[cma-l] Gold Stars For Model Good Practice Events: Deadline 29/08/08

[CMA-L]

A £60,000 small grants scheme for UK organisations to share good
practice ideas on working with volunteers from socially excluded or
disadvantaged groups has been launched.

The GoldStar Programme, a national initiative funded by the Office of
the Third Sector, has launched the programme for community events to
compliment its extensive work at a national level and its ongoing
research.

The programme, which works to promote the sharing of good practice in
working with volunteers and mentors from socially excluded or
disadvantaged groups, will make around £60,000 available to robust and
innovative voluntary organisations wishing to carry out good practice
events.

It is anticipated that at least 20 events will be funded between now
and March 2009, each event receiving funding of between £100 and
£3,000.

The proposed good practice events should be conducted at a regional
level and clearly focussed on sharing specialist expertise and
information about working with volunteers from one or more of the
following target groups:

    * Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, in particular people
from British Asian and Chinese backgrounds.
    * Disabled people or people with a Limiting Long Term Illness.
    * People with no qualifications.

In addition to the funds to carry out an event, participating groups
and organisations will also receive marketing materials and a good
practice event management toolkit, full of hints, tips and templates.

GoldStar Project Director, Barry Coleman, enthused:

"This is a fantastic opportunity for organisations to get involved in
promoting good practice to organisations about working with volunteers
at risk of social exclusion".

The deadline for the first wave of funding is 29 August 2008, with
decisions being announced on 12 September. A second wave of funding is
also anticipated before the end of the year.

Interested applicants should visit the GoldStar website for an
application form and further information:

http://www.goldstar.org.uk/