Monthly Archives: August 2012

Squatting – a criminal offence

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Squatting in a residential building in England and Wales becomes a criminal offence as of tomorrow (01 Sep 2012), meaning squatters could face up to six months in jail, a £5,000 fine, or both.

Arguably this new law could criminalise some of the most vulnerable people in society and lead to an increase in rough sleeping, but the government needs to tackle why homeless people squat in the first place by helping not punishing them.

We’re now building fewer houses in Britain than at any point since the Second World War. There are now 4.5 million people in housing need. We need to push housing up the political agenda and to get MPs and Ministers to tackle the housing crisis.

Storybook Wings Appeal

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The RAF Brize Norton Storybook Wings are collecting children’s books for a stall on the Station Families Day/BrizeFest. The books will be given away as tombola prizes to raise money for Storybook Wings. If anyone is having a clear out and would like to donate any children’s books please bring them to the PSF Office by the 14 Sep 12.

The money raised will pay for the recording equipment and disks that Service Personnel use to record stories for their children and messages for their loved ones before deploying overseas.  As this is not a registered charity the committee has to raise the money themselves and unfortunately can’t apply for funding.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to call Cpl Tanith Brown on 01993 897856 or email Tanith.Brown818@mod.uk

 

Hospital Volunteering

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The John Radcliffe (JR) Hospital is always looking for volunteers to help support staff, patients and visitors in the hospitals. Becoming a volunteer can be very rewarding – even a few hours a week can be really valuable to patients.

Volunteering is open to anyone who is aged 16 and over and is subject to meeting the requirements of the ‘NHS Employment Check Standards’.

The League of Friends, Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice and volunteer radio stations such as Radio Cherwell are also very happy to receive applications.

Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice: SobellHouse@ouh.nhs.uk

Radio Cherwell: studio@radiocherwell.com


What does a hospital volunteer do?

Volunteers work in all JR hospitals and make all the difference to patients during their stay; they are also enormously helpful to staff and a valuable part of the hospital team.

Working as a hospital volunteer can help you learn important new skills, find out about healthcare, meet new people and contribute to your local community.

Hospital volunteers help with activities such as:

  • Staffing help desks and greeting patients and visitors
  • Visiting patients on wards and assisting them with meals and menus
  • Serving in cafeterias and tea bars
  • Supporting staff in non-clinical areas
  • Hospital radio
  • Working with the Chaplaincy team
  • Fundraising
  • Working with library trolleys

Regretfully, at present, there are no volunteering opportunities with children.


Student volunteering on the wards

Applications are welcome from students aged 16 – 21 who would like to volunteer at the end of the school/college day.


How to become a volunteer

Contact the office at the John Radcliffe Hospital or Horton General Hospital. They will provide you with an application form to fill in. You will then be invited to go to the hospital and discuss the opportunities that are available.

Before you can become a volunteer you will need to be health screened, and references will be checked. If you will be working on the wards a criminal record check (CRB) will be needed.

The JR only offers volunteering opportunities for people living in Oxfordshire or within easy commuting distance of the hospitals, as accommodation cannot be arranged.


Work experience

Please visit the Work experience page at the link below.

Work experience

Email: OUH.workexperience@ouh.nhs.uk


Contact

John Radcliffe Hospital: 01865 220140

Email: OUH.volunteers@ouh.nhs.uk

 

Amur Leopard Conservation

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The following information is provided by http://amur-leopard.org/

Significant progress in conserving Amur tigers and leopards has been made over the last decade. A coalition of 13 international and Russian NGOs have pooled resources by creating ALTA (the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance). ALTA is an informal coalition of funding and implementing agencies working together for the conservation of Amur tigers and leopards. ALTA members have been co-operating for many years in developing, financing and implementing conservation projects in Russia and China.

The key implementing agencies in ALTA are WCS Russia and the Vladivostok-based Phoenix Fund, with other partners involved in Russia to a lesser degree (Moscow Zoo, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), International Fund Animal Welfare (IFAW), Tigris Foundation, Wildlife Vets International) and/or providing relevant funding (ZSL, AMUR, 21st Century Tiger, Tigris Foundation, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Alliance and Helsinki and Minnesota zoos).

ALTA’s conservation approach is based on good science, thorough threat analysis and long-term commitment. Our projects are carefully monitored and evaluated. ALTA members co-operate closely with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Russian NGOs and authorities and local institutes of the Russian Academy of Science.

The European/Russian zoo breeding programme (EEP – European Endangered species Programme) for Amur leopards is coordinated jointly by ALTA partners ZSL and Moscow Zoo, and the North American programme (SSP – Species Survival Plan) by ALTA partner Minnesota Zoo.

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) provides 100% of the money that is donated via this website to Amur leopard conservation field projects.

If you are a UK bank account holder and would like to make a regular donation, please download, print, complete and return the Standing Order form.  Thank you!

Vacancy – Youth Worker

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This advertisement is published on behalf of Claire Dowan – Director at Base 33 Youth Trust…

Base 33 Youth Trust currently has a vacancy for a Youth Worker  – Alcohol, 30 hours per week, £17,697 – £18, 291 (pro-rata per annum). This is an exciting post that will enable us to focus on providing alcohol education and support to young people aged 11-25 in Witney and areas across West Oxfordshire.

We are seeking a dynamic and progressive Youth Worker to join our small staff team and provide holistic, appropriate and timely support to young people.

A main requirement of the post is to support young people that are affected by issues related to alcohol and the role will  through face to face, detached and project work provide targeted alcohol education.

However, at Base 33 we also recognise the interrelated nature of risky behaviour and the suitable candidate will show a problem solving approach and an ability to address a wide range of issues and support young people with complex and multiple needs.

The post is a 2.5 year fixed term contract and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain professional development through access to DANOS (Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards) competency based training.

To apply please complete an application form and submit together with a detailed covering letter summarising your skills and interest in the post. We will only consider applications that provide both documents.

Applications can be submitted electronically to admin@base33.org or posted to The Administrator, Base 33, 4 Welch Way, Witney. Oxfordshire OX28 6JF

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 24th September. Interviews will be held on October 4th at Base 33.

If you have any questions about this post please e-mail or phone Claire Dowan, Director of Base 33. claire@base33.org 01993 777870 or 07900900652.

Job Description | Application Form