Covid-19 & 3rd Sector Update 14/12/2021
LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
SERVICE UPDATES
FUNDING
TRAINING & EVENTS
RESEARCH & BLOGS
LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Scottish Government
Omicron: The First Minister announced today that new restrictions are planned and asked people to minimise social mixing with other households as much as you can. The Scottish Government is setting out new guidance and measures to take effect from midnight on Friday to 'stem the flow of transmission, keep businesses and services open, and protect against pressure on health services.' Evidence shows that the new, highly transmissible Omicron strain of COVID-19 can infect those who have been vaccinated, or previously infected. Therefore it is considered necessary to reintroduce some protections to prevent hospital admissions. Guidance has been updated on reducing social interaction at home or in indoor public places to a maximum of three households at any time, with everyone encouraged to take a lateral flow test before meeting. This will also be reflected in updated guidance for visiting care homes – with no more than two households to visit a resident at a time – and in hospitals, with no more than two visitors at any time. In all settings, people should take a lateral flow test before meeting, to support people to continue to connect with their loved ones. We will use this briefing to update people as the guidance becomes available. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
New Winter Heating Benefit - A consultation has been launched on a new heating benefit that will give around 400,000 low income households the reassurance of a guaranteed £50 payment every winter.
The Low Income Winter Heating Assistance will be introduced from winter 2022 to replace the current UK Government Cold Weather Payment scheme. Low Income Winter Heating Assistance Consultation
Delivering Quicker Internet - A national voucher scheme helping people access superfast broadband is being extended by three months. Homes and businesses in Scotland that are unable to access fast internet speeds now have until 31 March 2022 to apply for funding worth up to £400 under the Reaching 100% (R100) Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme. An additional £250 is available for those in the hardest-to-reach area.
East Lothian Council - Some community buildings in East Lothian will temporarily close or see reduced operation due to an ongoing shortage of essential staff. The following buildings are affected:
John Gray Centre, Haddington – closed until 20 December. The closure will affect the library, museum and archives
Port Seton Library will be open on Fridays only from now until the end of January.
George Johnstone Centre, Tranent – during the week of 13 December, the centre will be open on Monday and Thursday only before re-opening on 20 December. The closure will affect the library and local office
A number of public toilets are already closed, or being limited to use of the disabled toilet only, for the same reasons. The busiest toilets remain fully open.
Council’s Planning team’s newsletter about the Scottish Government’s new National Planning Framework consultation, which have been asked to share with each of the Area Partnerships and Community Councils. This consultation is open until 31st March 2022 and any enquiries about this should be directed to the Planning team via: policyandprojects@eastlothian.gov.uk | NEWSLETTER
SERVICE UPDATES
HcL Transport: is a registered charity to provide accessible transport for people in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Providing support to people of any age who have mobility challenges 365 days a year, evenings and weekends (subject to driver availability). Our 2 services – Dial-A-Ride and Dial-A-Bus help people to get out more, feel less isolated and to be more independent.
MYPAS: Fundraising and Communications Assistant Job Advert - 35 hours per week - £20,803 MYPAS requires the support of a full-time Fundraising and Communications Assistant to help build capacity within our core team and support key project areas. This is a fixed term contract of 1 year with the potential to extend beyond this, funding permitting.GOODMOVES
The Improving the Cancer Journey servicesupporting people been diagnosed with:
Money or housing worries
Work
Caring responsibilities
Physical concerns
Emotional Concerns
Other types of support
Women’s Aid East and Midlothian: (WAEML) is delighted to have been awarded a two year grant from the Scottish Government’s Third Sector Homelessness Fund to introduce East Lothian’s very first Housing First project for women. This project will be delivered in partnership with East Lothian Council and East Lothian Housing Association. WEBSITE|FLYER | NEWSLETTER
Women’s Aid East and Midlothian - This is Me, Here I am (10 week group work)FLYER
TRAINING & EVENTS
Public Protection Is Everyone’s Responsibility Training -
The closing date for applications isTuesday 11thJanuary 2022, you must complete the application form in full with approval from your line manager.FLYER
ELTRP (East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel) - Burns Supper AGM
An exciting event to come together after so long!! The event will be both ’face to face’ and ‘online’ (blended event) and will be an opportunity to celebrate with a Burns Supper AGM. So get in touch if you wish to attend either online or face to face (face to face numbers will be limited)tenantspanel@hotmail.com
Area Partnership reps and subs will also be voted on at this event as part of AGM and of course the election of the ELTRP Executive Committee will take place.
