The CSV Vocal project enables adults with learning difficulties to learn new skills and become more independent via training and volunteering in their local communities.  It has the following aims:

o    To enable people to integrate into and contribute to their own community through volunteering.
o    To enable people to be the givers rather than the receivers of care.
o    To enable people to access training in order to develop skills to enable them to volunteer in their own communities and to become as independent as possible.
o    To reduce dependency on services specifically set up to support people with learning disabilities (including CSV).
o    To develop volunteering roles of genuine benefit to the local community.

Part of the national volunteering organisation, CSV (Community Service Volunteers), the Vocal Project was set up in Downham Market in 1989 and now has offices in Downham Market and King’s Lynn with volunteers busy in areas across West Norfolk, including Hunstanton, Swaffham, Fakenham, Wisbech and Methwold.
The project supports the volunteers with any needs they may have in order to volunteer successfully by matching them to “Support Volunteers”, who are also from the local community. This support can include transport to and from their placement or one-to-one support at the placement.
Volunteers with the CSV Vocal Project meet new people, learn new skills, become more independent, and take part in activities which are both of interest to themselves, and of genuine benefit to their local community.  We currently have volunteers at cafes, allotments, children’s nursery’s, conservation projects, befriending placements, charity shops and many more, including one social enterprise in King’s Lynn!

If your social enterprise is in need of a volunteer, or if you would like to learn more about what we do, then we would love to hear from you!

Please contact Charlie or Hannah on 01366 385839 or 01553 766953 respectively. Alternatively, email cstewart@csv.gov.uk or hscotten@csv.gov.uk .

The 2010 National Social Enterprise Photography Competition has opened for entries.
The judges are looking for images that show the passion, people and places using enterprise to drive positive change.  So if you’re working for a social enterprise take a photo that highlights your day to day activities and tell us the story behind the image.
The winning photographer will receive a cash prize of £750. 

The social enterprise featured in the photograph will also win £750 along with one year’s free associate membership to the Social Enterprise Coalition, an entry ticket for two people to Voice 11, a year’s subscription to Social Enterprise magazine and £1000 worth of print advertising in Social Enterprise magazine.
Deadline for entries 5 pm 1st October 2010
For an application form please visit http://www.triodos.co.uk/en/about-triodos/news-and-media/social-vision/

Looking for a photographer? Keith Osborn of Hillside Gallery is member  of the social enterprise Produced In Norfolk.  As a keen supporter of social enterprise Keith’s understanding of the subject combined with an artistic eye has produced some great social enterprise images which have featured in the regional competition and in various social enterprise publications.

Keith’s image below was taken at Itteringham Village Shop

Short films made by young people in Norfolk through Community Music East’s First Light project premiered at a Norwich cinema next week. The four films were shown at a special screening at Cinema City in August, attended by the young film makers, their youth workers and key arts professionals. The films are now available for young people to watch at the Open youth venue in Norwich. The project, supported by the Lottery through the UK Film Council’s First Light Movies initiative, gave young people from Dereham, Thetford and Ashill the opportunity to make films under the guidance of CME’s expert multimedia tutors.

In ‘Ashlink’, a film made by eight to 12 year olds from Ashill, a mutating ink-based virus spreads through their sleepy village and all Megan, Kayleigh and Paige can do is try to survive, which is pretty difficult when your mum’s turned into a zombie!

‘Where are the Bones of Thomas Paine?’ is an animated experimental documentary by eight to 12 year olds in Thetford about the disappearance of the remains of one of the founding fathers of the United States who was born in the town in 1809. ‘Ghost School’ is a spine chilling tale of a group of children who meet their match when they explore an empty school, made by 12 to 16 year olds from Thetford.

‘Breckland School for Girls’ was made by Girls Allowed, a drop-in group for young women in Dereham, and tells the story of when a missing bracelet causes a chain of events to spiral out of control within a group of friends.

The young people came up with the ideas for the films and were involved with every aspect of the production process from drawing storyboards and writing the scripts to directing and lighting the films. Megan Colley, 13, from Ashill said the project was a great boost for her confidence. “I enjoyed the acting part the most, but thinking of the ideas for the film and putting it together was exciting, because you then try and picture it all,” said Megan. “I now feel confident in front of the camera am no longer shy about trying new things. I am very excited about seeing the finished version of the film, because of what I’ve seen so far was good.”

Clara Gauntlett from CME said: “The young people worked hard on their films and learnt many new skills along the way. The teamwork boosted their confidence and some will be inspired to pursue careers in the media industry. “The Cinema City premiere will be an opportunity for them to see the finished products on the big screen and for the groups to meet each other.” First Light is a nationwide organisation which helps young people, aged between five and 19, make films. To fund projects First Light distributes £1.1 million of National Lottery money, through UK Film Council funding as part of the ‘Young Film Fund’, each year. Community Music East provides music and multimedia activities for children and adults in Norfolk. For more information visit www.cme.org.uk or call 01603 628367.

TL Youth Café – TL stands for Tuckswood and Lakenham  is a new venture based at Locksley School; the former South Harford Middle School in Lakenham, Norwich. Its vision is simple:
“To create a space where young people can meet, grow as individuals, apply themselves and learn to be an accountable adult in the community.”
Initially a Youth Club for 11-to-16-year-olds, TLYC will be providing young people with a space to chill out, meet their friends, play games and have snacks and something to drink. Long-term TLYC will develop into a self-sustaining social enterprise whose profits will fund the Club’s activities. The plan is to extend TLYC’s services to 16-to-18-year-olds to run the Café side of TLYC once trained, a good stepping stone for potential future employment.
Working closely with Norfolk County Council who are in charge of revamping the former South Harford Middle School, TLYC is planning to open its doors after the summer break. Initial opening times will be Saturday afternoons with the view to extending opening hours to include evenings as well.
If you know of anyone who would like to become a volunteer at TLYC, then please encourage them to get in touch with me. Role Descriptions and Application Forms can be found on the website.
Birgit Lenton
TL Youth Café
www.tlyouthcafe.org.uk