The Teamwork Club Association
This may be just the thing for your clubs - it's within an hour of Rutland Water and provides outdoor pursuits including sailing, canoeing, kayaking, orienteering, rock climbing and archery from April until October. There are vacancies for another 7 churches in 2007 but they need you to contact them now as the programme must be finalised by the end of February. More info.Contact John Robertson on 01572 787410 or email: john@jrobertson86.fsnet.co.uk

Government update
"Getting involved in Local Strategic Partnerships": A Guide for Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in England and has been published by Black training and Enterprise Group to encourage greater participation of BME communities in LSPs. In pdf format, 592kb: http://www.bteg.co.uk/downloads/LSP.pdf.

Positive Activities for Young people: From 8 January 2007 local authorities have been required to provide positive activities for young people, including access to sporting and other activities which contribute to their personal, social and spiritual development. The guidance is out for consultation until 30 March 2007. See www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1432

Youth Opportunity Fund competition : The website has been launched for 'Actions speak louder', the Youth Challenge Competition, unveiled by Chancellor Gordon Brown in last year's Budget. This aims to promote and celebrate the achievement of young people in developing projects through the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds. The closing date for entries is 12 February 2007. http://c2b2005nya4.live.poptech.coop/

The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration: This is title of an interim report which can be read at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pre_budget_report/prebud_pbr06/other_docs/prebud_pbr06_odthirdsector.cfm

Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act
The Making our Mark website is up and running at www.makingourmark.org.uk which has the latest up to date information on the Walk of Witness. This is the churches response to the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, which will take place on 24 March 2007. You can download Resources and register your intention to join the Walk. Both Archbishops are encouraging their us to come together to reflect on the slave history, acknowledge that it continues today and make a commitment to go forward together into a just new dawn for Christ.

Stop the traffik
The Church of England are members of the Stop the Traffik coalition and we would like to encourage you support Stop the Traffik and its unique chocolate campaign The organisers want to enable the church to take a lead within their communities in awareness raising and action. More details on their website www.stopthetraffik.org or call: Ruth Dearnley 07795 606 708 or 020 72614650 (direct line).

Faith-based social action projects - Church Urban Fund’s new Xchange
For news about CUF's Xchange programme click here.

News from Northampton YWCA
The YWCA in Northampton town centre is developing a new programme for young women aged 16-30 called 'Voices'. The aim of these weekly sessions (Wednesdays 12.45-2.45pm) is:

Increasing Young Womens' self-confidence
Giving them an opportunity for their voices to be heard locally
Developing there ability to give opinions on issues that affect them
Opportunities to join the Northamptonshire Youth Forum as representation for the YWCA

YWCA also offers a wide variety of other sessions including a reading group, family language and play programmes, "wise up" sessions, numeracy skills and some sessions leading to accredited qualifications. Call Gabi Ceely on 01604 601515 or e-mail gabrielle.ceely@ywca.org.uk

Soul Survivor tour, February 2007
For details of Soul Survivor's tour to Oxford, Nottingham, Bristol, London and Cambridge, as well as their link up with Hope 08, click here.

Young people’s rights - online survey
The government has launched an online survey for children and young people about their rights. The survey asks children and young people about their views and experiences of children's rights. The results will be included in the government's next report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, to be submitted by July 2007. For more information visit www.everychildmatters.gov.uk. Deadline for survey submissions is the 31st January 2007.

Funding for youth work
Northamptonshire County Council is setting up local bodies in six areas who will be deciding on how best to allocate funding for youth work. These bodies will be made up of a mixture of full-time youth workers and young people and they will be allocating on the basis of local need and, also, on what they have heard from fellow young people. So, if you would like advice on putting in an application, we have some information.

Wherever you are located in the diocese, please, don’t let youth work go by the board for need of financial support. It is important that our own churches support our ministry and, if that is the case, then it is possible to find other finances on many occasions. We will put you in touch with the right people to try and help if we possibly can. Contact us.

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