E-bulletin April 2015
Inside:
Third Sector Forum
VA Academy Articles
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Lets Get Cooking
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Pension Reform - Protecting Vulnerable People
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Volunteers’ Week
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Water Water Everywhere
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Wellbeing for Young Scots
Resources
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East Renfrewshire Small Grants Trust
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Ready to Learn
Events
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Norwood Care Home Open Day
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Voluntary Action Digital - Digital Lunch
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Volunteers’ Week
Public Contracts & Funding
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Social Investment Tax Relief
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Public Contract Notice
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Funding
Find Us on
Website
Third Sector Forum The TSF facilitates biannual forum meetings held in June and January each year. Along with these biannual forum meetings we have developed VA Academy to keep you updated and connected. A ‘flexible programme’ of smaller issue based meetings will also be held as required.
VA Academy
Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire to launch new training academy. Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire (VAER) is launching an exciting new information service at the end of May, offering bite-size update sessions and training tasters, that will support East Renfrewshire’s voluntary and community sector to thrive and connect. VA Academy will run once a month, offering targeted information and update sessions lasting no more than 1 ½ hrs. VA Academy offers the opportunity to learn new skills whilst networking with other groups and organisations in East Renfrewshire. We are fully aware that time is precious; therefore, by delivering bite-size sessions VA Academy will provide access to key supports and information with a minimal impact on the working day. The first of the VA Academy sessions will take place on Wednesday 27th of May 12.302pm and will focus on the latest Welfare Reform updates - the roll out of Universal Credit. Places are limited, book now to avoid disappointment. Date: Wednesday, 27th May 2015 Time: 12.30-2PM Venue: Voluntary Action, 56 Kelburn St., Barrhead, G78 1LR Book your place here Or alternatively contact us on: 0141 876 9555 or email: admin@va-er.org.uk
Let’s Get Cooking Let’s Get Cooking is a cooking programme designed to teach course participants how to prepare and cook good, affordable food from the successful Let’s Get Cooking programme recipes. Who is it for? The Programme is aimed at 16-25 year old young people that are living independently, or preparing for independent living. Delivery: The cooking programme is delivered in partnership by staff from Connor Road Hosing Support Service, who are accredited Trainers with Let’s Get Cooking Programme and Adult Learning Services who will help participants gain numeracy skills required for budgeting. Where & When: Barrhead High School Kitchens, Aurs Road, Barrhead, Glasgow, G78 2SJ. Tuesday 5th may – 9th June 2015 6pm – 8pm If you have any queries please contact Graham Smith for more details; Tel: 0141 577 4067 or E-mail: graham.smith@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
PLEASE NOTE: There are no crèche facilities. The lead partners for the programme are: Connor Road Housing Support Service & Adult Learning Services.
Pension Reform – Protecting Vulnerable People As of the 6th of April, new pension regulation have come into force giving people over 55 the choice of spending, saving or investing their pensions however they want. Although for many this may come as a blessing for others it puts them at risk of exploitation or falling victim to scammers or fraudsters. Previously having savings tied up in a pension offered some protection as neither the pension holder, nor the fraudsters were unable to access the funds. However the new reform changes mean fraudsters know a vulnerable person can release their reserves. The Pensions Regulator has already stated“ the people behind pension’s scams are
often agile, sophisticated and organised. Whatever the law is, they will seek to exploit it, so we expect the scams we see to continue to evolve” (The Financial Times 16 January 2015) In fact an investigation is currently underway by the Information Commissions Office (ICO) to establish if highly sensitive personal pension details have already been sold to cold calling firms. The ICO have previously warned that “the pension reforms could
result in a flood of scams on the scale of the next PPI scandal’. (The Guardian 30th March) It is also worth recognising risks do not only come from fraudulent or illegal activity but also legitimate businesses that use very aggressive sales techniques to pressurise people into purchases they don’t want. It is even more important for third sector organisations and volunteers working with older or vulnerable people to help inform them of potential risks and to safe guard where possible against those risks. Trading Standards and East Renfrewshire Adult Protection Team can offer help on how to minimise the risk and keep vulnerable people and their savings safe.
