Covid-19 & 3rd Sector Update 17/02/2022
LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
SERVICE UPDATES
HR
FUNDING
TRAINING & EVENTS
RESEARCH & BLOGS
LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Scotland’s Census: From the end of February, households will begin to receive a letter with instructions on how to complete their census online. Census Day is 20 March but you can fill it in as soon as you receive your letter. Just make sure you answer questions with information that will be correct on 20 March to ensure that we have a snapshot of the nation on this day. Go to Home | Scotland's Census (scotlandscensus.gov.uk) or call the free helpline on 0800 030 8308 for help and guidance on the questions, or if you need support to fill it in.
Health & Social Care: A new £1 million fund has been established to support projects which look after the wellbeing of staff working in social care. The Workforce Wellbeing Fund for Adult Social Work and Social Care will be managed by Inspiring Scotland and provide grants of up to £10,000 until December 2022. Open to staff from public, private and voluntary sector organisations delivering adult social work and social care services, including Social Work students, and who are employed by, and have the agreement and support of their employer organisation to apply. Or Membership organisations that directly support the wellbeing of adult social work and social care staff where proposals do not duplicate initiatives from staff or employers direct. APPLICATION
Shared Prosperity: A document ‘UK Shared Prosperity Fund: pre-launch guidance’ has been shared by the Westminster government with more information about what will be funded. Communities and place, Local businesses, and People and skills are the key headings. SHARED PROSPERITY
Changes to the Highway Code: Short document on the current changes to the highway Code. CHANGES TO HIGHWAY CODE AND EMPLOYERS
Independent Advocacy: Disabled people are now able to access a new advocacy service to get help applying for Scottish social security benefits. The support is available to disabled people applying for any of Social Security Scotland’s current and future benefits including Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment. ADVOCACY
Fuel: This year, all domestic electricity customers will receive an upfront discount on their bills worth £200. BBC NEWS
SERVICE UPDATES
Third Sector Annual Conference Nov 2021 Feedback Report:PDF
EMPPC:The East and Midlothian Public Protection Committee addresses all aspects of Public Protection including Adult Support and Protection, Child Protection, Violence against Women and Girls and the Multi-agency
Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) for service users in East Lothian and Midlothian. They produce a very useful newsletter about their work which you can access here:EMPCC NEWSLETTER
VCEL Youth Development Co-Ordinator Vacancy: We are looking for an energetic and informed individual who understands the issues affecting children and young people to work alongside our current Coordinator delivering a befriending project for 8-16-year-olds.
PVG membership will be required for this role.
Closing Date:12 midday Friday 18th February 2022 with interviews expected to be held on Friday 25th February 2022.
Application Pack and more information on our website: https://www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/latest-news/youth-development-co-ordinator-vacancy
VCEL Locality Officer Vacancy: This role will involve working proactively with statutory partners, voluntary organisations and community groups to support the growth of volunteering, social enterprise and the local third sector. Based in the community you will have a wide-ranging remit to support individuals and third sector organisations on a variety of topics such as the creation of a new groups, charitable status, volunteering, constitution and governance arrangements and finding funding.
PVG membership will be required for this role.
Closing Date:12 midday Friday 18th February 2022 with interviews expected to be held on Friday 25th February 2022.
Application Pack and more information our website: https://www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/latest-news/locality-officer-vacancy
HR
Home/hybrid working:ACAS guidance on responding to requests for home and hybrid working has been updated.HOME/HYBRID WORKING
FUNDING
ASH Scotland:Community organisations can access support to help improve health and wellbeing in their communities by addressing smoking. This includes: A small grant of £500 for participating in the project. A package of tailored support and Access to free resources and training. Applications are open to new and existing supporters of Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation . MORE INFO
The People’s Health TrustActive Communities funding programme is currently open in Health Lottery Scotland.
Deadline:2nd March 2022 1PM
Apply for funding | People's Health Trust (peopleshealthtrust.org.uk)
TRAINING & EVENTS
Outside the Box Development Support - Exploring community models for activities and support: This discussion is for people, groups and organisations in East Lothian who are interested in different ways to offer activities and support for people. It’s a short session to begin thinking about the ideas and issues, and what works well for people and for communities.EVENTBRITE
East Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership - Carers' Big Day Out: ELHSCP are hosting an event for unpaid carers at John Muir Aplacas Trekking Experience near Dunbar on Friday 18th March 2022. There are two mini trek sessions, one at 11:30 am and one at 12 noon. Participants have to arrive 30 minutes before their trek is due to start. ELHSCP can help with transport to and from the venue if required. The mini trek sessions will be followed by a light lunch (tea, coffee, filled rolls etc) in the teepee on site.
