It's been a year since we launched OurCamden and we are looking to find an amazing Admin Worker to join our small but wonderful team. 

To have a look at the job description, just click the link under the advert. 

Get the Job Description here ! 

We look forward to hearing from you. Good luck! 

The new Care Act introduces new responsibilities for local authorities. It also has major implications for adult care and support providers, people who use services, carers and advocates.

Over the next few months there will be more information coming out about exactly how the changes might affect you and your loved ones.  (There's a great opportunity to hear directly from Camden Council here ). 

We've found this great overview that is worth a wee watch.  Why not have a look. 

It's that time of year when resolutions are made - and very soon broken isn't it? 

Well, at OurCamden we've resolved to get our members more amazing deals. More places you can use your members card to get discounts, extras and downright loveliness for less money! 

We've started well (and intend to keep it up) by getting you a couple of great ones! 

Why not go to El Rocio for breakfast  and get a FREE drink with your meal? 

Oh, hold up... you've realised you're struggling to read the menu- and you know its not due to the night before. Get those eyes tested for HALF PRICE from The EYE CUBE. And, if you need new glasses you can save yourself 20%! 

Wonderful. 

But.. its all a bit stressful.... so you need to relax. Get looked after. Chill out. Get back in balance. All with some Reflexology from Rosangela at the Charter House Clinic. With 20% off. That should help you relax eh? 

So that's this week sorted.... wonder what we're conjuring up for next week? Got a business you'd love a deal from, then why not let us know! 

We love it when people pop into the office to introduce themselves.  A few weeks ago, Andy did just that.  He's a Camden man through and through, wanting to help people out at a very low cost. He can do some of those jobs that are bugging you and a ton more besides... 

We're very excited that Andy is going to be part of our new Practical Services- launching in January 2015! 

But let us leave it to Andy to introduce himself...

Thefreedictionary.com defines Man Friday thus;

“n. Man Friday-An efficient, faithful male aide or employee”.  That’s not bad - efficient and faithful - well I’d like to think so. Useful, experienced, been around the block, generalist, factotum, good with words and hands, an all-rounder - that’s me - well that’s what I’m telling the world (that would be Camden) at least.

Camden. I’ve been knocking about the place for an age. I joined Getty Images on Bayham Street back in '95 and what good fun that was - they even taught me some stuff about digital imaging - what’s that? - you know, Photoshop, image manipulation and all that. I went freelance in '06 and that was fun too. However, the thing is, manipulating images all day is you, a mac and the monitor - it can be a bit isolating. Plus I had too much time on my hands and so I looked for other things to do…a season crewing on the Regent’s canal, bar work, Christmas at Fortnum and Mason selling hampers to Derek Jacobi and Charlie Watts, a couple of market stalls, stewarding at Lord’s - you get the picture. I was loving the variety - meeting the kind of people you just don’t get a chance to in any other way.

Then I moved to Iceland and when I came back a year or so later, I began to wonder how I could tap into the ‘variety’ thing again and came up with the Man Friday concept (it's from Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe if you were wondering). I put an advert in the classifieds of ‘The London Review of Books’ - “MAN FRIDAY London based graduate, physically fit, articulate and friendly seeks work. An hour, day, week or longer. Anything considered.” - and waited.

Well, I wasn’t snowed under to say the least but then, a guy calls me up and wants to know if I would help him draft some legal papers he needs to serve at the High Court - yes, great, I would like that. Civil law moving at the pace it does, we’re still at it - two days a week to be found in somewhere in Camden with wifi - taking on the mighty with my laptop. A classical Indian dancer from Regent’s Park rang to ask if I could reorganise her study and scan her photos and press cuttings from her amazing international career. Yup. A retiring financial advisor from West Hampstead needs serious help with moving house and office after 30 years in situ - no problem.

So, in a kernel, that’s it, that’s what I do. Move a piano one day and take on internet research for that book you’re way behind on the next.

