Great events at the Gathering
The seventh annual Gathering will return to Scotland’s capital city in 2011. The UKs largest voluntary sector event will take over the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) for two days:
Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 February.
This year’s Gathering will be like no other. Spending Review cuts mean less money for the public sector and more demand for services provided by the voluntary sector.
We know that in the face of spending cuts, some voluntary organisations will struggle to survive, but we also know that many will innovate and discover creative ways to cope.
Despite these challenging times, Scotland’s third sector will unite under one roof, to show their resilience and support for each other as well as the communities they serve.
What a co-producing community might look like – an invitation to imagineer
Our society is in turmoil. Facing reducing public spending, anticipating increasing needs as capacity shrinks, we need a new model of service design and delivery – a ‘re-imagining of our society.’
EVOC is hosting this hands-on opportunity to imagineer such a society. A society which sees us as reservoirs of value, not bundles of needs. Where the traditional, transactional approach to services – with its tired ‘us versus them’ model – gives way to a model which builds on our capacity to care. A Co-producing Society.
Got an idea? Share it! You bring imagination, we’ll bring a framework for visioning the future.
Over 90 minutes we will work together, using creative tools, to develop poems, songs, or even a manifesto for change.
If we began to see each other as resources to share - instead of problems to fix - how would that feel?
Imagine a society built of active citizens – each of whom is a net gain, not a net drain – what would that look like?
When Co-production shifts from the margins to the mainstream – unlocking vast untapped pools of human potential – will any of us remain untouched?
Join this workshop in a creative envisioning of a co-producing community.
Surprise yourselves!
Thursday 24 February from 12noon to 1.30pm at the Gathering at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) This is a free
event, but please book online.
“Big Society” – good, bad or indifferent?
Volunteer Centre Edinburgh is hosting this event to mark “European Year of Volunteering 2011”, and we hope that it will attract a lot of interest, and contribute to the debate on the role of volunteering in the current economic climate. The Gathering is Scotland’s biggest voluntary sector fair – with around 3,000 visitors expected over two days, making it the largest event of its kind in the UK.
The debate will be chaired by Councillor Paul Edie. Confirmed panelists to date include: Harriet Eadie, Director of Volunteer Centre Edinburgh; Miles Briggs, Conservative party candidate; and Dave Moxham, Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC).
Volunteering in the United Kingdom is at an interesting junction. The benefits of volunteering to the individual are plentiful and well recorded. The positive impacts of volunteerism in building social capital; more engaged and sustainable communities are also well recognised. As a country we are broadly in accord: volunteering and volunteerism is a good thing.
Traditionally, since the advent of the welfare state, volunteering has been used to provide added value and where required, fill the gap left by a Government backed support structure. In a fiscally challenged UK the current coalition government has laid out its stall and placed volunteerism and community activism at the heart of its Big Society concept.
Standing at the junction if we look west to our distant neighbours in the USA, we see a different landscape where volunteerism is ingrained in society. From Schools to Corporations community activism, philanthropy and volunteerism is widely promoted and undertaken. The US may be a rich country but it is also a country with many pressing social needs and with little or no state support for those that are in need – and it is here that the volunteer is the one who stands up and fills the vacuum.
Here in the UK, in the current environment we face many challenges. With public sector funding being reduced at national and local level, existing public services will become more stretched and indeed some will be withdrawn. With a third sector still largely dependent on public funding this sector may also increasingly struggle to meet society’s needs.
Come along and join the debate!
Thursday 24 February from 2.30pm to 4pm at the Gathering taking place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). This is a free
event, but please book online.
All neighbourhoods
Free training session on VOiCE (Visioning Outcomes in Community Engagement)
VOiCE is a planning and recording software tool that assists individuals, organisations and partnerships to design and deliver effective community engagement. It can be used to support a range of participation from overall area regeneration to specific concerns of users of particular services. It enables all users to employ a common system for analysing, planning, monitoring, evaluating and recording their community engagement. It has been published by the Scottish Government as part of its support for the implementation of the National Standards for Community Engagement.
