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Local & National Government
Community learning and development (CLD): independent review
Community Learning and Development (CLD) is a professional practice within education with delivery stretching across all stages of lifelong learning.
The purpose of CLD is to provide early intervention and prevention to those experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, inequality of opportunity within the education and skills system.
This independent review began in December 2023 and was commissioned by the Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Veterans.
It will offer independent advice and recommendations on the delivery of CLD services in the context of a reformed education and skills system. It will align to the ambition set out by the Skills Delivery Landscape Independent Review.
Community learning and development (CLD): independent review – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
New Briefing on the Scottish Human Rights Bill Out Now
The Consortium has published a new briefing on Scotland’s new Human Rights Bill, outlining what the Bill will do and why it matters.
This Bill is a crucial step towards making our international human rights an everyday reality in Scotland. Putting #AllOurRights in law will mean that individuals and groups will be empowered to name and claim their rights, rebalancing the power between decision-makers and rights-holders.
The briefing also explains the story of the Bill so far, where we are now in the process, and what happens next, as well as an outline of what the Bill will contain. This is a crucial summary of everything you need to know about the Scottish Human Rights Bill
New Briefing on the Scottish Human Rights Bill Out Now – Human Rights Consortium Scotland (hrcscotland.org)
Volunteering
New treasurer for SCVO
Farha Jamadar takes up the role as Fiona Gillespie steps down. Scotland’s charity sector umbrella body has appointed a new treasurer to its Board of Trustees.
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has said Farha Jamadar will take up the role. She was appointed after Fiona Gillespie made the decision to step down as treasurer, though she will continue as a trustee until her term is up in December. Farha is a senior chartered global management accountant within the commercial and construction industry, with a passion for charity. New treasurer for SCVO – TFN
SERVICE UPDATES
Running cost crisis is creating real concern for charities
Foodbanks, community groups and vital support services are having to turn people away because they are at full capacity.
Much-higher demand and sustained financial challenges are leading half (50%) of English and Welsh charities to say they cannot help anyone else.
Research from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) which sampled more than 650 organisations found that one in seven (15%) say they are having to make the difficult decision to turn people-in-need away.
Charities running at full capacity and now turning service users away – TFN
Journeying through Dementia
Supported by the Self Management Fund in 2019, Journeying through Dementia is an occupation-based intervention that enables people at an earlier point in their dementia journey to engage in meaningful activities, maintain community connectedness and supports independence and wellbeing following a diagnosis.
The project combines self management and group based peer support to improve quality of life. It provides evidence-based occupational therapy for participants and aims to reach people early in their dementia journey to maximise benefit, providing rehabilitation and self management strategies for people living with dementia, supporting them to live as independently as possible, reducing the demand on health and social care services.
Read a full digital report, or short summary, of the work below:
Job Vacancies
Money Advice Project: Financial Inclusion Officer
SALARY: £29,000
Location: East Lothian
East Lothian foodbank provides emergency food and support to local people who are experiencing financial hardship. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Our money advice service was introduced in October 2022 to reflect our commitment to tackle the underlying financial reasons leading to foodbank use. After a successful first year where our service achieved significant financial gains for our service users, we are looking for the right person to join our team to drive forward the same success in years 2 and 3 of our project.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and positive individual to help those using our foodbank to access our money advice service to help improve their circumstances over the long-term.
Deadline: 1st March 2024
Money Advice Project: Financial Inclusion Officer with East Lothian Foodbank – Goodmoves
Community Engagement (Health & Wellbeing) Officer
SALARY: £28,392 pro-rata
Location: East Lothian
Due to our continued success in securing funding Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL), the Third Sector Interface for East Lothian are excited to be able to continue to grow and expand our team.
Are you someone who enjoys working with the local community and developing positive relationships? If so, we would love to hear from you! We’re looking for a Community Engagement (Health & Wellbeing) Officer. The successful candidate will be working to build capacity within our communities and services to better address the causes and consequences of health inequalities, and to improve health and wellbeing within East Lothian communities and with identified at risk groups and individuals.