Volunteers’ Week Volunteers’ Week is a national celebration of volunteering which takes place from 1st to 7th June each year; it is a chance for everyone to say a huge thank you to the volunteers that make our society a better place. There are a number of ways in which your group or organisation could get involved in the celebrations, ranging from certificate presentations to setting up information booths or volunteering taster sessions and team challenges. Download the Volunteers’ Week resource pack for some ideas and templates. Here Get in touch if you would like us to feature any of your Volunteers’ Week 2015 events on our website and/or e-bulletin or if you have any volunteering opportunities you wish to promote throughout the week. Contact us on: 0141 876 9555 or email: admin@va-er.org.uk
Water Water Everywhere Charities and sports clubs across Scotland are set to be able to keep more of the money they raise in 2015 and pay less on bills. Applications opened on 1st April 2015 for a new scheme to assist eligible organisations with the payment of water and sewerage charges. The Scottish Government scheme means that charities registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and Community Amateur Sports Clubs, which meet the scheme requirements and have an income of less than £200,000 will no longer need to pay water and sewerage charges – and those with incomes between £200,000 and £300,000, will pay a reduced rate. Beneficiaries of the current scheme that ends on 31 March 2015 are automatically enrolled in the new scheme. They will receive a letter shortly from their Licensed Providers to confirm. All charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs which are currently responsible for paying water and/or sewerage charges must apply for the new Scheme, but have till March 2016 to be included for help with their 2015-16 bills. Further information on the new Scheme and the transitional measures for those that have benefited from the Scheme that ends on the 31 March 2015 is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/waterindustryscot/ watercharges Alternatively charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs can contact their Licensed Provider.
Wellbeing for Young Scots The Scottish Government have launched a new website for young people. Wellbeing for Young Scots (www.wellbeingforyoungscots.org) is designed to enable young people to better understand the policies and practises used by schools, agencies and organisations involved in delivering the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) strategy. Although GIRFEC and the Shanarri wellbeing wheel are commonplace with professionals, teachers and support workers this is really the first resource aimed at ensuring young people themselves understand what it is all about. In addition to explaining ‘well-being’, the website also has easy to read information on the new Named Person law and how it will affect children and young people as well as information on what extra support is available in times of difficulty, upset or stress. The website is simple to navigate and suitable for any young person aged 12 and above and includes short video and audio clips of young people using their own words to describe how GIRFEC and the Named Person will work.
East Renfrewshire Small Grants Trust The East Renfrewshire Small Grants Trust is a newly established charitable trust whose objective is to promote health and well-being for all East Renfrewshire’s residents. The Trust will provide one-off, small scale funding for activities and stand-alone events. Applications are invited from any Scottish or UK registered Charities and to unregistered bodies that have charitable purposes providing the donation is used to benefit the people of East Renfrewshire. For further details please visit our website: www.ersgt.co.uk Email: info@ersgt.co.uk or Call: 01418769555
Ready To Learn Community Nursery Drop in Clinic 0-5 years Clarkston Fire Station The Clarkston Clinic is held on the second Tuesday of each month between 1.30pm and 3.30pm Dorian Drive, Clarkston G76 7NT (Enter through the grey gates of the car park and back door on your right) Parenting: • Behaviour • Sleep Patterns • Toilet Training • Crying • Going Shopping • Bedtime Problems Play and development: • How to share stories • Ideas on play experiences • Learn through play
Barrhead Health Centre The Barrhead Clinic is held on the last Thursday of each month between 9.30am and 11.30am 213 Main Street, Barrhead, G78 1SW (Report to reception – clinic is held in the Cowan Room)
Speech and Language: • General Advice • Hints and tips on promoting you child’s language Nutrition and Activity: • Fussy eating • Good eating habits • Get more active with your child
For more information please contact: 0141 300 1232
Norwood Care Home Open Day! Come and visit our home! Norwood Care Home is home to 54 residents. We are proud of our home and proud of our community. We would like to invite you to come and spend some time with us, meet our residents and staff and discover what our home is all about! On the 19th June 2015 please come and enjoy: • a raffle • live entertainment • and a chance to meet out residents and staff and hear their stories We will be open for visitors from 11am and will finish the day with a cream tea at 3pm. All ages welcome, so come and enjoy the day! We are part of your community… …and we want you to be a part of ours! Find us at: 39 Victoria Road, Barrhead, G78 1NQ. For more information visit: www.nationalcarehomeopenday.org.uk
VA Digital – Digital Lunch We are pleased to announce that Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire have recently been awarded funding from the Big Lottery ‘Investing in Ideas’ grant fund for our ‘VA Digital’ project. Digital technology is something that has increased dramatically over the years, both within and out-with our personal lives. The VA Digital project will investigate the use of technology in the local third sector. This will examine what third sector groups think about using technology to interact with service users, communicate with one another and measure success. From the information gathered during the research; we hope to identify if VAER, as an organisation, could provide a digital support service for local third sector groups to help them make effective use of the free technology available to them. During the course of the project, we plan to run events where participants will find out how to make effective use of the web and how they can access free tools for their group or organisation. Our first event is a focus group/awareness-raising lunch that will run from 1pm to 2.30pm on Tuesday 19th of May at: underCOVER, Voluntary Action, Barrhead, 56 Kelburn Street, G78 1LR. We hope that by joining us for lunch you will discover new ways on how digital technology can assist in the smooth operation and administration of your group or organisation; increase communication with your service users and find out about free and low cost software. Places are limited, so booking is essential. To book your place please contact: Julie Kirkwood E-mail: admin@va-er.org.uk or Call: 0141 876 9555.
