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Research into befriending – can you help?
MBF has been asked to help find befriending projects that are willing to take part in a study lookin...

Mentoring project scoops cash award from Iain Duncan Smith's think-tank
The Centre for Social Justice awards grassroots youth gang charity

National charity celebrates young peer mentors
SHINE is the national festival celebrating all the talents in all young people, taking place from 6-...

Comic Relief UK grants 2009-2012 announced
Focus areas for grants revealed

Big Lottery framework to 2015 revealed
New priorities link to mentoring and befriending

Equality and diversity grants for children’s voluntary sector organisations

Volunteering and faith communities
Research report from Volunteering England

Funding Central website is launched
Access to thousands of funding opportunities

Report of the 1st Yorkshire Mentoring Forum conference
Event brought together those involved in managing mentoring programmes in Yorkshire

Refugee young carers and their families
Free online toolkit for practitioners

CEO of Chance UK mentoring charity awarded an O.B.E.
Gracia McGrath was awarded on O.B.E. in the Queen's Birthday Honours list this week

ParliaMentors in the House of Lords
Mentoring to build lasting relationships with people of different faiths

Money for bright ideas in Oldham
Oldhamers are encouraged to apply for cash to bring their bright ideas to life

Award winning project offers an alternative to gang life
Project 2 XL uses youth and peer mentors to offer alternative to gang life

Chance UK expansion supported by Sarah Brown
Charity launches findings of their longitudinal study at an event at No 10 Downing Street hosted by ...

MBF's response to St Mungo’s consultation
Call 4 Evidence on mental health and homelessness

Resources to help your organisation during the recession
Links to advice, funding and initiatives

£20m Learning Revolution Transformation Fund
Grants to inspire adults to learn new things through informal learning

Befriending project in Coventry recognised by the Queen
The Sahil Project wins this year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

Regional befriending events feedback 2008-09 - the national picture
MBF commited to developing the capacity of the befriending sector

Safer Homes Funding from Home Office
Peer to peer befriending/mentoring to increase confidence is one priority for funding

MBF is delighted to be part of SHINE week
We are inviting peer mentors to share their stories with us

MBF would appreciate your views
We are conducting a survey on the various accreditation routes being used by peer mentoring projects

MBF national conference 2009 to be held in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Council on Social Action (CoSA)
Key speakers confirmed for the annual event

Future Jobs Fund: £1 billion new approach to create jobs
Bids to create new jobs to be submitted by 30 June 2009

Angela Smith appointed new Minister for the Office of the Third Sector

MBF launches a new motivational DVD
Aimed at peer mentoring co-ordinators in the post 16 sector to help build confidence when setting up...

MBF launches new course aimed at helping you with funding issues
Training run in partnership with NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project

Red Foundation launches new survey
MBF would like to invite you to take part in the Red Foundation Survey on Employer Supported Volunte...

Mayor of London recognises mentoring as a positive intervention
A response from the State of London Debate

Select Committee report on knife crime
MBF welcomes the calls for early intervention including mentoring

Lean on me - primary peer mentoring is promoted in schools
Case study highlights peer mentoring as a tool to boost wellbeing

Success for Aiming Higher Community Mentoring Scheme
How to create a more diverse pool of judges? One mentoring scheme is starting in colleges

Social care for cancer – research from Macmillan
Explores whether social care services meet the needs of people affected by cancer

Rapport magazine latest issue – read it online now
May 2009 issue of MBF's members magazine packed with inspiring projects and people, interviews, and ...

Mustard Seed Grants Programme
For church and faith-based organisations (linked to any faith)

Vetting and barring scheme information roadshow - June/July
Free events will explain scheme and its impact

New Horizons mental health and well-being strategy
Email your views on what the strategy should cover

Congratulations to May's APS awarded projects

9th Conference of the European Union of Supported Employment
MBF highlights the value of mentoring and befriending across Europe

Funding Central new website to list grants and contract opportunities
Launch date 17 June 2009

Fun and Friendship programme to fund projects for disabled young people
New grants scheme from Children in Need

UK Older People’s Day: 1 October 2009
This year’s theme - Bringing People Together

Safeguarding student volunteering in Further Education
New publication to support volunteering on and off campus

Volunteers' Week 2009
Take the opportunity to recognise the work of mentors, befrienders and other volunteers in your orga...

