Alumni Network
Staying Connected For Change
We want to ensure that lived experience isn’t extracted at Camden Giving and that the people we work with can be part of the organisations social change for as long as they want to.
The Alumni Network is formed of Camden citizens who have previously held grants with Camden Giving and/or been part of our community decisions making panels and will actively participate in various opportunities where you will have the power to spearhead Camden Giving’s Future.
Purpose
Opportunities
As Alumni members, you will be paid for engaging in opportunities to make strategic decisions on our grant-making, including:
Participating in discussions, consultation and voting on decisions about Camden Giving’s grant strategy and how funding moves in the borough. You may be asked to present your findings and knowledge at sessions with new community panels.
Actively engaging in evaluating funding streams and shaping the future of funds, coming together to shape grant-making strategy including for the We Make Camden, Equality Fund, Future Changemakers, and other grant strategy decisions.
Attend events and community festivals to share experiences of being involved in community grant-making and act as ambassadors for Camden Giving.
Actively engage in decision making processes, including our digital tool that will allow the Alumni to learn and vote on decisions remotely. This will be 4 times a year. (Paid at £15 a vote).
Translate communication material in Bengali, Somali, Lingala, Arabic and other languages for key Camden Giving promotional materials.
Support with outreach and engagement to identify residents suitable for roles, interview panellists and identifying citizens to apply for funding.
Engaging in our participatory reporting Coffee & Chats, meeting funded project grantees, and reporting on outcomes of their work.
Work with the team to consult other funders who are exploring ways to implement participatory grantmaking as part of the Participatory Grant Giving Advisors
How we’ll communicate
We will ensure our opportunities are accessible to all e.g information on votes can be shared via multiple means video, presentations and/or writing.
Communication will usually take place via email and through WhatsApp including coordinating opportunities, consultations and voting in advance of it taking place. However our Alumni Manager - Puja - is at hand to support your accessibility requirements.
The outcomes of your decisions will be communicated to you after the results are finalised so you’re kept in the loop with how things are progressing.
Please let us know if you have updated/changed your email address/phone number as this is key to you accessing our voting system. However for those without email addresses or accessibility requirements we are at hand to support you through the process.
Safeguarding
Purpose
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (SVGA) 2006 was passed to help avoid harm, or risk of harm, by preventing people who are deemed unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults from gaining access to them through their work. The Independent Safeguarding Authority was established as a result of this Act.
This Safeguarding Policy exists to ensure we uphold this legislation, meet the expectations of Camden Giving and to keep all people in Camden safe whilst accessing Camden Giving and our supported projects.
Our Approach
We balance the need to keep vulnerable people safe with the understanding that most of the Camden Giving organisations we support are small with very stretched resources. We act as a "flexible funder" and apply a logical approach, rather than applying processes to the letter and we review each application separately within the below framework.
At Camden Giving it is important that where appropriate we build trust with people who interact with us and strive to create safe spaces where individuals feel comfortable to approach us directly if they have concerns for themselves or for others. Beyond this, our approach and awareness of the complexities people in our communities' face enables us to have increased awareness to be able to spot signs of abuse.
Chai & Chat with Puja
Puja Basu - Alumni Manager
‘Chai & Chat with Puja’ is a great way to get know our Alumni, answer any questions, and build relationships within our community. If you’re interested in staying connected and taking an active role in our Alumni Network, I want to hear from you!
puja@camdengiving.org.uk
07393492137
If you have any questions or want to find out more, book a Chai & Chat!