Volunteers’ Week Voluntary Action has organised a couple of events to promote the benefits of volunteering to individuals and organisations. Monday 1st June - Pulse 98.4 Community Radio will be broadcasting their lunchtime show from the Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire offices here at underCOVER 12-2pm. Please come along and chat to us and Pulse 98.4 presenter if you are interested in finding out more about volunteering. Wednesday 3rd June – Networking Breakfast for voluntary groups and organisations who involve volunteers or want to find out how to involve them, here at underCOVER 9.30-11.30am. Guest Speaker: Bridget Sly, Volunteer & Citizenship Manager of the Commonwealth Games ‘Host City Glasgow Project’. Bridget will give a presentation on what was involved in organising such a large-scale project, as well as providing the key tips and pointers on best volunteering practice. Please book to avoid disappointment places are limited. Book here or contact us on: 0141 876 9555 or email: admin@va-er.org.uk
Social Investment Tax Relief Social investment tax relief (SITR) is the UK government’s tax relief for social investment which encourages individuals to support social enterprises and helps them access new sources of finance. More and more social enterprises are looking to investment funding as a means to develop. As with many other lenders Social Investment Scotland is continually looking at their portfolios to ensure they are keeping up with market requirements. They will shortly be launching the Community Capital fund which will bring a new, more flexible and lower cost supply of unsecured funding to Scotland’s social enterprises, using the new Social Investment Tax Relief.
Public Contracts Notice Ref: APR206938 Notice Type: Contract Notice Title: Provision of Telethon Fundraising Services Published: 24/04/2015 Published by: University of Strathclyde Deadline: 26/05/2015 Full Text: here
Ref: APR206259 Notice Type: Future Contract Opportunity Title: Evaluation of the Youth Employment Scotland Fund Published: 17/04/2015 Published by: Scottish Government Deadline: Full Text: here
Ref: APR205967 Notice Type: Contract Notice Title: Tender for the Analysis and Reporting of Glasgow City and East Dunbartonshire Schools Surveys 2015 Published: 14/04/2015 Published by: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Deadline: 25/05/2015 Full Text: here
Ref: APR205326 Notice Type: Contract Notice Title: UK-Kilmarnock: East Ayrshire Works Employability Pipeline Framework Published: 06/04/2015 Published by: East Ayrshire Council Deadline: 18/05/2015 Full Text: here
Ref: APR205110 Notice Type: Contract Notice Title: P15-0013 Business Mentoring Published: 01/04/2015 Published by: Scottish Enterprise Deadline: 13/05/2015 Full Text: here
Ref: MAR204848 Notice Type: Contract Notice Title: Cyber Space Network Integrator Published: 30/03/2015 Published by: Scottish Enterprise Deadline: 13/05/2015 Full Text: here
Ref: MAR204652 Notice Type: Prior Information Notice Title: Supply of Professional Services within a Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy Framework Published: 27/03/2015 Published by: South Lanarkshire Council Deadline: Full Text: here
Ref: MAR204698 Notice Type: Contract Notice Title: Provision of Work Experience and Employer Engagement Services Published: 27/03/2015 Published by: North Ayrshire Council Deadline: 08/05/2015 Full Text: here
Funding Community Radio Fund The first round for funding applications to the Community Radio Fund in 2015/16 is open. Grants can only be made to community radio licensees who are broadcasting under a community radio licence (and not to an RSL operator or to an internet-only service, for example). In the last round 45% of bids were successful, and the average grant was £14,000. Deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 6 May 2015. Full details here Fiver Challenge 2015 Young Enterprise’s Fiver Challenge, which aims to encourage school children to develop important entrepreneurial talents, is open to entries. Young Enterprise, in partnership with Virgin Money and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), is providing thousands of primary school children in the UK with a £5 loan for the second year running through the Fiver Challenge. The purpose of the loan is to challenge young people to set up mini businesses to create products or services they can then sell at a profit - which they are allowed to keep - and then return the original loan to the Fiver Bank. It is designed to encourage school children to develop important entrepreneurial talents and help equip them with basic skills for later life. The Challenge is open to all UK organisations that are dedicated to young people aged 5 – 11 years. For example: The deadline for entries is 5 June 2015. Once participants have completed the Challenge, organisations can select the top three overall participants or teams for submission to the National Competition. Each winner will receive a trophy and a trip to London to attend an award ceremony. The deadline for the national competition is 3 July 2015. Full details here