Peer support in the first year of Higher Education
Report recommends a range of peer support schemes

Free resource on intergenerational learning

Managing transitions from secure settings for young people
Mentoring highlighted as key ingredient in NCB report

Recession report published by LGA and NCVO
Reveals work that local authorities are doing with third sector partners

Guide to social return on investment launched
To help third sector show their added social and environmental value

Mental health, Resilience and Inequalities
Report sets out contribution that mental health makes to outcomes

MBF working in partnership with Clinks
National consultation events - volunteering and mentoring with offenders

Mentoring is 'high up' on the political agenda says MBF Chief Executive
ePolitix.com speaks to Steve Matthews about the future of the organisation and the challenges they f...

MBF in partnership with the Volunteer Managers conference
Volunteer Managers play a crucial role in the future of volunteering

Nominations open for this year's Compact Awards
Annual awards which demonstrate the Compact in action and recognise and celebrate excellent partners...

MBF to hold workshop at V’s Practitioner’s national conference
MBF to contribute to V Involves practitioners virtual tour into the world of 16-25 year olds

Future Jobs Fund: Information Seminar, 2 June, Cabinet Office, London
Find out more about bidding for this fund

Young people, and gun and knife crime: a review of the evidence
MBF calls for further research into reducing gun and knife crime through interventions such as mento...

GoldStar latest publications 2009
Good practice for volunteer involving organisations

Improving the outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils
Mentoring approaches highlighted as effective in this literature review

Planning for a pandemic – third sector information
Department of Health issues information to help plan for pandemic flu

Join the growing mentoring and befriending community
Become a member of MBF and get discounts on resources and training

MBF's Pre-16 Co-ordinator speaks at Raising Boys Achievement conference
Paul Wainhouse describes how peer mentoring help raise boys achievement

National peer mentoring pilot 2006-2008 dissemination manual
MBF launches this peer mentoring resource aimed at the education and voluntary/community sectors

The Bradley Report: people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system
MBF welcomes recommendation for establishment of a mentoring programme for those leaving custody

National roll-out of ground-breaking mentoring scheme will help pupils to aim higher
MBF welcomes the Aimhigher Associates programme and supports the implementation of peer mentoring as...

£1million fund for community projects
New partnership between BIG and Secret Millionaire

Generations Together: MBF welcomes the £5.5m intergenerational fund
MBF calls for mentoring and befriending programmes to contact their local authorities to discuss joi...

National survey of third sector organisations – full results
What local authorities need to do to meet their NI7 targets

MBF National Training Programme 2009/2010 open for bookings
New courses, new venues and new dates now available

A better future: strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions
Department of Health consultation runs until 15 September

How to deliver stroke care for adults in the community
Befriending highlighted in Department of Health advice to local authorities

Government call for all young people to volunteer in their communities
MBF encourages mentoring and befriending as a potential volunteering opportunity

Congratulations to April's APS awarded projects

Antigone grants fund positive alternatives for offenders
Give small number of grants (about 6 in total)

Who says we can’t be peer mentors?
SEN magazine highlights the successful peer mentoring project at Greenacre School

Tracking and valuing volunteer time
Article on why and how to include volunteer time in your budgets

Charities working with people in prison and on release
New report identifies urgent funding priorities

Free management support for charities from Cranfield Trust
Skilled volunteers support those working in poverty, disability or social exclusion fields

National accreditation opportunities – latest developments
MBF and Skills for Justice to develop national qualification for mentoring and befriending of offend...

Targeted support fund now available for small charities
Aimed at those offering vital local services to those most in need during the recession - apply now

Tele-conferencing to support befriending groups
Community Network provides the technology and support

Mentoring and befriending within the criminal justice system
Free networking event for mentoring and befriending co-ordinators

KnowHow NonProfit – new online web resource
To help people across the sector develop and share expertise and experience

Age Concern and Help the Aged merge and launch agenda report
Older people’s lives are getting worse they claim

Road to Resettlement Handbook
Developed for prisoners by prisoners to support action and goal setting

Safeguarding young people in gangs
Mentoring recommended in NSPCC briefing for youth provision

v Match Fund to bring private sector and charities together
Unique funding model creates volunteering projects for 16-25 year olds