VOiCE supports engagement initiatives by enabling you to:
• reflect on what you are trying to achieve;
• develop plans that relate to your purpose;
• monitor progress in implementing your plan;
• evaluate the process and outcomes; and
• learn lessons for future activity.
Users of VOiCE have identified a wide range of applications and benefits from adopting the tool. It is easy and efficient to use. It provides a very thorough approach to the engagement of communities whilst also providing a common language for describing community engagement and offering a straightforward way of understanding the requirements of best practice. In turn these characteristics enable better co-ordination and consistency to be achieved.
VOiCE is considered to be a robust tool for the practice of engagement not only by individuals but also for teams, intra and inter-agency partnerships. It allows those conducting the engagement to produce clear and accurate records in a focused and efficient manner and in turn enables efficient and informed production of clear evidence based evaluative reports.
VOiCE places emphasis on clarity of purpose through the setting of clear and measurable outcomes. It therefore enables an approach to engagement that can be integrated into wider outcome based vision and planning statements such as the Single Outcome Agreements between Councils and their community planning partners.
VOICE is accessible on line, which means that work can be shared easily with partners and across Scotland. You can choose the level of access you give people to your work, right up to editor control.
If you are interested in finding out more about VOiCE you can enrol for one of three hands on training sessions. The sessions are free and running on the following dates:
• Thursday 17 February from 9 to 12.30 pm in South Bridge Resource Centre
• Thursday 17 February from 1 to 4.30 pm in South Bridge Resource Centre
• Tuesday 22 February from 1 to 4.30 pm in Fountainbridge Library
To book a place please contact the Workforce Learning and Development booking line on 469 3227 between 12.30 - 16.00 (Mon-Thurs) and 12.00-15.30 (Fri) or by email. More information on this and other training is available on the Upskilling website
. For further information visit the VOiCE website.
Speak Up! Speak Out! Confidence in Communicating Workshop
Speak Up! Speak Out! Workshops are designed to empower and build confidence with all forms of verbal communication. The Workshops are delivered in a friendly and supportive environment with plenty of encouragement and constructive feedback.
The Workshop session includes techniques to:
• overcome nerves
• make your point clearly and concisely
• think on your feet, improve presentation skills
• even start to enjoy speaking-up in public!
The workshop takes place on Wednesday 9 March from 9.30am to 4.30pm at The Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh.
This workshop is free thanks to the support of the Joseph Rank Foundation and Edinburgh CLD Upskilling. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
The workshop will suit workers, tutors and volunteers working in the community learning sector who would like to improve their confidence and effectiveness in verbal communication. It will be facilitated by Jane Cameron, Associate Trainer, Speakersbank.
To reserve your place please complete and return the booking form to Janette Bond at the Workers’ Educational Association.
Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland
Scotland has been shaped by the lives of its people over thousands of years to develop a rich mixture of beautiful landscapes, historic buildings and unique collections and stories of our rural and industrial past.
The important work has been recognised and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is still very much open for business as usual. With around £50m more on top of current £205million to spend across the UK from 2012/13, we want as many people as possible to apply with a great heritage project from organisations and communities across Scotland.
Are you developing a project that allows people to enjoy, learn about and look after their heritage? Follow the advice on the "Talk to Us" page of the HLF website.
Poverty - The EACC Big Debate
The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils' debate on this key issue will help form recommendations to be considered by the Edinburgh Partnership. The event, on the morning of Saturday 5 March, will feature short presentations from:
The presentations will be followed by questions from participants and discussion groups. This is not just a talking shop - your participation is important.
To register for this event please contact Claire Duchart on 0131 469 3971 or download the invitation
and the booking form.
The Big Society in a wee country
• What's the Big Idea?
• What are the implications for public services, citizenship and communities in Scotland?
• How should we respond?
Everyone is welcome. Come along to this free event and after short presentations from the speakers have the chance to share your views.
The event will take place on Thursday 10 March from 7.00 pm to 8.45pm at Godfrey Thomson Hall, Moray House School of Education, Canongate (through arch to St John St), Royal Mile.
No need to book, just turn up. For more information please phone 0131 558 3545 or email. If you have any specific requirements, please get in touch at least a week in advance. For more details view the event flier.