Public Protection - Briefing on Disclosure Scheme for Domestic abuse Scotland. First briefing on the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic abuse Scotland (DS DAS) on 25thJanuary 2022. The briefing will be facilitated by Police Scotland on MS Teams. The flyer is attached with full details. No need to pre-book this course, simply click on the link embedded in the flyer.FLYER
East Lothian & Midlothian Public Protection -NEWSLETTER
Volunteer Scotland - Quality Standards in Volunteering. Volunteer Scotland invite you to join in this FREE workshop where we will discuss the Quality Standard and the Quality Pipeline, to provide you with more information on each product, the standards, process and the difference this can make to volunteers experience.EVENTBRITE
FUNDING
Bank of Scotland Foundation - Reach
The Reach programme is suitable for charities can demonstrate they address disadvantage or social exclusion and will reach the most vulnerable people across Scotland, to provide them with opportunity and equality and making positive, sustainable change. For disadvantage, examples include charities addressing primary disadvantage such as homelessness, abuse, mental health or poverty, or secondary disadvantage such as debt issues, learning disabilities, illiteracy, lack of employability skills or health issues. For social exclusion, examples include charities addressing exclusionary challenges for minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT people, drug users, institutional care leavers, the elderly or the young.
Deadline: 16 December 2021
https://bankofscotlandfoundation.org/funding-programmes/reach
Youth Music - Recharge Fund
The Youth Music Recharge Fund offers grants to boost organisations in their post-Covid recovery. Grants will be made to organisations to improve capacity, capability, and wellbeing. This core funding programme is for established not-for-profits who support children and young people to make, learn or earn in music. It will help people and organisations to recharge from the effects of the pandemic. It is a flexible grant to help you navigate the risks and opportunities that will arise in the coming years. The funding will be invested in organisations to bring about two outcomes: 1. Improved wellbeing of staff, freelancers, volunteers, and young people. Embedding good wellbeing in day-to-day working to ensure a healthy and motivated team. 2. Improved capacity and capability of organisations. Helping organisations grow, adapt and be more sustainable.
Deadline: 14 January 2022
https://youthmusic.org.uk/recharge-fund
East Lothian Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund
Grants up to £25,000 are available for local, grassroot community activity that meets the overarching national ambitions for the fund and the local priority areas TSI staff are able to help you at each stage of the application.
Deadline: 21 January 2022
https://www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/latest-news/launch-of-27883273nbspeast-lothian-communities-mental-health-and-wellbeing-fund
SRC Recovery Seed Fund
The aim of this fund is to support new & unconstituted Lived Experience recovery groups/organisations with an initial award of up to £5000 to support with start-up & running costs. Additional support will also be given to develop these groups /organisations to become sustainable, skilled and independent groups/organisations. This is a fantastic opportunity for those wanting to take their group to the next level so they can continue supporting recovery in their community.
Deadline: Ongoing
https://scottishrecoveryconsortium.org/recovery-seed-fund/
RESEARCH & BLOGS
The Stakeholder Engagement Survey is live again. It will remain open until 17th December 2021. East Lothian Works: Stakeholder Engagement Survey
Free period products Survey
The consultation closes on January 28th 2022. https://eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/policy-partnerships/free-sanitary-products
Third sector organisations’ and new private businesses’ views and experiences of Scottish Public Procurement Survey - https://online1.snapsurveys.com/interview/74b6d9fa-5621-4345-9030-ad753157a9d7
Social Enterprise in Scotland Census 2021 - The 4th official stock take of enterprising charities and social enterprises in Scotland is now underway and you can via this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SECensus2021
Scottish Human Rights Commission -
Blog: A Rights Based Scotland: where participation by people with lived experience is recognised and valued on an equal footing with professional expertise.