Social welfare funding from LankellyChase Foundation
Wide range of priorities revealed for 2009-2014

Volunteering and Mentoring Network launched by Clinks
For organisations working with offenders

Congratulations to March's APS awarded projects

Get involved in the REACH programme
Organisations working with Black boys and young Black men are invited to get involved

Inspiring Communities fund to raise youth aspirations
New government funding for partnerships to raise the aspirations and attainment of young people

£750k for charities to campaign for change
Government scheme will promote innovative ways of campaigning for the most disadvantaged in society

Vetting and barring scheme delay
Introduction of new ISA scheme postponed until July 2010

Peer Mentoring Sharing Good Practice Events 2009
Projects demonstrate impact

Funding challenges and opportunities - MBF report
Survey reveals difficulties in attracting and sustaining funding and identifies how MBF can help

Building stronger communities taskforce launched
A new Government taskforce to look at how businesses and the third sector can work together to help ...

Young women and offending - research from YJB
Youth Justice Board reports on effective practice with girls

Regional funding roadshows – real help for communities
Find out more about accessing support from the Office of Third Sector

Support for York teen parents
York has been selected by the Government to take part in a pilot scheme aimed at improving the lives...

Launch of new fund to help with cashflow problems
Organisations delivering public service contracts can benefit

Win a laptop for your community group
BT funding scheme launches 17 March 2009

Mentoring and befriending celebrated at 10 Downing Street
Sarah Brown hosts event to celebrate success of mentoring or befriending

MBF with the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Southampton
Meeting in Southampton on Monday 23 February in the latest leg of the Government’s regional engageme...

Funding to raise aspirations and potential of young people
The Young Foundation looks to grow organisations working with 14-25 year olds

Congratulations to February’s APS awarded projects

Commissioning guidance published by the Compact
To improve working relationships between commissioners and third sector

Volunteering Champion calls for more offenders to volunteer
MBF welcomes report and recognition of the importance of volunteers in Criminal Justice System

New fund to help third sector through recession
Grants and loans to be offered as part of Government action plan

Lottery’s small grants scheme set for change
Awards for All – you can still apply up until 31 March 2009

Beatbullying launches CyberMentors
Gordon Brown, Ed Balls and top celebrities back ground-breaking anti-cyberbullying scheme

Nearly 50,000 groups have their say on public sector support
National Survey results call for local authorities to step up their relationships with third sector

New vetting and barring scheme - decision-making changes from 20 Jan 2009
ISA decision-making starts for those working with children or vulnerable adults

Research publication - now free of charge
'A synthesis of published research on mentoring and befriending' by Dr K. Philip and J. Scott - The ...

DCSF Delivering 14-19 Reform: Next Steps
Next Steps sets out a timetable of reform to 2015 in order to achieve ambitious goals for all young ...

Grassroots Grants - more local groups to benefit from new changes
Eligibility threshold increases to £30k per annum in response to recession

Mentoring for street gangs proposed by think tank
Models of best practice are highlighted in report

2009 Breakthrough UK Independent Living Awards
Nominations are now open

CLA Charitable Trust grants for countryside recreation activities
Awards aimed at smaller projects (disabled people, young people)

MBF responds to 21st Century Schools consultation
MBF expresses its fullest support to the overall vision of a 21st century school system

Consortium appointed to lead the National Body for Youth Leadership
NYBL will work to encourage a culture where young people are welcomed as leaders of change

Student Volunteering Week – resources now available online
Showcase your peer mentoring programmes during Student Volunteering Week

BBC Children in Need changes
New application deadlines plus all applications now online

Freemasons' Grand Charity grants
Funds charities that are not connected with Freemasonry

Groundswell small grant scheme
£700 to people with experience of homelessness to set up projects

Research into young people who are NEET
Experiences of young people aged 16-17 not in education, employment or training

Trusteefinder
Online service to help charities find trustees

Third Sector National Learning Alliance launches website
A voice for third sector learning and skills providers

Skills survey for CEOs and trustees – help influence Train to Gain agenda
Research into Train to Gain and leaders’ skills

Hoodies tackle bullying through peer mentoring
BBC Look North features sixth form surfers at Longbenton Community College, part of the MBF-led Nati...

