Dear Colleague,
Welcome to the latest Third Sector Update for East Lothian.
GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATION
Scottish campaigners make solidarity call against fascist violence
Thousands will mobilise against the far right
Anti-racism campaigners in Scotland have condemned the fascist violence that has taken hold in some UK cities.
Over the past week, far right and criminal mobs – stirred up by mainstream right-wing rhetoric and online racist and Islamophobic agitators spreading disinformation – have attacked mosques and hotels hosting asylum seekers.
So far the violence has been in cities in England and also in Belfast.
Campaigners in Scotland are calling for action to ensure there are no similar scenes in Scotland, and are planning to take to the streets in defiance and solidarity.
Scottish campaigners make solidarity call against fascist violence – TFN
Pre-budget 2025-26 scrutiny – Third sector funding principles
Every year the Social Justice and Social Security Committee looks at what the Scottish Government could consider when developing its budget.
This year, the Committee has heard of concerns about funding challenges faced by the ‘third sector’.
The Committee wants to examine how the Scottish Government’s approach to fair and efficient funding can contribute to the continued effectiveness of the third sector.
Pre-budget 2025-26 scrutiny – Third sector funding principles – Scottish Parliament – Citizen Space
Final call for evidence: Investigation and assessment into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating whether the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, or his employees or agents at the Department for Work and Pensions, have broken equality law.
They are seeking evidence of cases where a claimant with a mental impairment needed a reasonable adjustment during their health assessment but weren’t provided with one, and as a result, suffered detriment.
If you are a whistle-blower, charity, third sector or advocacy organisation, disabled people’s organisation, welfare benefits advisor, legal professional, academic or researcher, you are invited to provide evidence using the online survey. Your contribution may be vital to the investigation and assessment.
EHRC – Call for Evidence Survey
ORGANISATIONAL UPDATES
New head office for Edinburgh charity
The new site will include a centre supporting adults with additional needs.
The Edinburgh charity operating key services such as Sleep Action and Teens+ is set to move into a new head office in the city.
Capella unveiled plans to open the charity’s new headquarters at 95 McDonald Road, Edinburgh in September 2024, joining Hanover Scotland at the site.
The move expands the capacity of Teens+, a pathway for school leavers with additional needs to realise their potential, while providing much-needed office space for the teams supporting the delivery of the charity’s services.
New head office for Edinburgh charity – TFN
VOLUNTEER INSIGHTS
‘How are we doing?’ is just the start: our latest Stakeholder Survey Report
Each year Volunteer Scotland asks our stakeholders – ‘how are we doing?’, ‘what’s your experience of us?’ and, ‘in what ways can we improve?’.
This most recent survey rates our work, across:
-
Leadership and collaboration
-
Influencing Government Policy
-
Events and Campaigns
-
Research and Evaluation
-
Website and Communications
-
Implementing Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan
As always, we’re very grateful to our stakeholders as it’s through your time and detailed considerations, across a wide range of areas, that we’re able to improve. As the national centre for Volunteering, every stakeholder response is important.
We continue to do a number of things well, including; our highly rated contributions to influencing Government policy, the high quality and impact of our Research, our key role around delivering Volunteers’ Week, and our continued good work around the Volunteering Action Plan in its second year. I could list more positives.
‘How are we doing?’ is just the start: our latest Stakeholder Survey Report – Volunteer Scotland
Volunteer with Carers of East Lothian
Carers of East Lothian are looking to create a brand new Fundraising Group to raise vital funds for the organisation, so that they can further increase the support they offer to unpaid carers across East Lothian. This is a flexible role, which can be adapted to suit the individuals interests, skills and availability. Fundraising is a fun and rewarding way to get involved in a cause that matters to you, with lots of opportunity to meet like-minded people.
Get Involved – CoEl
FUNDING & GRANTS
Hillcrest Foundation
The Foundation supports projects that help improve the lives of individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage all across Scotland. Their support can be split into three areas: reducing isolation, reducing inequalities, and improving health and wellbeing.
They fund community groups and small charities who are struggling to secure funds through mainstream funders or who have unsuccessfully explored all the statutory sources of funding.
Applications must demonstrate how they meet at least two of the Foundation’s values:
-
Inclusion
-
Respect
-
Excellence
-
Innovation
Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 29 August 2024.
Hillcrest Foundation – Funding Scotland
The Scottish Government – Fairer Workplaces Fund
The Fairer Workplaces Fund offers grant funding to deliver new projects that support flexible working practices and improve diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) within the workplace.
The fund aims to bring benefits to current workplace practices and contribute to the Scottish Government’s wider ambition of creating a Fair Work Nation by 2025. Projects should contribute to reducing the Gender Pay Gap, at least halving the Disability Employment Gap, addressing employment barriers for racialised minorities and over 50s workers, and reducing Scotland’s level of economic inactivity. All of which contributes to the First Minister’s key priorities of reducing child poverty and growing the economy.
The fund is firmly rooted in Fair Work principles, ensuring projects help develop progressive workplaces to the benefit of employers, workers, the economy as a whole, and wider wellbeing economy aims.
Application close at midnight on 1 September 2024
The Scottish Government – Fairer Workplaces Fund – Funding Scotland
Scotmid Launch Community Grant and Community Connect Funding Opportunities
Scotmid have recently launched a new funding stream.
The Scotmid Community Connect fund is open for applications twice a year and allows Scotmid members to decide how £75,000 is shared between nine projects in Scotland. Each region has three shortlisted good cause groups looking for project funding. The funds of £15,000, £5,000 and £5,000 are allocated based on the member votes received.
