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MBF are moving office today
The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF) are moving to new offices over the August bank holida...

Regional consultation events on the Health White Paper
Book your place today

How rural organisations contribute to the Big Society – a call for evidence
Questionnaire from Commission for Rural Communities

£500 grants for activities to encourage and inspire young black people
BTEG's REACH Community Engagement Fund - Apply before 10 September

Report calls for more mentoring to enhance employment prospects of former offenders
Call comes from Young Foundation report: Turning the corner

Office for Civil Society announce changes to strategic partners programme from 2011
Number of partners to drop from 42 to 15 and the programme’s overall budget to fall from £12.2m to £...

MBF enlists the sector’s support to help promote the message that mentoring and befriending makes a real difference to people’s lives
The campaign website for 'Supporting Life’s Journeys' to launch this month

Congratulations to the APS approved programmes from the last month

Can you deliver Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion services in the future?
Potential provider survey

From behind the training room door...
'Our in-house training service'

National Citizen Service pilots for young people launched
Information for potential providers/bidders also now available

Working one-to-one with people with dementia
A training toolkit for befriending projects

Volunteer mentors needed for MA research interviews (London)
Research to be used for a dissertation looking into the role of mentors in a comparative study betwe...

NHS reforms set out by government
GPs to commission care for local communities

How befriending services can aid older people's well-being – a case for expansion?
Community Care magazine's research suggests that befriending services can help to counter the risks ...

Mentoring support helps homeless people move into long term employment
Research states mentoring is 'a critical success factor'

Commission on Funding of Care and Support set up
New Commission announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley

Early intervention models for vulnerable children
Independent review to recommend good practice to government

Join in CSV's Make a Difference Day
The UK’s biggest day of volunteering

Befriending scheme from Brighton into final of National Lottery Awards
Brighton and Hove Neighbourhood Care Scheme needs your vote

Good practice in matching and managing waiting lists
Two new information sheets available for download now

Expressions of interest wanted from mentoring and befriending projects
MBF to commission a national study to look at the social and economic impact of mentoring and befrie...

Reducing offending – research shows how mentoring and befriending helps
Download our new summary of research findings

Your views on a National Skills Strategy for the Voluntary Sector wanted
Help to bring about a professional and thriving workforce

National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises soon to be launched
Survey runs for second time to see how things have changed

The Equitable Charitable Trust
Grants for education projects for disadvantaged or disabled children and young people

Awards for Bridging Cultures 2010
Apply for an award to celebrate intercultural dialogue across the UK

MBF backs call for more investment in ‘through the gate’ mentoring for prisoners
Recommendations made in recent paper from The Centre for Social Justice

Big Lottery Fund - Youth in Focus programme launched
£30 million support available for voluntary and community sector organisations working with vulnerab...

Positions on the MBF Board of Trustees available
People with business experience at a strategic level and practitioners from the sector sought

Mentoring success at Centre for Social Justice Awards
Two youth mentoring charities working to address educational failure have been recognised at the Cen...

Findings from the MBF website survey available
Thanks to those who took part

Congratulations to the APS approved programmes from the last month

NAVCA Tender Support Project provides practical consultancy to prepare you for tendering
Are you a local charity, community group or social enterprise? Would you like one-to-one help with t...

New study looks into intergenerational work
Projects bringing together older adults with young people studied

Help to deal with unfair funding cuts
Advice and training from Empowering the Voluntary Sector project

Employment Minister announces new Work Programme
Expressions of interest are invited for provision of employer related support services

Study outlines financial, personal and social cost of NEET teenagers
Mentoring case studies are included around re-engaging young people

From behind the training room door…
‘A master class in mentoring’

Two new peer qualification programmes launched
UK Youth to hold an induction training day to introduce new peer qualifications

21% of volunteers are involved in mentoring and befriending activity
Citizenship survey reveals younger people and ethnic minority groups are most involved

Volunteering England launches two volunteer management initiatives
Initiatives include campaign to increase awareness of investing in volunteer management and new volu...