Deadline: 26th February 2024
Community Engagement (Health & Wellbeing) Officer with Volunteer Centre East Lothian – Goodmoves
Independent Living Support Worker, Homemaker service
SALARY: £24,000 – £26,000
Location: Musselburgh
Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people? Do you want a flexible, varied and meaningful job in a supportive team? Do you value great employee benefits such as 360 Wellbeing membership and an annual training budget? Apply to join us!
Bridges Project is a leading youth work charity that helps young people aged 12-25 in East Lothian and Midlothian overcome challenges and adapt to adulthood. For nearly 40 years, we have helped young people develop their life skills, improve their educational attainment and move into employment or further education.
We have a vacancy for an Independent Living Support Worker to provide holistic, bespoke and person-centred one-to-one and group support to 40 young people aged 15-25 in East Lothian with the aim of:
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Supporting people to thrive within the home environment
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Preventing people from losing their home.
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Helping people into a home
Deadline: 14th March 2024
Independent Living Support Worker, Homemaker service with Bridges Project – Goodmoves
Funding
King Charles III Charitable Fund Launches New Small Grants Programme (UK)
The King Charles III Charitable Fund has launched a new Small Grants Programme to support projects that will improve people’s lives and build sustainable communities across the UK. Each year, the fund will allocate grants of up to £5,000 to around 100 community-based organisations, including charities, community interest companies, and parish councils. The fund aims to support small-scale projects that have the potential to create substantial impacts within their communities, especially those that typically face challenges in accessing larger funding sources. Grants will be awarded across 6 funding themes: the environment, countryside, social inclusion, health and wellbeing, heritage and conservation, and education.
The closing date for applications is the 22nd February 2024.
Small grants – King Charles III Charitable Fund (kccf.org.uk)
Equipment Grants for Disabled and Disadvantaged Young People (UK)
Schools, charities and not for profit organisations in the UK can apply for funding for equipment that helps mentally, physical and socially disadvantaged children. The funding is made available through the Wooden Spoon Society’s Grants programme and has in the past provided funding for sensory rooms and gardens; playgrounds and outdoor spaces; specialist equipment and facilities; and projects that promote health and wellbeing. The funding available is for capital items only and will not support revenue costs such as staffing and other ongoing costs. There is no maximum grant limit but projects under £5,000 are unlikely to be considered.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
Apply for a grant: Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby | Wooden Spoon.
Training
Money Counts – Training for Trainers in Scotland
Are you interested in reducing food insecurity in your community by delivering training to help people maximise their income and access any existing financial entitlements? Come and join NHS Highland to learn about delivering Money Counts training sessions and how you could run them in your area. This session is open to anyone in Scotland interested in taking the lead in delivering future training sessions locally. Participants might include people working to distribute food aid and other frontline support as well as local authority and health and social care teams.
Money Counts – Training for Trainers in Scotland Tickets, Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite
Events
Digital wellbeing in the workplace workshop:
SCVO leverage ideology, methodologies, frameworks, and tools from the tech sector to empower the voluntary sector. Their aim is to enable the sector to seamlessly integrate digital practices as a fundamental core capability, rather than treating them as exceptional tools for rare circumstances. This support extends to voluntary sector organisations of all sizes, ensuring they can consistently deliver high-quality digital services.
Digital wellbeing in the workplace – booking – SCVO
Women’s Heart Health Mythbusting – WEBINAR
The ALLIANCE and the Scottish Government are pleased to be hosting a free online session to provide information about women’s heart health and raise awareness of the specific risks and experiences more prevalent in women.
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Area of Work: Policy and Research
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Date: 22/02/2024 at 12:00pm – 1:15pm
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Location: Zoom
Surveys
Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Consultation survey
They are specifically looking for feedback on the content of the standards. Comments not relating to the standards content will not be processed. For example, we would welcome comments which cover:
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Wording that is unclear or requires clarification
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Potential gaps in the standards within scope
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Additional references for consideration
The survey covers all the standards contained within the draft document. You may wish to only comment on specific standards that are most relevant to you. You will be able to move through the sections to provide responses.
Gender identity healthcare: draft standards consultation (smartsurvey.co.uk)
