New TV Programme

Reef Television are currently making a brand new show for BBC1 and are looking for families and couples to take part. The show will help people recycle, refurbish and repair the clutter in their homes in order to raise money for themselves and a good cause of their choice. Half of the money they raise will be for a personal project, the other half will be donated to charity. 

We’ll help the family sell anything and everything they no longer want to keep – from antiques and collectibles to unused household items such as furniture and toys. Our team of antiques experts and handymen will help them to make money by selling the items through local dealers, newspaper ads, scrap merchants, salvage yards, auctions and a house sale.

It would be brilliant if anyone whose home is crammed with clutter, and who would be happy to donate half of the money they raise by selling it to charity.  We’re filming throughout February and are looking to get in touch with people as soon as possible in order to get the ball rolling.

Anyone interested should contact Sheila on 01708 454040 for further information.

Institute of Psychiatry Research

My name is Jason Stretton and I am a research scientist at the Institute of Psychiatry. I am part of a team that is investigating impulsive behaviour and decision making in children with behavioural disorders. We are looking for right-handed, 11-17 year old boys with ADHD, with or without medication, to take part in our study.

In brief, we are using the latest brain scanning technology to study the brain networks that are involved in impulsive behaviour. Participation in the study involves a single 3 hour visit to the Institute of Psychiatry in Denmark Hill.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Jason Stretton
MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre Institute of Psychiatry King's College London

Further information about the study for you to look through is available in pdf format here.
Adobe® Reader® is required to view the file.

Inspire - The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People

'The Diana Memorial Award celebrates the fantastic achievements of ordinary people who do ordinary things. Through their activites they display all the values that we should aspire to - valour, compassion, imagination, teamwork, sacrifice, public spirit and private endeavour in equal measure.'    Rt Hon. Gordon Brown.

The Diana, Pricess of Wales Memorial Award is a UK-wide, inclusive Award, which recognises and celebrates the innate qualities - courage, compassion, commitment and selfless duties for others - of young people aged 12 to 18 demonstrated through their contribution to and impact on their schools, communities and society.

Diana Awsrd holders have achieved so much, often against the odds, and have changed lives, schools and communities through their activities. They are young people who have been brave or have overcome immense personal difficulties and tragedies, as well as young carers, fundraisers, peer mentors, campaigners and students who make a profound contribution to their schools and fellow students. The list is endless.

What the Award does.
A Diana Award nomination fulfils the requirements of Every Child Matters (Childrens Bill). It promotes two main ingredients that are essential to life

• Celebration
• Encouragement

It allows organisations to celebrate their pupils' achievements and encourages their pupils to continue to make a difference to the lives of others.

Award Categories
The award is given to young people aged 12-18 whose activities fit into any of these categories

• Youth Participation or volunteering
• Selfless service to others
• Showing outstanding qualities in overcoming adverse circumstances (This should include an element of helping or inspiring others)

What will you receive for the Award?
Each individual Award Holder will receive a certificate and a lapel pin. The organisation also receives a certificate to mark its involvement in the Award.

All members of the group receive a certificate stating they they are members of the group and the group will also receive a shield to mark their achievement.

In addition, all Award Holders and organisations will receive newsletters and the chance to be involved in the Diana Young Ambassadors Programme. This fantastic new programme aims to develop the skills, confidence and experience of award holders to enable them to become young leaders and community entrepreneurs. Through involvement in the programme they will have the opportunity to be Ambassadors and to represent the award the UK.

Please contact HAVCO or visit the Diana Award website for more information and a nomination form.

On Your Marks....Get Set......Go!

The 'On Your Marks Project' is a Learning and Skills Council, European Social Fund Objective 3, Pan London 2 ESF Programme. The project aims to up skill local people for the work opportunities that are bound to arise in this area over the forthcoming years.

Havering College of Further and Higher Education is leading the project with partners from Newham (The Froud Centre), Uxbridge College and Job Centre +. The project will benefit people and businesses from boroughs East & West of London.

Their target groups are:-
1. Employers and employed people.

They will deliver training in literacy, numeracy and English for Speakers of Others Languages (ESOL). This can be done as an intensive course, perhaps as part of induction, or any combination of hours starting from 2 hours a week, for 30 hours.
They are most interested in Small to Medium Enterprises, (businesses with less than 250 employees) within the industries of:

• Construction
• Hospitality & Catering
• Travel & Tourism
• Logistics

The training can be on site or at one of their community venues.
The training is FREE to employers and their staff.

2. Individuals or groups of unemployed people.

They will deliver training in literacy, numeracy and English for Speakers of Others Languages (ESOL). This can be done as an intensive course, perhaps as part of induction, or any combination of hours starting from 2 hours a week, for 30 hours.
To give these people employability skills.
They expect to place these people in work experience and fill jobs in:

• Construction
• Hospitality & Catering
• Travel & Tourism
• Logistics

Although work experience and job outcome can fall outside the above work areas.

The training will be held locally or at one of their community venues.
This training is FREE to individuals.

For more information please contact the team on
01708 462720
or Email
oym@havering-college.ac.uk

Citizen Advocacy

"Supporting people with learning difficulties to control their own lives"

What is Citizen Advocacy?

A citizen advocate supports their partner in making their dreams and wishes heard.
A citizen advocate can be there when things change in your life.
A citizen advocate offers long term support.
A citizen advocate is not paid.

Volunteers wanted in the Havering area!

If you have a few hours to spare every few weeks, you could become a citizen advocate and offer your support to someone with a learning disability in Havering. All citizen advocates receive training and support. Some of their volunteers are busy people with jobs and families of their own. Just a small amount of time can make a great deal of difference to someone with a learning disability.
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a citizen advocate please get in touch with
Julie Sherlock directly on 07984 168455
Or at People First (Havering) - tel: 01277 204801 - Email: info@pfirst.co.uk

Registered Charity No: 1054169
C/o This Charming House, 24 Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4SX