Applications to become a shortlisted project are open until 21/08/2024
Supporting Local Communities – Scotmid Cooperative
TRAINING & EVENTS
Self Harm Network Scotland Offering Free Training Opportunities
The Self-Harm Network Scotland, run by Penumbra, has a number of free training opportunities coming up about self-harm.
There are two different sessions on offer, a one hour awareness session and a three hour deep dive looking at the underlying reasons for self harm and details on support and minimisation. Both sessions can be delivered online or in person, and there are a range of dates available.
Anyone is welcome to attend. There is no maximum number of participants for the one-hour sessions, the three hour sessions are for up to 16 people.
Self-Harm Network Scotland Events – 12 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite
Co-production Week Scotland 2024: Embedding co-production
How do we embed co-production as the way we deliver support and services across Scotland?
That’s the question at the centre of Co-production Week Scotland, taking place this November.
Co-production is an approach to delivering services that combines everyone’s strengths so that the people involved can work together in a mutual way to achieve positive change. It has close ties to community development, with a focus on ‘doing with, not to’.
During the week, Scottish Co-production Network members will be exploring how we harness the structures, systems and, crucially, resources needed to cement co-production as a way to advocate for lived experience, and shift the balance of power in decision-making.
Co-production Week Scotland takes place between 18th – 22nd November 2024.
Inter-Agency Child Protection Risk Assessment and
Processes Level 2 Refresher
Who is this course for?
This course is for multi-agency operational staff and managers who are in regular contact or carry out direct work with children, young people and/or their parents or carers, and who have a requirement to learn more about child protection for their role. This course is a refresher and suitable for staff who have previously completed the full Child Protection and Risk Assessment Training.
Are there any pre-requisites for attending this course?
Applicants must have previously completed Inter-agency Child Protection Risk Assessment and Processes training (Level 2) within the last 3 years.
In advance of attending the course, you should ensure you are familiar with
COMMUNITY & WELLBEING
Every Mind Matters NHS
Find your little big thing for your mental health
There are little things we can all do to lift our mood or ease our anxiety – we need to find what works for us. This could be as simple as taking a walk in nature, prioritising our sleep or opening up to a friend. Our little thing, if we keep doing it, will make a big difference to how we feel.
Every Mind Matters – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Sign our petition to save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners
Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is the wrong policy decision.
Millions of struggling pensioners won’t receive up to £300 they rely on to pay their bills.
We believe as many as 2 million pensioners who find paying their energy bills a real stretch will be seriously hit by this cut:
-
Those on low incomes who just miss out on Pension Credit,
-
Those with high energy needs because of disability or illness,
-
The 1 million who don’t receive the Pension Credit for which they are eligible.
Save the Winter Fuel Payment petition! | Campaigns | Age UK
SCVO Release Report Detailing Impact of Rising Costs on the Third Sector
The latest findings from the Scottish third sector tracker.
Three years of rising costs have taken a significant toll on Scotland’s third sector. For some, the impact has been devastating, curtailing or cancelling vital services; staff losing their jobs; and organisations having to close their doors.
The new report from SCVO looks at (among other things) the impact of rising costs on the ability of organisations to deliver their services, how organisations are responding to increased operational costs, and whether government support has been sufficient for their continued sustainability.
The impact of rising costs on third sector organisations in Scotland – SCVO
OPPORTUNITIES & VACANCIES
Recovery Worker
SALARY: £26,515 – £31,340
LOCATION: On site: East and Midlothian
MELD is a community-based substance use agency providing recovery services in Midlothian and East Lothian.
Are you a motivated person looking for a satisfying role in a recovery focussed organisation which offers a competitive Salary Structure and an Incremental Scale? Do you want to work in a positive working environment and be part of a dynamic and vibrant team? MELD offers a range of benefits including professional supervision, development and training. Additionally, all staff receive a generous annual leave entitlement plus birthday off. Car user allowance and travel expenses are payable.
We are recruiting people who are committed to providing services for individuals with substance use issues, who can work effectively as part of a dynamic team and in partnership with statutory services. As part of this core aspect of MELD’s work, the role of Recovery Worker offers a rewarding career opportunity for the right individuals.
MELD will consider Job-share for full-time roles.
Closing 30th August 2024
Recovery Worker with Mid and East Lothian Drugs – Goodmoves
Individual Advocacy Worker (Mental Health)
SALARY: £25,778 – £28,533
LOCATION: Hybrid: East Lothian and Midlothian with occasional work in Edinburgh
This is a great opportunity to join CAPS’ friendly, supportive Individual Advocacy team to provide Individual Advocacy to adults in East Lothian and Midlothian who are experiencing mental health issues. This service sits alongside our adult service of Individual Advocacy for people who are affected by drugs or alcohol, and our new area of work providing individual advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community in Midlothian and East Lothian.
The focus of the work is the provision of Independent Advocacy – making sure that people’s views and wishes are heard. You will make sure people are informed about their options and their rights and assist people who have mental health issues to redress power imbalances in their lives and in their interactions with services. Individual Advocacy is very rewarding work that makes a real difference. Full training will be provided.
This post will be subject to membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. There will be a 6 month probationary period attached to this post. A mix of home and office working is possible but face to face working with people is essential.
Closing 28th August 2024
Individual Advocacy Worker (Mental Health) with CAPS Independent Advocacy – Goodmoves