MBF and Plymstock School celebrate peer mentoring
Achievements of young mentors and mentees to be recognised

Bolton Lads and Girls Club scoop another prestigious award
The club’s Group Mentoring Team achieve the team of the year award at the 4Children Charity Awards

Media Trust - reduced rate films made for charities by experts
Increase your impact with a film

Be part of a national stampede to stop bullying
Anti-Bullying Week 2010 (15th – 19th November)

Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s prestigious awards are now open
Nominations now being received for the National Personal Safety Awards

London 2012 Inspire Programme
Is your project involved in sport? Sign up to get recognition

MBF national survey reveals an increase in demand for mentoring and befriending services
MBF announce results of survey showing impact of recession

Study reveals financial cost of negative care experiences
Calls for earlier transition support for looked after children

Former MBF chief executive awarded as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours
Peter Collins receives CBE for services to young people

UK grants programme for young people (Comic Relief)
To support vulnerable young people aged 11-25

Vetting and barring scheme put on hold
July registration halted as Government announces review of scheme

Grandmentors pilot project launches in London
The project aims to help teenagers avoid turning to crime

Grants to support groups that help people with HIV
The Elton John Aids Foundation has a range of funding on offer

First project to be approved under the revised APS announced
University of Central Lancashire’s M and M Peer Mentoring Project is accredited with the improved st...

Business mentoring in education settings sets the agenda at the IEBE National Mentoring Conference 2010
The value of achieving APS proved popular with the projects present

Poverty Tsar appointed to lead review on poverty and life chances
Frank Field MP to assess what Government can do to improve the lives of the least advantaged people ...

The National Lottery Awards: Mentoring and befriending semi-finalists revealed!
Mentoring and befriending projects from across the UK are calling on the public’s support as they pr...

Involving users in commissioning local services
Study by Age Concern London

New Government appointments and the Big Society
Nick Hurd MP is new Minister for Civil Society

Bolton volunteers recognised by the Queen with prestigious award
APS approved Bolton Lads and Girls Club win Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Volunteer mentors are 'absolutely vital'
Chance UK’s chief executive talks with ePolitix.com about the value of volunteer mentoring

Do you work with local, regional or national employers to offer volunteer mentoring and befriending opportunities?
MBF national initiative to capture positive feedback and good practice from mentoring and befriendin...

Launch of National Occupational Standards for Mentoring and Befriending of offenders
Developed by MBF and Skills for Justice

The Lonely Society? A report on loneliness and reducing isolation
The Mental Health Foundation focuses on the need for intervention to prevent loneliness

London Development Agency (LDA) round table discussions
Invitation to attend round table to discuss mentoring projects in London

Mentoring and befriending: An intelligent commissioning and funding choice
MBF to host an event specifically designed for regional and local commissioners and funders within Y...

Small grants to help homeless people move into mainstream society
Small grants scheme managed by Help the Homeless

YSS conference on the 'transition to adulthood'
YSS to hold conference exploring current thinking, good practice and policy regarding the period of ...

Two new MBF guides about investing in mentoring and befriending programmes available
‘Promising returns’ has been tailored specifically for funders or commissioners

Tell us how mentoring or befriending has helped you or someone you know
We need your stories to highlight the valuable roles played by mentors and befrienders

A new Government – keeping mentoring and befriending on the agenda
Contact your new MP using our set of resources

Congratulations to the APS approved programmes from the last month

Reporting to commissioners
Report findings reveal how charities’ results are communicated

Grant support for marginalised people from Porticus UK
Funding of between £10,000 and £25,000

Party Conference Bursary Scheme 2010
NCVO scheme – apply by 14th May

Young people call for expansion of peer mentoring to all schools
Consultation with peer mentors in schools shows they want recognition for what they do

The Webmart Charitable Trust
Funding to improve the lives of disadvantaged people

Funding to support disadvantaged youth and vulnerable people
Man Group plc Charitable Trust offers grants up to £250,000

Help us to get a new website that fully meets your needs
Give us your feedback on MBF’s website