Active Citizenship event: date for your diary
There will be a hustings event for Scottish Parliament elections, chaired by Lesley Riddoch, taking place on Thursday 7 April from 7.00 to 9.00pm at Edinburgh City Chambers. For more information see the Edinburgh Active Citizenship Group website.
A new Volunteering Charter
Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) and the Scottish Trade Union Congress
recently developed a Volunteering Charter as a statement of principles and good practice. It is also a model for use by individual unions, volunteer involving organisations in the public, third and private sectors and other bodies in discussions around the involvement of volunteers. For more details see the press release. If you scroll down to the third page you'll see the full list of charter principles clarifying advice about involving volunteers.
New name for CCPS: Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland
Formerly known as Community Care Providers Scotland, CCPS has updated its name and identity to reflect the broader scope of areas covered by its membership.
CCPS’s membership comprises all of the leading national non-profit and charitable providers in Scotland. CCPS members provide a variety of support services for children and families, older people and adults with a range of support needs.
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Almond
Almond Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting
The next meeting of the Almond Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Wednesday 16 March at Davidson's Mains Parish Church, 1 Quality Street, Edinburgh, EH4 5BB.
Neighbourhood Partnerships are open to the public to discuss ongoing issues in their area. A surgery takes place from 6.30pm with partners from Lothian and Borders Police and the Council there to answer any questions, and the main meeting begins at 7pm. All are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Eleanor Gaw on 0131 469 5479.
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City centre
City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting
The next meeting of the City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Thursday 17 March at 7:00pm in the City Chambers Business Centre.
City Centre Voluntary Sector Forum Meeting
This is an opportunity for third sector voices active within the city centre to come together, articulate their views, and engage with the City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership and its sub-structures.
The aim of the meeting is both to engage effectively with the neighbourhood partnership and to have a robust discussion about how to support each other through what are certainly challenging times for the sector.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 23 February from 10am to 12noon at Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council, 14 Forth Street, EH1 3LH.
The draft agenda is as follows:
1) City Centre NP and subgroups – updates
a. City Centre NP meeting 17 Mar 11
2) Workshop Discussion
a. Gathering Intelligence – what’s needed to build an active Third Sector Forum?
b. Forward Planning – what are our shared aspirations achievable via Local Community Planning?
3) Any Other Business
4) Date/Time/Place of Next Meeting(s)
Free taster healing sessions
Africa Centre Scotland
has circulated a flyer for free taster healing sessions on behalf of Kefah, who is a traditional healer. Kefah believes this type of healing can be a beneficial alternative to mainstream treatments for African and other ethnic minority communities. Please see her flyer for more information and her contact details.
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Forth
MSPs cook for CORE
Ms. Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP and Mr. Malcolm Chisholm MSP have kindly agreed to cook at the next CORE World Café in order to fundraise for the work of CORE. CORE is one of the leading organisations in Scotland developing community-based initiatives to promote social justice and improved lives for diverse minority ethnic people who live in North Edinburgh in particular Forth and Inverleith areas.
Ms. Somerville will be cooking at our World Café on Friday 25 February and Mr. Chisolm will be cooking on Friday 25 March World Café.
Ms. Somerville said,'CORE do a lot of great work and I'm delighted to show my support for them once again by helping out at the World Cafe. Cooking isn't exactly my strong point so I'm hoping to pick up a few tips while I help out not to mention sampling some great food once I get a chance to meet up with the folk that have came along.'
On the night, there will be empty tins/buckets for donations. Please attend the event(s) and dig deep into your pocket and contribute whatever you can.
Once the food is served people will have an opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions to Ms. Somerville at the February event and Mr. Chisholm at the March event.
Please see the flier for more information.
Please book your places as soon as possible on 0131 4677990.
Record a Music Demo with North Edinburgh Arts
North Edinburgh Arts
(NEA) in association with Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland is offering young musicians this exciting opportunity to create and record a professional Demo. This project is open to young people 25 and under who are making their own music. The Youth Music Demo Fund will support the creative talents of young people who want to get their music out to the people who matter in the industry through giving them studio time and professional sound engineering. The Demo Fund project will link them to virtual and real music industry networks, give them performing experience and raise their aspirations and confidence as composers and performers.
