Welcome to the latest Third Sector Update for East Lothian.
GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATION
Disclosure Act Info Sessions
Disclosure in Scotland is changing, keep up to speed with Volunteer Scotland’s information sessions.
The changes in The Disclosure Act (Scotland) 2020 include:
-
The introduction of simplified disclosure products and people having more control over their information.
-
An individualised approach to the disclosure of childhood offending and rights of review for convictions disclosed, to enhance fairness and proportionality
-
Replacing the concept of ‘regulated work’ with ‘regulated roles’, making it easier to understand.
-
Membership of the PVG scheme will be a legal requirement from 1st April 2025 for those carrying out a regulated role.
-
The ability for Disclosure Scotland to impose conditions on PVG scheme members who are under consideration for listing.
To ensure that everyone knows what they need to do to avoid breaching the new regulations, Volunteer Scotland are running a series of structured information sessions alongside some less formal drop in sessions.
These sessions will outline the changes and how you can prepare to accommodate them. All the sessions are free, but the information sessions do require a booking. All the dates and other information can be found on the Volunteer Scotland website.
The Disclosure Act 2020 – Volunteer Scotland
ORGANISATIONAL UPDATES
East Lothian Roots and Fruits AGM
Roots and Fruits are holding their AGM on Thursday 27th February.
All are welcome to come along Elphinstone Community Centre (next to the school) at 10:30am to chat about all things Roots and Fruits. For more information and to RSVP contact Pamela at mckinlay.pamela@googlemail.com
East Lothian Roots and Fruits
A Fresh Start for Your Mind and Body
The Ridge are kicking off the year with a special event dedicated to your mental and physical wellbeing!
Come along to 88 High Street Dunbar (11:00am – 3:00pm) for a day filled with relaxing, creative, and inspiring activities that will refresh both your mind and body. Activities will include art workshops, Lego building, massages, barber and DJ workshops, and access to reconditioned bikes.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up for:
-
A 10-week Art Therapy Group
-
An 8-week CBT Therapy Course
-
Men’s Yoga Sessions
Plus, discover more about our counselling, befriending, and other wellbeing services, and learn about exciting volunteer opportunities to get involved in the community!
When: January 31st | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: 88 High Street Dunbar
Dunbar Ridge – Welcome to the Ridge
VOLUNTEER INSIGHTS
Home-Start East Lothian Needs You!
Two amazing opportunities to make a difference:
Become a Trustee: Use your skills to guide the charity and support the community!
As a trustee, you’ll help shape the strategic direction and development of Home-Start East Lothian, ensuring compliance with various laws and making a real impact.
Volunteer Befriender: Offer practical and emotional support to families in need.
Volunteer Befrienders visit families weekly, providing crucial support for issues like mental health, isolation, financial struggles, and more. Your commitment can change lives!
Join Home-Start East Lothian and gain valuable experience, a sense of purpose, and be part of a fantastic team!
Volunteers receive ongoing training, support, and even social gatherings, making it a rewarding experience.
Ready to make an impact? Attend their preparation course and start your journey with them
Home-Start Trustee:
https://www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities#/search/a0gQD000006YZ9ZYAW/home-start-trustee?keywords=home-start&distance=10km&sort=relevance&display=list&page=1&lat=&lon=&location=
Home-Start Volunteer Befriender:
https://www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities#/search/a0gQD000006PXi5YAG/home-start-volunteer-befriender?keywords=home-start&distance=10km&sort=relevance&display=list&page=1&lat=&lon=&location=
Royal Voluntary Service issues call for East Lothian drivers
A CALL has been issued for volunteers in East Lothian to come forward to help drive residents to their medical appointments.
The Royal Voluntary Service is seeking individuals with a driving licence and their own vehicle to help those who would otherwise struggle to get to healthcare facilities.
The role involves using a personal vehicle to transport patients to and from appointments, including regular medical visits, hospital discharges, and other healthcare needs. Training, personal protective equipment and PVG checks are provided, and travel expenses are reimbursed at 45p per mile.
https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/volunteering/volunteering-within-the-community/volunteer-drivers/
FUNDING & GRANTS
KFC Youth Foundation – Community Grants Programme
The KFC Foundation welcomes funding applications from organisations which:
-
Benefit young people aged 11-25 years old
-
Supports those in a position of social disadvantage (i.e. care leavers, those experiencing homelessness, young carers, young parents, young people at risk of or with experience of the criminal justice system)
-
Support by providing spaces that allow young people to feel safe and secure, helping to unlock talent and build life skills, provide mentoring and improve their chances to gain meaningful employment.
-
Ultimately empower all young people to fulfil their potential and build a positive future.
-
Will demonstrate positive results from their project within 12 months of our funding being received
Projects should demonstrate positive results from their project within 12 months of our funding being received
KFC Youth Foundation – Community Grants Programme – Funding Scotland
Scottish Book Trust – Live Literature Funding
Grants are available to help bring literature alive with an author, poet, playwright, graphic novelist or storyteller visit.
They like to support interesting, imaginative sessions which show a commitment to the promotion and enjoyment of reading and writing.
Activities should take place before 31 March 2025.
As funding is limited, a maximum of five sessions can be requested in a single application. The panel will only award the maximum five sessions if they feel the request is justified by an application.
Scottish Book Trust – Live Literature Funding – Funding Scotland
TRAINING & EVENTS
CEMVO Race, Racism and Anti-Racist Conversation Workshop
CEMVO Scotland are committed to empowering all our communities to foster a deeper understanding of race, racism and how to challenge and fight against it.
