Wednesday 22 July 2015

New Job Opportunity at Upbeat Communities


Operations Manager


Location: Derby
Hours: 22.5 per week
Salary 18K Pro rata, Fixed term contract
 
An exciting opportunity to join this growing organisation, working with some of the most vulnerable refugees and migrants arriving in the UK. Upbeat Communities was founded in 2005 on Christian values, with a vision to see new arrivals realise their potential and participate fully in society. This key role will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operational running of our innovative range of programmes and services. The successful candidate will have strong organisational and administrative skills and will be experienced in managing budgets and keeping accurate financial records. They will be someone with great communication skills and a can-do attitude that reflects the dynamic, people focused nature of our organisation.
 Application deadline: 10th August 2015
For an application pack contact louise@upbeatcommunities.org
  

Wednesday 13 May 2015

What's On Spring 2015

We have never been so busy at Upbeat Communities. Thursdays we have a packed building with Little Fishes stay and play group, English classes, a drop in session and sewing classes.

Here is what's happening throughout the week:

Tuesday
Open Word English class
1.00pm-3.00pm
Wednesday
Upbeat Incubator enterprise class
9.30am-12.30pm
Thursday
Little Fishes stay and play group
Pre Entry ESOL classes
Entry 1 ESOL classes
Sewing classes
9.30am-11.30am
9.30am-10.30am
10.30am-11.30am
13.00pm

Upcoming events:

13th June
Chad’s Challenge Launch
15th-21st June
Refugee Week

Wednesday 11 March 2015

A year at Upbeat Communities

This last year we had lots of food-oriented events as part of the British Buddies and Our Food Shared Food projects. British Buddies provided English Language classes and opportunities for English speaking practice while members of different communities shared lunch together. The Our Food Shared Food Project finished in May when we launched our second book with Recipes and Reflections from around the world, available from the office.

In April we started the Step2Work Employment and Enterprise course for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them find work or set up their own business. The course provided opportunities to develop work related skills with mock interviews, business planning with business mentors. It also incorporated fun activities such as rock climbing to improve confidence and team work. The outcome of this course was positive for all of the participants; some found work during or shortly after the course, while others progressed into volunteering placements. We were also able to support some of the participants to start their own business. These  enterprises will be further supported by a new Business Development Co-ordinator joining the team this year.


Of course our vision is one we will only achieve in partnership with others and we work closely with other organisations to achieve this. On 21st March we are hosting "The Welcome Conference" with City of Sanctuary and Community Church Derby and hosting our annual Refugee Week events from 13th - 19th June.

We hope you can help us by coming along to one of our events, sponsoring a project or giving a few hours a month as a volunteer. In doing so you will not only be a catalyst for social change in our city, but I guarantee you will make some incredible new friends!

Louise Allen

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Upcycling Course


Sew2Work's new Upcycling course is starting this Thursday from 12.30-3pm at 1 St Chads Centre, Derby, DE23 6RS.

If you would like to learn how to turn old clothes and materials into new projects and improve your sewing skills, come and join us!

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Upbeat Housing





Our first tenant moved into our new refugee house this week. There are 3 more rooms we hope to fill soon. The house is in a quiet street in the Normanton area and is ideal for single refugees. There are 3 single rooms and one double, large kitchen, living room and bathroom. For more information, please contact Karina on 01332 916150 or email karina@upbeatcommunities.org.

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Trip to Kurdistan

Some of the Upbeat Communities team recently took a trip to Kurdistan to visit friends and make further links with the community there.

Upbeat Communities has been working with the Kurdish community in Derby for a number of years, with many women participating in our sewing classes. We have recently helped to set up a Kurdish Saturday school for children to learn how to write in Kurdish.

We were overwhelmed by the welcome we received and hospitality shown to us by those we visited. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and wonderful food and learnt much about the history of the area. 

Some of the highlights of the trip were…


tasting the wonderful food and trying out the local dress,





meeting lots of interesting people and making great friends,

visiting a refugee camp where we were excited to find a sewing project similar to the one we run in Derby and visiting the Halabja memorial where we learnt about the atrocities inflicted on the Kurdish residents and met some survivors.

We were glad to share our experiences with our friends back in Derby and look forward to developing our links with this community in Derby and Kurdistan.

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Autumn 2013

We have a range of activities running at St Chads Centre this autumn.
 
Thursdays
 
10.00am-12.00 Drop In Morning
 
English not your first language? Need help looking for work or courses, filling in forms, writing a CV or anything else? Come along to our drop in and talk to our friendly volunteers.
 
10.00am-12.00 Art classes
Do you enjoy drawing and painting? Would you like to improve your artistic skills? Our talented volunteers can teach you a range of drawing and painting skills.
11.00am-12.00 Welcome to Derby English Class
Along with language skills, learners are taught about the essentials of life in Derby, such as Schools, Doctors, Shopping, Banks, Money and even Recycling. Please book a place.
 
12.00 Community Lunch
 
A community lunch, free to refugees, asylum seekers or JSA. Others by donation. Everyone welcome
1.00pm-3.00pm Sewing classes
 
5 week dress making course. Learn to make a simple piece of clothing e.g. tunic or skirt using a pattern. Includes how to cut out and sew seams, zips and collars. £20 for the course. Free to refugees, asylum seekers or JSA. Practice fabric provided, bring your own for your garment on week 2.
 
English Language Classes
Derby Language School is running IELTS classes on Wednesdays and Fridays, for more information visit the website http://derbylanguageschool.com/ or call 07814660545.