The Demo Fund is now seeking young musicians of any style, to include pop, Dub, Hip-Hop, Indie, Electronic or Rock, to apply to take part. All levels of skill and ability are considered including solo acts and bands, live or digitally produced music. NEA is looking for 5 bands/acts with ideas and enthusiasm.
To apply to take part in this fantastic opportunity young people can either collect an application from NEA Centre in Muirhouse, ring 0131 315 2151 or download the form from the NEA website. The deadline for return of completed applications is Friday 18 March at 12noon.
Successful applicants will be called for a live audition in NEA on Saturday 2 April in front of a panel of music professionals. Five acts will be selected to go on to make a professional Demo of their own music. Runners up will benefit from being given free practise time in the NEA studio facility.
North Edinburgh Arts has been developing the use of the recording studio over the past twelve months by upgrading the equipment and fabric of the studio, conducting research with current and future users and building relationships with youth music and education organisations, and professional sound engineers.
To find out more about this or other opportunities please contact Caroline on 0131 315 6411.
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Inverleith
MSPs cook for CORE
Ms. Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP and Mr. Malcolm Chisholm MSP have kindly agreed to cook at the next CORE World Café in order to fundraise for the work of CORE. CORE is one of the leading organisations in Scotland developing community-based initiatives to promote social justice and improved lives for diverse minority ethnic people who live in North Edinburgh in particular Forth and Inverleith areas.
Ms. Somerville will be cooking at our World Café on Friday 25 February and Mr. Chisolm will be cooking on Friday 25 March World Café.
Ms. Somerville said 'CORE do a lot of great work and I'm delighted to show my support for them once again by helping out at the World Cafe. Cooking isn't exactly my strong point so I'm hoping to pick up a few tips while I help out not to mention sampling some great food once I get a chance to meet up with the folk that have came along.'
On the night, there will be empty tins/buckets for donations. Please attend the event(s) and dig deep into your pocket and contribute whatever you can.
Once the food is served people will have an opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions to Ms. Somerville at the February event and Mr. Chisholm at the March event.
Please see the flier for more information.
Please book your places as soon as possible on 0131 467 7990.
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Leith
Have your say: Local Community Plan 2011-14
The consultation period is underway for Leith's 2011-14 Local Community Plan. Information should be submitted by Friday 25 February to feed into the analysis to identify the top 5 priorities for the Leith Community. This will be followed up with a community discussion on Thursday 24 March at 4.00 pm.
You can obtain consultation packs for use with your group and/or clients from Loraine Duckworth on 0131 529 6194. There are 20 Themes forms in each pack.
You can also download this information sheet and the themes form.
You can also make your views known in this online survey, or see the Neighbourhood Partnership website.
Community Grants Fund for 2011/12
Loraine Duckworth
, Partnership Development Officer for Leith Neighbourhood Partnership has confirmed that there will be a Community Grants Fund allocation for the financial year from 4 April 2011. The exact figure has yet to be confirmed but she expects Leith Neighbourhood Partnership to be allocated about £40,000. The £eith decides participatory budgeting approach to allocating funds is currently being evaluated and will inform a decision on the process for allocating the 2011/12 Community Grants Fund. Please contact Loraine on 0131 529 6194 with any questions.
Action Research on Violence Project
The Action Research on Violence Project starts on Wednesday 23 February from 4pm to 5.30pm at the Leith Community Centre Cafe; the project will run every week from then for 13 weeks. The project is open for young people aged around 13-16 years from ethnic minority communities in North Edinburgh and Leith, as this part of our local communities has so far not often been offered space to voice their ideas/opinions and perceptions about such a wide and important subject.
Run jointly by Shakti and NHS Lothian
, and with support from many local BME community and youth support agencies, the sessions will include Forum Theatre sessions (run by Gavin Crichton of Active Inquiry Theatre Company) to investigate the wide topic of 'Violence'; members will have the chance to develop a forum theatre piece around the themes that emerge from discussions and games. There will also be a chance for people to creatively contribute towards an exhibition containing our ideas, discoveries and possibly questions to other parts of our communities. A daytrip to visit another youth project is also being planned.