I was at a local networking event just a couple of weeks ago - the kind where you write your name and company on a sticker to put on your lapel. A guy came up to me, read the sticker, “what do you do…ah, I see, Man Friday… you do everything!” Ace. Turns out he’s a filmmaker - plans afoot to help him with some filming next week - bliss.

Could you use Man Friday’s help?

Andy can be reached on 0795 116 8953, or check out his website.

Six Point Foundation is celebrating what is and can be done to make all older people’s lives better. Posters can be drawings, paintings, photographs, collages, needlework, mosaic or digital art. Winners get a gift voucher plus a donation to an older people’s charity of their choice. Register by 18/12/14.  Please check  Six Point Foundation's website for more information on how to enter the competition.

Good Luck!

Over the course of the two days, more than 2000 ideas and insights were gathered on 8.5 kg of paper, and 42.5 hours of audio and more than 8 hours of video were recorded. The openness and freeness of ideas and insights in rethinking a different and more positive future was exciting to behold. The electric energy that so many participants commented on was down to all being so willing to think deeply and creatively when asked the question 'what if' to the provocations set.

The findings from the forum will be shared on Monday 17th November at 18:00-20:00.

Book your place today, as spaces are limited!

Agenda:

• 18:00-18:15  Arrival
• 18:15-18:30  Summary of Findings & Next Steps
• 18:30-18:45  Handing out of "The Age of No Retirement?" Newspaper
• 18:45-20:00  Drinks, Networking, Q&A

 

Camden Council Better Homes Framework

Camden Council is planning to spend £300 million on bringing its housing stock up to Decent Homes Standard over the next few years. We are setting up a framework to help deliver the repairs and maintenance works. One of the lots has been set aside for SMEs and it is likely to offer works valued at under £100,000.

The Council is committed to increasing its spend locally and held a workshop in early October 2014 to promote the opportunity to local SMEs. We have now arranged a follow up SME workshop 27th November 2014 at 9:15am. Email economicdevelopment@camden.gov.uk to find out more information.

Tender opportunities for this framework will become available in the coming months and will be advertised here

Trading Times, an award winning new dating-style website bringing skilled people together with businesses that need a part-time or one-off task done, has launched in Camden.

Trading Times matches the needs of local business with the skills of local people over 50, or family carers who want to work flexibly.

People like Ron Mobbs, 68, who worked for 20 years as a senior management consultant.  Ron says, “People like me have a vast range of experience. We know how to cope with change, we listen, we’ve loads of knowledge and contacts.”
Dr Jonathan Collie, founder of Trading Times, says: "There is a very large number of people in Camden who are fantastically skilled and completely work-ready, but are off the radar to employers because they're not looking for full-time work."

Albert Wright, of  Small Business Solutions Ltd, discovered that when he posted for a bookkeeper. “I was matched with a local semi-retired accountant, and also with an experienced financial advisor; both were willing to work the hours I needed and with hourly rates to suit my budget.”

Trading Times is free for candidates. Employers only pay £35 per job to be connected to matching candidates. If this is what you've been looking for – try it today - and pass it on!

The Living Wage Foundation is pleased to announce that OurCamden CiC, has today, 14^th October 2014, been accredited as a Living Wage employer. 

The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at OurCamden CIC-whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors and suppliers- receive a minimum hourly wage of £7.65, which is significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.31.

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living, using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about how much people need to make ends meet.

“ We believe it is important that all organisations, whether from the voluntary sector or not, enable their staff to cover their cost of living whilst at work, and not be reliant on state benefits. We are delighted to be in the company of some great employers, and be at the vanguard of such an important movement.” Sassaka Amena,  Operations Lead, OurCamden CIC.  

Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Living Wage Foundation Director, Rhys Moore said: “We are delighted to welcome OurCamden CIC to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.

The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.

We have accredited over 850 leading employers, including OurCamden CIC, ranging from independent printers, hairdressers and breweries, to well-known companies such as Nationwide, Aviva and SSE. These businesses recognise that clinging to the national minimum wage is not good for business. Customers expect better than that."