This training session is designed to offer regional hubs staff, volunteers and network members the chance to begin exploring and learning more about race, racism and how to be anti-racist. Hence, we believe that increasing our knowledge as a person is the most important anti-racist act, we can take upon ourselves. Pres. Nelson Mandela (RIP) stated that ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ The training session aims to promote the values and assist participants in making practical and structural changes that contributes to a positive impact in the fight against racism and racial inequality. This will be packed with experiential activities, thought provoking true to life situations and plenty of opportunity for challenging conversations.
The workshop will run on Weds 5th Feb 9.30 – 3.30pm – The Fisherrow Centre, South St, Musselburgh, EH21 6AT
Race, Racism, and Anti-Racist Conversation – Ticket Tailor
Find Your Brand Voice
A Brand Definition Workshop for Common Good Organisations in Scotland
This workshop, delivered by Social Brand Developer & Designer, Adam Piggot, has been specially created for common good organisations – social enterprises, charities, voluntary associations and community groups. It’s designed to help you stand out, engage and connect with the people you need to reach.
The workshop takes place via Zoom on Friday 7 March. The session will open at 9.15am and the workshop will run from 9.30am – 1pm. It’s completely free of charge, and in all, six places are available.
To find out more and book your place, please visit:
Adam Piggot – Build Your Brand Identity
Understanding Additional Support for Learning with Enquire – Webinar
This free webinar will provide an overview of additional support for learning and set out how you can use Enquire’s resources to help the families you support.
Many professionals and volunteers work to help families access the support they need, and children’s support at school should be no exception. In this interactive webinar, you will have access to key information and advice about additional support for learning and how Enquire’s resources can help you in your role.
All the following questions will be addressed:
-
What is an additional support need?
-
What happens if things aren’t working at school?
-
How can Enquire help me and the families I support?
The webinar will run on February 3rd from 12pm – 1:30pm. This session is free to attend.
Understanding Additional Support for Learning with Enquire – Eventbrite
COMMUNITY & WELLBEING
Prestonpans to Levenhall Active Travel Improvements – East Lothian Council
This project supports East Lothian’s Climate Change Strategy which aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve climate resilience.
East Lothian Council, in partnership with Sustrans, has commissioned AECOM to develop a safe and accessible active travel route between Prestonpans and Levenhall, to improve the connectivity for those walking, wheeling, or cycling in the area. By promoting active travel, the route will support the achievement of East Lothian’s Climate Change Strategy which aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve climate resilience. The route will also form a key connection, as part of the wider East Lothian Active Travel Improvement Plan, to several routes including: Musselburgh Active Toun (MAT), The John Muir Way, National Cycle Route 76 (NCN 76)
Fill out the survey here: Prestonpans to Levenhall Active Travel Improvements
The purpose of this survey is to record your views on the initial proposals for the Prestonpans to Levenhall route. Please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the proposed design drawings before completing this survey. These can be found at: https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/prestonpans-to-levenhall
Each design drawing opens with an introductory slide, outlining the key features on that section of the route. You can access the full version of each drawing by scrolling past this introductory slide.
Prestonpans to Levenhall Active Travel Improvements – Citizen Space
250 Free Online Fundraising Packs Available
easyfundraising is offering 250 free fundraising toolkits to help local organisations raise money online.
Through easyfundraising, when your supporters shop with any of 8,000 retailers, including Tesco, trainline, eBay, Argos, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Asda and Booking.com, a donation is made to your organisation. All you need to do is use the free packs to tell your supporters about it.
To get your complimentary pack, register with easyfundraising and when prompted, schedule a call with a member of the easyfundraising team who will arrange your toolkit and explain the process.
With only 250 packs available, claim yours today here: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/east-lothian/
The packs contain shareable content to help you get your supporters raising money for you online, including social media posts, newsletter contents, poster, flyers and videos.
Become and easyfundraiser – easyfundraising
OPPORTUNITIES & VACANCIES
Volunteer and Training Coordinator
Salary: £32,479 pro-rata
Location: Haddington (Hybrid)
Carers of East Lothian is the local organisation supporting adults who care for family and friends. The organisation has an excellent reputation, recently gaining recognition through the Carers Trust ‘Excellence for Carers’ Award, and currently has the contract to deliver adult carer services across East Lothian until June 2025. Carers of East Lothian are a Carer Positive Exemplary employer, as well as being Disability Confident Committed and a Living Wage employer.
The purpose of this role is to support unpaid carers in East Lothian through the recruitment, selection, and training of Volunteers to be deployed throughout the service, as well as developing and promoting a series of information and training sessions to be delivered locally, with additional support from volunteers.
Closing date is Friday 31st January at midday and with interviews to be confirmed.
For further information please contact centre@coel.org.uk
Volunteer and Training Coordinator Carers of East Lothian – Goodmoves
Care Support Worker – Welfare Rights
Salary: £29,750 pro-rata
Location: Haddington (Hybrid)
Carers of East Lothian is the local organisation supporting adults who care for family and friends. The organisation has an excellent reputation, recently gaining recognition through the Carers Trust ‘Excellence for Carers’ Award, and currently has the contract to deliver adult carer services across East Lothian until June 2025. Carers of East Lothian are a Carer Positive Exemplary employer, as well as being Disability Confident Committed and a Living Wage employer.
The purpose of this role is to support unpaid carers to access person centred information, advice and support with specific focus on improving financial wellbeing. The post-holder will both directly support carers with these issues and act as a resource for the rest of the Carer Support Team and others.
Closing date is Friday 31st January at midday and we expect interviews to be held w/c 3rd February.
For further information please contact centre@coel.org.uk
Care Support Worker Carers of East Lothian – Goodmoves