A meeting will take place in Norton Park on Friday 18 February from 9.30 to 11.30am for interested parties and stakeholders to learn more about the project and how you might be able to be involved.
Please note: the project is not a support group or service, nor is it a focus on issues within particular communities - it is a research focus group for young people starting a vital conversation about an issue that affects everyone.
To book a place at the stakeholders meeting or for more information, please contact Lisa Rigby on 0131 475 2399.
Top European award for minority carers
MECOPP, the charity organisation for minority ethnic carers, has won a top European award.
MECOPP are the first winners of the 'European Local Authorities Competition on Good Practices on the Support for Migrant Elders' Initiatives'.
The organisation, which operates from a Carers Centre in Leith Walk, scooped the prestigious award at a ceremony in Brussels on Wednesday 9 February.
MECOPP was first established as an independent charity and company in 2000 and currently provides a variety of services to Black and Minority Ethnic carers and communities amounting to around 400 people in the Edinburgh and Lothians.
For more details see this article on the City of Edinburgh Council website.
MECOPP Room Hire
MECOPP has a suite of rooms available for hire.
These are conveniently located close to Edinburgh city centre on Leith Walk. The lower ground floor of the office is dedicated to providing adaptable and flexible training and meeting rooms. MECOPP has the ability to accommodate a wide range of meeting and training requirements, including video conferencing, Wi-Fi guest access, refreshments and catering.
Please contact us for further information on 0131-467-2994.
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Liberton and Gilmerton
South Edinburgh Volunteer Recruitment Fair
This year's South Edinburgh Volunteer Recruitment Fair will take place on Wednesday 23 February from 12:30 to 3pm at Society Hall in Gilmerton. The fair will be hosted by Volunteer Centre South Edinburgh, in partnership with
South Edinburgh Healthy Living Initiative (SEHLI).
Liberton Gilmerton Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting
The next meeting of the Liberton and Gilmerton Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Wednesday 9 March at The Libertus Centre, Gracemount Drive, Edinburgh.
Neighbourhood Partnerships are open to the public to discuss ongoing issues in their area. All are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Scott Donkin on 0131 529 7029.
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Portobello and Craigmillar
Portobello & Craigmillar Neighbourhood Partnership
The next meeting of the Portobello & Craigmillar Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Wednesday 23 February at Hays Business Centre, 4 Hay Avenue, EH16 4QA.
Neighbourhood Partnerships are open to the public to discuss ongoing issues in their area. All are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Graham Rowan on 0131 529 3032.
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South central
South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting
The next meeting of the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Monday 14 March at the City Chambers Business Centre.
Neighbourhood Partnerships are open to the public to discuss ongoing issues in their area. All are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Donald Burgess on 0131 529 5396
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South west
South West Meeting in Public
The next meeting of the South West Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Tuesday 1 March at Gorgie Parish Church.
Neighbourhood Partnerships are open to the public to discuss ongoing issues in their area. All are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Graham Budd on 0131 527 3884.
Meet the Funders
You are invited to come to the Meet the Funders event which is taking place on Thursday 28 April in South West Edinburgh.
Meet the Funders is a drop-in market place for the public/voluntary groups. A wide range of funders will be there including CEC Community Grants Fund, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Big Lottery, John Watson's Trust, WREN, Princes Trust Scottish Youth Business Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund, CEC Working with Families, The Lintel Trust, Changeworks, Pass IT On, Gettingthere & Sponsorfinder, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, ECAS, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council.
The event will take place onThursday 28 April from 2 to 5 pm, at Westburn Primary School , 55 Sighthill Road, Edinburgh EH11 4PB
For more details contact Maureen Thompson on 0131 469 3595.
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Send us your news
The deadline for the next issue of Voluntary Sector Forum News is 5pm Monday 13 March. Please send your news to Julia and also please ensure that you include the following information:
• a contact name and details for your news item - if this is not yourself, please specify or it will be your name published
• which section/s your news belongs in, eg one or more neighbourhoods (which ones?) or all neighbourhoods.
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