Commissioning and the community sector
New guide from Community Matters

New MBF training programme launched for 2010–2011
New two tiered specialist training to meet your needs

Congratulations to April's APS approved programmes

APS bursaries available from Black Training and Enterprise Group
Projects working with black African or Caribbean young men encouraged to apply

DSCF consults on Vetting and Barring Scheme
Have your say on suggested changes

Changing the profile of volunteering
Free NNVIA conference - 1 June, London

Thanks to all who filled in our Funding and Impact of the Recession Survey 2010
Winners of the prize draw announced

OFSTED see role of mentoring in reducing young people who are NEET

Peer mentoring key to Government’s plans to increase cultural experiences for children
Proposals come from Government policy paper - A Place for Culture

Guidance to safeguard young people affected by gang activity
Aimed at practitioners in voluntary and statutory services

Launch of National Care Service
White Paper sets out proposals

Resources for projects supporting parents
Help parents engage in their children’s learning

Research into tackling gangs in schools
Peer mentoring identified as a promising practice

Would you like to talk about your work managing volunteers as part of a national research project?
People who manage volunteers sought by the Institute for Volunteering Research

£50,000 funding prize for faith based projects announced
Send your expression of interest now

Grants available from Four Acre Trust for charities involved in mentoring young people
Grants range from £3,000 to £75,000

St Giles Trust’s 'Through the Gates' programme's results show re-offending rates cut by 40%
Prison leavers given intensive, specialist peer support

Report looking into the transition of disabled young people to adulthood released
Research highlights mentoring and befriending

Awards programme for projects promoting the environmental and social benefits of ICT
The National eWell-Being Awards

Funding available for projects supporting people and communities most in need
BIG Lottery Fund launches a new improved version of its flagship Reaching Communities funding progra...

Peer mentors express their roles through music and art
MBF hosts residential consultation event to help to shape the future of peer mentoring

MBF secures funding from EY2010: The European year for combating poverty and social exclusion
A regional and national campaign to highlight the power of mentoring and befriending to combat socia...

MBF’s Rapport magazine – read the February 2010 issue online now
Features, news, policy updates, research...

Congratulations to March's APS approved programmes

Telebefriending services from across England are urged to share their views on training
The London Telebefriending Forum wants your views

Report on the role of third sector innovation released by Cabinet Office
Rt. Hon. Anne McGuire MP recommends ways to personalise health and social care, and services to redu...

Teenage pregnancy strategy: beyond 2010
Views welcomed to inform next phase of strategy

Research around the transition to adulthood age group 16 to 25
Catch22 report 'Ready or Not' shows the need for new thinking on policies

Deprivation and risk: the case for early intervention
New Action for Children report highlights mentoring

Grant funding available from the Woodward Charitable Trust
Wide range of work with minority groups funded

Business mentoring champions appointed to inform, engage and inspire young people about business
MBF welcomes recent appointments by the DCSF

Parenting and Wellbeing report recommends peer mentoring
Shows how local authorities can improve family support services

Winners of the 2009 Learning Exchange Awards
Well done to Joseph Leckie Community College who have won first price at the 2009 Learning Exchange ...

Audit Commission looks at financial challenges of an ageing population
Report stresses savings to be made by preventative services

Grants available from the Santander Foundation for projects working to help disadvantaged people
One off grants for local, regional and national charities

MBF submits response to the 'Shaping the future of care together' consultation
Proposals for reforming the current care and support system welcomed by MBF

Insight into wealthy donors for non-profit fundraisers
Wealthy philanthropists discuss role of corporate donors in free podcasts

MBF to run practitioner focus groups to inform the development of a two year profile raising campaign
MBF explores a common identity for mentoring and befriending programmes

MBF peer mentoring outcomes measurement programme gets underway
MBF continues to recruit and support peer mentoring projects to share positive outcomes at a nationa...

Call for project evaluations and case studies

Mosaic mentoring programme supports Muslim leadership with first International Summer School
Mosaic International Summer School will be held on 18 July – 1 August 2009 to inspire leadership wit...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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