Introduction of indicators of a school's contribution to well being - MBF response
A response to the consultation by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation

Government pledges up to £42.5m for charities during economic downturn
Cabinet Office action plan sets out package of support

GoldStar LIVE 09 - MBF to run workshop
Mentoring and befriending exemplar projects showcase good practice around managing and supporting vo...

Congratulations to January's APS awarded projects

Parenting programmes commissioning toolkit
Submit details of your project for free

LinkAge Plus evaluation shows benefits for older people including mentoring and befriending
Improving quality of life, life expectancy and active participation says DWP commissioned evaluation

MBF welcomes new dementia strategy
Peer support and learning networks are recommended

Valuing the BME Third Sector campaign
Mentoring and befriending projects can support this campaign by contacting their local MP

Wilkinson stores support local community initiatives
Donations of products and vouchers give helping hand

Using sport and leisure activities to prevent anti-social behaviour
Projects involving music, film-making or football help says report

Call for evidence – models of effective and innovative service delivery to older people in rural areas
MBF highlights befriending to Cabinet Office Social Exclusion Task Force as an effective support ser...

Futurebuilders launch fund to help small organisations tender for public sector contracts
Grants will finance tendering costs or capacity building work

National Safeguarding Unit for the Third Sector
Safe guard children and young people involved in voluntary activities from harm

Home Office unveils national website and resources for campaigners tackling knife crime
Practical toolkits and website for local campaigners launched by Home Office Minister Meg Millier

MBF appoints new Chief Executive
Steve Matthews named as Chief Executive Designate

Stuck in the middle - a report by Action for Children
Highlights six-to-thirteen year-old children who often don't get the support they need as they make ...

Congratulations to December's APS awarded projects

Update on Supported Employment Partnership
MBF and Remploy initiative moves forward

Value of mentoring recognised in “New Opportunities” White Paper - MBF response
Focus on education, skills and lifelong learning – includes a range of mentoring plans

Developing good practice in befriending
Case studies and good practice examples wanted within disabilities, learning difficulties and mental...

Academic peer mentoring improves SATS levels
William Farr CE Comprehensive School's Study Buddies scheme has boosted the confidence and grades of...

Plans dropped to issue national guidance on single group funding
Decisions on single group funding will be made locally says Government

One stop shop for cohesion
Good practice resources on community cohesion – add your case studies

White Paper – reforming welfare and supporting people into work
Proposals include building capabilities of disabled people and lone parents amongst others

Supported Volunteering Toolkit Project
Get involved in this online collection of tools, resources and ideas

Community sport funding from April 2009
New funding strategy from Sport England

Evidencing the value of the BME third sector
Befriending service highlighted in case study discussion paper from Voice4Change

MBF to manage ex-offender pilot project in North East
Nine-month study to improve standards for ex-offender programmes

Foundation welcomes cash boost for intergenerational work
£3m Government initiative to encourage intergenerational volunteering

Hoodies care for college corridors
A group of sixth form students at Longbenton Community College are being handed hooded tops to creat...

Aspirations and attainment in deprived communities
Government study explores the potential for young people

Free Disability Equality Action Training courses in Manchester
Breakthrough UK offers free places for third sector organisations and groups

Next steps to improving the mental health of children and young people
Report of the CAMHS Review

Volunteer managers – could social networking help or hinder?
Survey to look at support available to volunteer managers

Paul’s peer mentoring blog makes a good read
Good practice shared within TeachersTV blog

Three year funding for third sector states Government
New guidance states government departments must give three-year funding as norm

One year on - the story so far from MBF Regional Advisory Groups
RAGs hailed as an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and have a national voice

Research provides snapshot of lives of 2000 disabled people
Report reveals views on employment, education, transport, health and discrimination

Small grants for charities working with young people from Joanies Trust
Grants up to £1,000 to support projects that offer intensive support to young people

Congratulations to June's APS awarded projects

Improving services to women offenders
Together Women Programme - an example of good practice

Mentoring/befriending key factors in community cohesion
New report launched at national mentoring and befriending conference 08

New intergenerational projects information capture
The Centre for Intergenerational Practice is collating information about what is happening with new ...