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Voluntary Action Maidstone
39-48 Marsham Street,
Maidstone Community Support Centre
Maidstone,
ME14 1HH

01622 677337

support@vam-online.org.uk

Latest News

The Voluntary and Community Sector Focus Group held on 23rd September focused on working with the media.

It was a very successful session and here is some further information and key points for those who attended or others who might find it useful.

Guest speaker - Denise Eaton, Editor, Kent Messenger- how to get stories and news featured in the Kent Messenger.

Email preferred, to the messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk which is monitored by all journalists. Separate contacts for KM radio, based in Medway (see website).
Deadline is Wednesday for publication Friday, but ideally Monday (particularly for letters)
Give 2-3 weeks notice for events, and contact afterwards aswell
Little use in emailing photos as they are rarely of useable quality. Minimum should be 3MB and in JPEG format.
In the first instance draft a very short press release and email to the general address. Try not to pester with phone calls it makes little difference
Try to build relationships with the journalists, if they come to your events or feature the story. Details can be found http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent_messenger/contact_us.aspx

Guest speaker - Charlie Wilkins, Reporter, Meridian ITV News – getting stories on the TV. charlotte.wilkins@itv.com

Quirky, different unique angles will get the story featured
Must look good in film, eg colours, dance etc
Get a human angle, a good interviewee to tell a story
Call a local journalist and tell them about it, but only call once or twice!
Email in the first instance to newsroom.maidstone@itv.com
May well be interested in comments or interviews about national stories/ policies. Contact the News Editor and express an interest in commenting on an issue
Little capacity for investigative journalism but are still interested in the big stories/ issues
Please click here for full information on working with Meridian

Comments from attendees of the session;

Networking was really useful
Very good keep it up thanks
Great information delivered plus very useful networking
Very good! Well done on gaining participation from the speakers

100% of respondents rated the session very useful and very well organised! Look out for details of our next focus group in November.

NEW GUIDANCE NOTES

As you may know, VAM has produced a series of Guidance Notes – short information sheets on a wide range of topics of relevance to VCOs. Two new Guidance Notes have recently been added:

Collaboration – looking at definitions, common terms, further resources including model contracts. Download here.

Quality Systems – looking at the benefits, the options available, further resources including PQASSO. Download here.

For further advice on quality systems, contact Natalie. We can share information and answer questions, and also link you to a local VCO who has been through the accreditation process for informal mentoring.

AIMING HIGH ACTIVITIES - OCTOBER 2011

Our recent October half-term programme was very well-received by the scores of families that accessed it.

The current round of Aiming High activities in Maidstone has now finished . We may be approached by KCC to co-ordinate more activities - if we are, we will advertise here.

For more information contact Jo Cousins on 01622 663 637.

RECENT VCS FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS

Our June 2011 meeting included a debate on Localism and an update from Maidstone CAB on the services they offer. Download the notes here.

Our April 2011 meeting, in partnership with MBC, considered the Big Society with presentations and round-table discussions. Download the notes here.

In December 2010 the Focus Group was a sharing of initiatives/issues/concerns between the VCS plus funding feedback from MBC, and an evaluation of how useful the focus group is. Download the notes here.

In September 2010 the focus of the meeting was Maidstone Borough Council's budget consultation - a chance for the VCS to have its say.

The May 2010 meeting took the form of a Funding Fair, with local, regional and national funders present.

The March 2010 VCS Focus Group was a presentation/discussion about new initiatives being undertaken by local VCOs.