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	<title>VAST | Professional services for voluntary and community groups</title>
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	<description>VAST is a charity providing professional services for voluntary and community groups. For more information on our services and products, call 01782 683030.</description>
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		<title>Common Ground Awards</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/common-ground-awards/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:36:26 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Vault - Funding]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[&#160; Common Ground Awards The Common Ground Award is a competitive grant fund designed to recognise and reward best practice in promoting social cohesion. It will provide capital investment into voluntary, community and social enterprise (VSE) organisations in England that are delivering services that brings people from different backgrounds together to build community cohesion and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Stop Loan Sharks &#8211; New POCA Funding Opportunity</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/stop-loan-sharks-new-poca-funding-opportunity/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Vault - Funding]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vast.org.uk/?p=66636</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[&#160; Stop loan sharks &#8211; new funding opportunity From time to time the England Illegal Money Lending Team offers grants to community organisations wanting to raise awareness about the dangers of loan sharks in their communities. This funding pot comes from money seized from convicted loan sharks under Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) legislation. Applications [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Sir Ian and Lady Jane Dudson awarded highest borough honour in Stafford</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/sir-ian-and-lady-jane-dudson-awarded-highest-borough-honour-in-stafford/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:41:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Sir Ian and Lady Jane Dudson awarded highest borough honour in Stafford The former Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson, and his wife Lady Jane Dudson, have been awarded Freedom of Stafford Borough.  They become the latest to receive the ‘Freedom Scroll’ joining other notable recipients such as iconic war-time Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Free support for adults affected by someone else’s gambling</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/free-support-for-adults-affected-by-someone-elses-gambling/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:16:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vast.org.uk/?p=66618</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Free support for adults affected by someone else’s gambling Around 1 in 11 adults in Great Britain are affected by someone else’s gambling. The impact can include stress and anxiety, arguments, relationship difficulties and financial pressure, yet fewer than 1 in 5 affected others seek support. Free, confidential support is available. Adfam, in partnership with Midlands [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Youth Inclusion Lead &#124; Port Vale Foundation</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/youth-inclusion-lead-port-vale-foundation/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:27:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest Jobs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vast.org.uk/?p=66610</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Youth Inclusion Lead &#124; Port Vale Foundation Port Vale Foundation use the power of Port Vale Football Club to enable lasting well-being by ignitinggreater ambitions and creating social connections for our communities In order to fulfil our mission, we are actively looking to contribute to local, regional and national priorities,using the Port Vale Football Club [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Electrical Safety Fund &#124; Electrical Safety First</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/electrical-safety-fund-electrical-safety-first/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:56:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Vault - Funding]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vast.org.uk/?p=66593</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Electrical Safety Fund Funding to Promote Home Electrical Safety for Vulnerable People (UK) Electrical Safety First are committed to helping those who are most vulnerable to electrical risk and injury in their homes.  Electrical house fires remain the leading cause of domestic fires in the UK, with new risks emerging. Too often, it is the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Finding Confidence Through Volunteering: Dina&#8217;s Volunteering Journey</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/finding-confidence-through-volunteering-dinas-volunteering-journey/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 07:56:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Volunteering Case Studies]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vast.org.uk/?p=66582</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Finding Confidence Through Volunteering: Dina’s Volunteering Journey At VAST, we see first-hand how volunteering can transform lives. Dina’s journey is a powerful example of resilience, personal growth, and the positive impact of being part of a supportive community. Dina has faced many challenges in her life. As a single parent, she also took on significant [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Back to school: parents urged to protect children against flu as digital platform makes vaccination consent easier</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/back-to-school-parents-urged-to-protect-children-against-flu-as-digital-platform-makes-vaccination-consent-easier/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:28:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vast.org.uk/?p=66550</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Back to school: parents urged to protect children against flu as digital platform makes vaccination consent easier As children prepare to head back to school, parents and carers across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being urged to make sure their children are protected this winter by taking up the offer of the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Stoke-on-Trent Food Partnership Winter Conference: Impact 2026</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/stoke-on-trent-food-partnership-winter-conference-impact-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:06:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Stoke-on-Trent Food Partnership Winter Conference: Impact 2026 &#8211; Bookings now open! The Bridge Centre, Stoke on Trent, ST2 8DD Friday 6th November 2026, 9.45am-4.15pm Impact 2026 will be a catalyst for transforming Stoke-on-Trent’s food system into one that is fairer, greener, and more resilient. Bringing together community voices, policy makers, businesses, and innovators, we aim [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Announcing Co-Chairs for Bentilee and Ubberley Pride in Place</title>
		<link>https://vast.org.uk/announcing-co-chairs-for-bentilee-and-ubberley-pride-in-place/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[VAST]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:49:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#We]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#WeAreTotallyStoked]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Announcing Co-Chairs for Bentilee and Ubberley Pride in Place Two people have been appointed to lead a new neighbourhood board responsible for overseeing £20m investment in Bentilee and Ubberley. Bentilee and Ubberley is one of three neighbourhoods across Stoke-on-Trent which has been selected by Government for Pride in Place support. This will see £20m spent [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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