Museums Galleries Scotland Capital Fund Support is available to members of Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) for projects that will benefit the Scottish Museums sector and support the strategic aims and priorities of MGS. Assistance is aimed at projects that will deliver a strategic change for the organisation or sector and cut across more than one of the priorities. Priorities include: • Business Development – projects to assist museums and galleries to increase opportunities for income generation and to develop and enhance skills of staff and volunteers, including management and leadership. • Audience Development – projects to assist with understanding existing audiences and developing new audiences. • Product Development – projects to develop core collections and services. Applicants may apply for between £5,000 and £40,000. Applications can be received from organisations that run Registered/Accredited museums in Scotland and are current members of Museums Galleries Scotland, which may include: The deadline for applications is 7 October 2015 (5pm). Full details here
Scottish Clan Event Fund The Scottish Clan Event Fund is open to applications for events taking place between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017. The third round of the Scottish Clan Event Fund supports the delivery and planning of local clan events over the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design in 2016 and Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology in 2017. Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 are available to Clans and Clan Societies organising events across Scotland which take place outside the local authority boundaries of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Notes of interest must be submitted by 29 May 2015 and the deadline for applications is 29 August 2015. Full details here
Social Entrepreneurs Fund (Scotland) Support for social entrepreneurs to start in business. The Social Entrepreneurs Fund is aimed at individuals who want to set up and run a business with a social and/or environmental purpose. The fund will provide financial and business support to help get new enterprises off the ground. Through the fund, the Scottish Government aims to support individuals with the ambition to develop a social enterprise. The fund aims to support the development of new social enterprise activity across Scotland and deliver a diverse range of new social enterprises. The fund will provide support for individuals with a good business idea that they wish to develop using a social enterprise model. There are two levels of award, depending on how far an idea has been developed: Start It (Level 1) awards (£500-£5,000) are for individuals who might need money to develop their idea further – for example, to test out a new idea. Build it (Level 2) awards (up to £25,000) are for individuals who have progressed beyond this stage and are ready to go ahead with the idea and need resources to get going. The scheme is open to any individual aged 16 and over and resident in Scotland, who has a business idea and can demonstrate the need for assistance to make it reality. Applications must be made by an individual (or a maximum of three individuals) Level 1 applications may be made at any time. The next deadline for Level 2 applications is 18 June 2015. Full details here
Stalled Spaces Grants ERC are offering community grants to imaginative projects that bring life and vitality to those unloved and underused spaces in our town centres. If you know a vacant lot, neglected corner, bland patch of grass or dreary public space our Stalled Spaces grants can be used to transform these places into something eye catching and useful. Full details here
Next TSF Bulletin The next edition of TSF Bulletin will be out on Friday 29th May 2015. To submit any news items or community events, contact us no later than Friday 22nd May 2015 for submission into the next bulletin. For more information about any of the above or if you would like to include anything in the next TSF Bulletin email Linda. To unsubscribe, click here.
Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire Registered Address: underCOVER, 56 Kelburn Street, Barrhead, G78 1LR Scottish Charity: SC028103 Company Registered in Scotland: 187421 Tel: 0141 876 9555 Email: reception@va-er.org.uk Web: www.va-er.org.uk