How much time do you have right now?

Maybe one hour? Jump into one of our, virtual ‘Lunch & Learns’ where our talented pool of Skilled Volunteers share their wisdom. Check out replays of our previous events on our website.

Maybe two hours? Come along to our next Flash Consulting for 1-1 support in a Flash. Keep an eye out for the next one coming this Spring!

More time for some bespoke guidance? If you know what you want but do not have the skills in-house to make it happen, then a structured Skilled Volunteering Project is for you!

No matter how much time you have, Link UP can support you to reach your goals. Read on to find out more…We’ve got access to some exceptional people…

Data Analyst Benjamin, works as research and teaching assistant at a London University. Great at analysing data, interpreting results and research pieces, he is keen to help out on community development projects!  Maxine is a business analyst and project manager, with an interest in start ups. She has experience in strategy, programme development, stakeholder engagement, technology and organising community events! 

Bianca, experienced coach, mentor and board member, is interested in supporting teams who are going through big changes. Get in touch if your team is going through periods of transition, growth or restructuring and we’ll get you connected!  With a background in management consultancy, Henry is adept at all aspects of business development, including business planning, financials and creating a strong business case. Get in touch to jump start your planning for 2023! 

ACCESS SKILLS HERE

Dads Matter:

Intra-familial child sexual abuse:
One-day multi-agency training

This one-day training course will equip professionals across health, education, social care and policing with an understanding of:

• the scale and nature of child sexual abuse
• the challenges, myths and obstacles which can limit identification and response
• who commits intra-familial child sexual abuse
• how sexual abuse takes place in families
• understanding the child’s experience – the impact of abuse, signs and indicators of abuse and the barriers to disclosing it
• children’s disclosures and your role as a professional.

The training will support you to improve your understanding of child sexual abuse within the family environment, and help you to better identify signs and indicators and respond effectively to protect children.

Dates: 14/03/2023, 10am – 5pm. This training will be delivered virtually using Teams.

Both VIRTUAL events are free of charge and a certificate of attendance is issued.

CLICK HERE book a place to Intra-familial child sexual abuse Workshop

CLICK HERE to book a place to DADS MATTER WORKSHOP

For more information please contact Paola Di Martino paola.di-martino@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

• First of new workspaces in Wandsworth libraries open for business  
• New co-working spaces create fairer opportunities for local start-ups  
• Council teams up with British Library’s business network to support entrepreneurs 

Wandsworth Council is supporting start-up businesses in the borough with new co-working, office and meeting space, thanks to a partnership with the British Library and local libraries provider, Better.

Start Up Wandsworth is operating initially in the new affordable workspaces at York Gardens library, followed by Putney library later this year, and is part of the wider British Library network of support in London.

The launch of Start Up Wandsworth at York Gardens Library is part of Wandsworth Council’s commitment to provide business support at the heart of local communities – giving aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses the opportunity to grow and access business information.

Councillor Kemi Akinola, Wandsworth Council cabinet member for voluntary sector, business engagement and culture said: “We want people from all communities and abilities in Wandsworth to have the opportunity to start and develop their business which is why we are investing in library-based affordable workspaces.

“Many small businesses and start-ups find it difficult to access the networks and facilities that will help them to grow and thrive, so our support for new affordable workspaces makes Wandsworth a fairer place for people to establish a successful venture.”

The support available from Start Up Wandsworth includes expert-led workshops, 1-2-1s with a business manager, networking events, coworking and office space. In addition, aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses will be able to access business resources, test new business ideas and leverage partnerships to build routes to market for new products and services.

Start Up Wandsworth’s newly furnished and redecorated co-working space, office space and meeting room will also be available for Wandsworth businesses, trainers and community groups to use.

If you’re starting up a business and need access to workspace in Battersea and Putney, find out more and register your interest on the Better website at better.org.uk/start-up-wandsworth

Find out about the wider network of local work facilities supported by Wandsworth’s Affordable Workspace Fund 

About the Start-ups in London Libraries programme

The project is the latest collaboration between Better and the British Library to support start-ups through the Start-ups in London Libraries (SiLL) programme. The new Business and IP Centre will form part of the British Library’s growing national network, which has helped thousands of entrepreneurs across the UK to start and grow their businesses.

AgeUK Wandsworth’s Better at Home services help them to fulfil Age UK’s goal to enable older people across Wandsworth to live independently in their homes for as long as they wish to, or are able to.

They work in partnership with Council and health colleagues to achieve this goal. The range of support that Better at Home can offer clients complements the rest of Age UK Wandsworth’s services, allowing them to provide an holistic approach to supporting their clients’ physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

Read the impact report here: Age UK Wandsworth Better at Home Impact Report

If other Wandsworth organisations have information or impact reports like the one from Age UK Wandsworth, please get in touch – we would love to share that information on our website and in our newsletters.

The borough’s most vulnerable families are to receive additional financial support from the council as part of ongoing efforts to support Wandsworth households struggling to stay afloat in the cost-of-living crisis.

In line with the council’s priorities of delivering a fairer and more compassionate borough, low-income residents are to receive a one-off winter payment as part of the town hall’s response to the current economic situation.

Low-income households with children will be eligible for a £150 payment, while those in childless households will receive £75. This one-off Winter Payment is being provided to all households that had previously received support since April last year from the Wandsworth Discretionary Fund Crisis scheme.

The payments are made via a voucher that’s redeemable for cash at any Post Office branch. The council has this week issued 2,549 vouchers with further vouchers to be issued before the end of March to the hardest pressed households.

The payments are part of the council’s £5m Cost of Living support programme – the biggest support scheme of its kind in London.

Council Leader Simon Hogg said: “The council is absolutely committed to making sure it does everything it can to help people through this cost-of-living crisis and beyond.

“The council’s actions will be shaped by an unshakeable commitment to deliver a fairer, more compassionate and more sustainable borough. Helping vulnerable residents struggling to heat their homes or put food on the table is at the heart of these commitments.

“We have set aside significant funds to work with our partners and local charities to help provide the best support we can for those people facing the greatest hardship. This includes providing cash to go directly into the pockets of our most vulnerable residents
“All this will be achieved without affecting people’s council tax bills. We will keep the same low council tax – which is the right thing to do as it is a tax that hits those on low incomes the most.”

Other support measures the council has put in place to help vulnerable residents include:

• £185k to the Wandsworth Citizen’s Advice Bureau to employ more advisors
• £1m being given to The Wandsworth Discretionary Social Fund
• All eligible households getting a one-off Winter Cost of Living Payment of up to £150.
• Extending free school meals during school holidays
• A School Uniform Support Scheme to help families with the cost of new school uniforms
• The launch of an online Cost-of-Living Hub to help with fuel bills, advice on reducing bills, information on benefits and what to do in a crisis, help available for families, where to get mental health support and links to community organisations and charities that can help.

To support its efforts the council is establishing a Cost-of-Living Commission to hear from residents how their lives are being impacted and help shape what further action can be taken to support them.

For more information about the Wandsworth Discretionary Social Fund and the support it can offer please visit the council’s website.