The King's Fund, Comic Relief, and the Big Lottery Fund have opened the application process for a unique support programme that will enable charity leaders to help each other through sharing expertise and developing skills. The Cascading Leadership programme offers an initial 80 free places worth £3,000 each. Anyone leading a voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisation focussed on health and wellbeing of any size, early stage or established, can apply. There are two opportunities on offer:

Comic Relief has launched a £1.5 million fund to engage older people aged 65 and over in volunteering. Between 15 and 25 grants will be awarded to projects that specifically target older people who don't usually participate in volunteering or social activities because they are from a disadvantaged community, or face other barriers to participating. Grants of between £40,000 and £80,000 for up to three years’ work will be made to registered organisations based in the community in which they are already working with older people (including those working with national or regional partners).

Are you looking to expand your small business? Help is at hand through a free business health check from the D2 Business Advisory Growth Service.

Find out more here: http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news_events/news-updates/2017/augus...

Supported by players of the People's Postcode Lottery, the next round of the Dream Fund is open for applications on the 14th July 2017. The Dream Fund offers charitable organisations in the UK to think big, be ambitious and collaborate with other not-for-profit partners to deliver their dream project. The total award fund of £3,000,000 will be awarded as grants of up to £1,000,000. Applications for innovative, creative, original, and present projects that are a genuine ‘dream' submitted by partnerships of at least two charitable organisations (one must be a registered charity) are invited.

Deadline: 31^st July

The ScottishPower Foundation, a registered Scottish charity operating independently of ScottishPower, offers funding to registered charities and not-for-profit organisations based and working across Great Britain. Grants of between £25,000 and £250,000 are available for projects addressing the following themes:

A group of Fabrication and Welding students have delivered the first of their specially-designed salt and pepper pot holders to take pride of place on the tables in the College’s Engine Shed restaurant at the Roundhouse campus.

Charities and organisations helping children who are disadvantaged in some respect can apply for grants from the Barbara Ward Children's Charity. Causes that have previously received funding include educational projects, holidays, care and respite, health and well-being, sport, play and leisure. Grants may also be awarded to charities supporting adults with learning difficulties. Recent awards have ranged from £1,350 to £21,000 and have been used to support both one-off donations and project-related grants for 2-5 years.

Schools and not for profit organisations have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Wooden Spoon Society's Capital Grants programme. Wooden Spoon the British and Irish Rugby charity which supports mentally, physically disadvantaged children. Through the programme funding is available for:

•             Buildings and extensions

•             Equipment & activity aids

•             Sensory rooms and gardens

•             Playgrounds and sports areas

•             Transport

•             Soft playrooms.

Newly published Arts in Health: Designing and Researching Interventions provides a complete overview of how to go about undertaking research and practice in the field of arts in health. Part I explores the context for arts in health interventions, including the history of the use of arts in health and the theoretical and political developments that have laid the foundations for its flourishing. Part II examines how to design an arts in health intervention, develop partnerships and find funding and considers the sensitivities around working in healthcare.

A long-established hair salon in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter has adapted its premises to support customers with specific needs.

Headquarters salon, on the second floor of 49 Queen Street, has created a new private VIP room where customers with hair loss can have private consultations.

Owner Rosin Clarke has completed specialist training from celebrity hair stylist Trevor Sorbie MBE under his unique ‘My New Hair’ programme.