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Hello,

As 2023 comes to an end we would like to wish you a peaceful break and a joyful time with loved ones during this holiday season. Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hannukah, the Winter Solstice, Epiphany or simply enjoying some downtime, may it be filled with warmth and happiness. 

If you are taking time off we hope you have a restful break. If you are still working or volunteering over the holidays we hope it's fun and rewarding.

Our last day will be Friday 22 December and we'll be back on Tuesday 2 January.

Read on to find out about winter resources, including festive community meals and warm spaces.

See you in 2024!


Best wishes,
The Community Works team

Welcome to our new members!

Focus Foundation | Proud Studios CIC | Proud Wellness CIC
Upcoming Community Works events

The Accidental CFO

Date & Time: 17 January 9.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: Community Base, Brighton
Cost: £0 – £45


You are a charity leader in charge of the organisation's budget, but you don't have a financial background. You have become an accidental Chief Financial Officer. Our session will help you grasp the fundamentals of financial management.
Book now

More events coming in 2024
 


Keep an eye on our new look website for upcoming events next year.
Learn more
What's new at Community Works
Close up of hands around a cup of hot chocolate
AGM success

Over 80 people joined us at Southwick Community Centre to celebrate 10 years of Community Works. 

Members helped to create a new set of Key Messages about the VCSE. We’ll be sharing the draft messages via our e-lists for further consultation, so please keep a look-out for those.

Remember to send us your feedback forms too.
Read the full story
Close up of hands around a cup of hot chocolate
Winter resources

Cold homes, empty cupboards and loneliness. Winter can be a hard time of year for many people. We’ve collated some resources to help you support your service users and keep your activities running.
Read the full story
Funding opportunities
Sussex Community Foundation

Grants up to £10,000 for grassroots community groups and small  voluntary organisations who meet one or more of the following funding priorities: Tackling Poverty, Improving Health, Reaching Potential and Acting on Climate.

Deadline 6 January
Learn more
National Lottery Awards for All

Awards up to £20,000 for up to 2 years. For groups that build strong relationships in communities, improve places and spaces, help people reach their potential or support people facing increased challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis.

No deadline
Learn more
Money Saving Expert

Grants of up to £8,000 for making a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money. Specifically for people living with long term challenges, such as: 

Dementia
Autism
Learning Disabilities
Caring Responsibilities
Mental illness
Brain injury / stroke
Learn more
Click here for more funders
Sector news
Sussex Mindfulness Centre logo
Feeling the pressure?

Free mindfulness sessions for people working in social care. Reduce stress levels, sleep better and recharge your compassion batteries.
Full story 
Brighton and Hove Food Partnership logo
Guia para alimentacao de emergencia

Brighton & Hove Food Partnership have  published a 'Guide to Emergency Food'.

It's available in English and 6 other languages - Farsi, Bengali, Sorani, Arabic, Portuguese and Ukrainian.
Full story
People working in the community
NHS Social Prescribing Plan

The Plan aims to set out the NHS vision on social prescribing, and to describe what we need to do together for social prescribing to flourish.

Sign up to the VCSE Intranet and have your say. 
Full story 
Sector events
Festive meals for 50+

Date: Throughout December  
Venues: Across Brighton and Hove
Cost: Free or low cost

Many community centres are opening their doors and are inviting people aged 50+ to lunch over the festive period.

Together they are making sure that no one feels alone at Christmas and New Year.

Booking essential!
Learn  more
Menopause cafe and book swap

Date & Time: 11 January, 7.00 to 9.00pm 
Venue: The Queery, Brighton 
Cost: Free event

Menopause and Mind offer open, inclusive spaces to talk about peri-menopause and post-menopausal experiences. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation and get involved. 

If you like, bring along your books for a book swap. We can share useful and inspiring texts whether they are fiction or fact, academic or pulp, whatever has helped you that you are able to share!
Book now
Team update
Write what the image is

Fabia is leaving

Fabia Bates, our Sector Services Manager, is moving on after years of dedicated hard work and calm good humour in a crisis.

She will be taking up a new role as CEO of Clock Tower Sanctuary in January. We will miss her, but wish her well for the future.

"I'm hugely excited to be joining Clock Tower Sanctuary, an organisation I have respected for many years and which I know is doing vital work at a crucial time. But I will also miss my colleagues and the members of Community Works doing such amazing work and who I have learned so much from over the past five years. Having said that, I'll be back as a member, looking for advice, peer support and networking opportunities. I'm sure I will still see many of you in the future. You can't get rid of me that easily!"
Tell us what you think
 

If there’s anything you want to ask us or tell us, whether it’s a suggestion about our newsletter, our website, a complaint, or a compliment, drop us a line at
newsletter@communityworks.org.uk or call 01273 234023.
 
Get in touch

Brighton & Hove office
Community Works
Community Base
113 Queens Road
Brighton BN1 3XG

E: info@communityworks.org.uk
T:  01273 234023

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