sessions of chair based exercises provided free of charge by Gedling CVS, which are both healthy and fun. 

The accommodation is on the level with wheelchair access.

The Social Services bus will collect those living in the Arnold area but some people prefer to use the Gedling CVS Transport Scheme.  They are happy to accept those living in local villages if they can arrange transport.  The cost of the day is about £6.00 including bus fare.

One lady commented recently ‘It is a wonderful place to come.’

For further dedtails contact:  Eileen and John Rosillo 0115 926 5118 or Kate Cranswick 0115 966 4305.

To complete the survey, which should take about five minutes, visit:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=1hBQWhAjl3gZ%2fvP2prgVzA%3d%3d

Previously, only individuals were able to be members of credit unions and use the financial services they provide.  However, last November, a Legislative Reform Order was passed by Parliament under the Credit Unions Act 1979, meaning that credit unions will be able to:

• Reach out to more people by extending membership to new groups
• Provide services to the VCS, Social Enterprises and businesses, not just individuals.
• Choose to pay interest on savings, instead of a dividend.

As financial co-operatives, owned and controlled by their members, credit unions have no outside shareholders to pay and any profit they make stays in the community and is used to develop the credit union and provide a return to savers.

A Work Club is a place where you can meet other people who are looking for work, build new contacts, share job hunting experiences and get advice and help to find that elusive job. The Gedling Work Club will launch on 31 January 2012 at Gedling Community Hub 20 Main Street, Gedling NG4 3HP.  Anyone interested can come along.  So please spread the word—if you or someone you know might be interested in joining our work club—please get in touch.  As well as the support available, you can become a work club member which will give you some free access to our brand new computers in our Community Hub.  The first meetings of the Gedling Work Club will be 10 00am – 1100am on:

• Tuesday 31 January
• Wednesday 8 February
• Tuesday 14 February
• Wednesday 22 February
• Tuesday 28 February

If you are interested contact Melanie Russell-Smith at Gedling CVS on 0115 987 1981.