To book your place, please contact Jane Odgen-Smith atjogden-smith@eastlothian.gov.uk or on 07703 191 218. They only have 30 places available so please book as soon as possible.
Neighbourhood Watch Scotlandis delivering free, one hour webinars in conjunction with Police Scotland on staying safe online, digital parenting and protecting yourself against scams – please send on widely amongst your networks and staff. WEBINARS
Social Enterprise Scotland:Book your free places at any of our weekly webinars - everyone is welcome to attend and you canbook your free ticketsonline. Take a look and book now:
What next for Community Interest Companies? on 9 Feb- What are the current challenges, barriers and opportunities for CICs? Come and meet the CIC Regulator - and share your own views and experiences.
The new National Care Service and social enterprise, 16 Feb- What is the NCS and how can you get involved?
The Business Purpose Commission & social enterprise, 23 Feb- examining the social impact of all Scotland's businesses.
Leading the Fair Work agenda, 9 March- can social enterprises do a lot more with the right support?
Finance Focus: Social & Community Capital, 16 March- discover new finance opportunities.
Universities and social enterprise development, 23 March- what are universities doing to support social enterprise? How can we connect better with universities?
Finance Focus: Coalfields Regeneration Trust, 30 March- discover new funding and support.
Vulnerability of Babies Training:Please find a link with details of the Vulnerability of Babies course being delivered by NHS in April. To book a place please e-mailtraining.childprotection@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk 6 places are reserves for staff from East Lothian and Midlothian and therefore early booking is advisable. VULNERABILITY OF BABIES
RESEARCH & BLOGS
Volunteer Centre East Lothian TSI Survey Date Extended: Volunteer Centre East Lothian’s remit from the Scottish Government is to represent the views of local charities and Third Sector Organisations in East Lothian. As a member of a network of Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) covering every local authority area in Scotland it is important that we have a strong understanding of our and your impact on local communities, groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
We are keen to continue our journey of improvement. This information will help us provide better support to you and enable us to make the right asks of government and funders on your behalf.
Closing Date: 28th February 2022, 5pm
https://www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/latest-news/volunteer-centre-east-lothian-tsi-survey
East Lothian Council - Local Housing Strategy Engagement Survey: The LHS is a strategic document which every local authority must prepare every five years. The document sets out how the Council and its partners plan to address housing issues and demands within East Lothian. The document will cover all tenures and will look at a range of topics from the demographics of the county to the issues the county is facing such as fuel poverty or the varying housing needs/options of different groups within the county.
Closing Date: 28th February 2022
Local Housing Strategy Engagement Survey - East Lothian Council - Citizen Space (eastlothianconsultations.co.uk)
East Lothian Council - Short Term Let Control Areas: New legislation has been brought in by the Scottish Government allowing local authorities to set up Control Areas for Short Term Lets. Prior to considering whether this is a necessary approach in East Lothian, the Planning Service is undertaking an 8-week period of public consultation to gather views and opinions on the Short Term Letting sector in East Lothian, and whether there is a need for a Control Areas or not. The results of the consultation will help to inform future Council decisions on the issue.
The consultation is being advertised through social media and is on the Councils consultation hub. The consultation is also being advertised through relevant housing and business contacts.
Closing Date: 11th April 2022
Short Term Let Control Areas - East Lothian Council - Citizen Space (eastlothianconsultations.co.uk)
Police Scotland - Your Police Survey: Understanding the views and priorities of Scotland's diverse communities has played a vital role in shaping our response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Public feedback has driven positive changes to operational policing across Scotland during the most challenging of times.
Closing Date: 31st March 2022
https://consult.scotland.police.uk/surveys/your-police-2021-2022/
Scottish Women's Budget Group - Women's Survey: Asking women about their priorities for local government, as well as their experiences of childcare and social care, and provide a space for them to share other priorities they think need to be considered by decision makers across Scotland. The information provided in developing campaigns, in particular key asks ahead of the local government elections in May, to highlight issues affecting women in the media, through government consultation responses and as part of training.
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GK416A/
