Covid-19 & 3rd Sector Update 23/11/2021
LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
SERVICE UPDATES
PREMISES & TECHNOLOGY
FORUMS & NETWORKS
FUNDING
TRAINING & LEARNING
RESEARCH & BLOGS
LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Vaccine: The following groups can book their flu and coronavirus booster vaccination appointment online:
Adults aged 50 to 59
Unpaid and young carers
Household contact (aged 16 years or over) of immunosuppressed individuals
Healthcare workers
NHS independent contractors including GP, dental and optometry practices, community pharmacists and laboratory staff (working on coronavirus testing) and support staff
To use the online portal, individuals will need their unique vaccination username which can be found on any previous appointment letter. If this is not readily available, it can be located or reset at NHS Inform’s “recover username” page. Those without online access, can book an appointment through the National Helpline 0800 030 8013. More information on how to book. BOOKING
Autumn / winter vaccinations: Please see the letter from Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer. LETTER
Scottish Government The Business Ventilation Fund will provide funding to help small and medium sized businesses improve their ventilation, and help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Businesses can claim up to £2,500 per eligible premises to recover the costs of carrying out work to improve ventilation and air quality. This could include installing of carbon dioxide monitors or repairs to windows and vents. Support will initially target high-risk settings where people come into close contact, such as restaurants, bars and gyms. Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations are eligible but check the eligible sectors carefully. The business must have physical premises as the main occupier and be responsible for paying non domestic rates including where there exists an exemption. MORE INFO
SERVICE UPDATES
East Lothian Works Vacancy Newsletter: Whitekirk Hill – Kitchen Assistant, Modern Apprentice Payroll – East Lothian Council. Vacancy Newsletter
Scotland's Climate Festival:Are you an individual or group concerned about climate change and thinking about ways to make a difference in the place where you live? Or are you already organising a climate event in your community?Joining Scotland's Climate Festival is a great way to draw attention to your local event and get your community excited about tackling climate change and supporting Scotland's transition to net zero. You will join a network of groups inspiring their communities on climate change, creating connections across Scotland. CLIMATE FESTIVALThere is seed funding available for festivals and community events taking place between 1 November 2021 and 31 March 2022.SEED FUNDING
Home-Start East Lothian - Christmas gifts: For the past 5 years we have become the hub for Christmas Gifts donated into East Lothian. This year is no different and we look forward to seeing you when you visit. This year we still need to keep people safe so please can I ask you to book a slot to come and browse the gifts – this will ensure the room is safe for all. –admin@homestarteastlothian.co.uk
We will open the room on 30thNovember and collections can be made between 9.30-3 daily until 17thDecember when the school will shut – any gifts left will be made available once we have a space to move them too! All we ask you to do is keep the tally running of the number of children for whom you are collecting so we can share the final numbers with the community. Last year we gifted to over 750 children.CHRISTMAS HUB FLYER
East Lothian Play Association (ELPA) AGM 2021: Booking is now open for the East Lothian Play Association (ELPA) AGM 2021, a fun, friendly, free event to talk, play, make and catch up.
As well as the chance to hear about ELPA's progress and plans, you can join our 'Gift the Magic of Play' #ecofriendlychristmas campaign making your own play kits to share. And there will be cake! Registration opens at 12 noon for a 12.30 start. The event closes at 2.30. Saturday 27th November 2021
Port Seton Centre, Booking essential: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/elpas-agm-2021-tickets-209216160167
OSCR is looking for new Board Members: Could you make a positive contribution to the Board of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)?
OSCR is looking to recruit a number of new Board members to start in the new year. We would particularly welcome applications from anyone who believes they could make a strong contribution although we are also seeking to broaden the diversity of the Board including the breadth of its geographical involvement, gender balance and engagement of other groups currently under-represented on Scotland’s public bodies, such as disabled people, those from black and minority ethnic communities and people under 50. The recruitment process is being run by Public Appointments Scotland, andtheir full advert can be found online now. The closing date for applications is midnight on the 3rd December 2021.
Barnardo’sBoloh Helplineis pleased to announce the expansion of their service to support the mental health and wellbeing of adult asylum seekers across the UK. This project is funded by the Home Office and is in addition to our current service that offers support to children, young people and their parents. ‘We welcome referrals from professionals via our referral form, as well as direct contact from asylum seekers by telephone, email or online chat. You can make a referral to the Helpline here. The Helpline will offer advice, signposting, emotional support and 8 free sessions of therapy by qualified Barnardo’s therapists. These sessions can take place remotely via telephone or online. Barnardo’s has a large pool of culturally informed therapists who speak a range of languages.’
PREMISES & TECHNOLOGY
Connecting Scotlandaims to get 60,000 digitally excluded households online. Organisations can apply for support on behalf of the people they work with. is now inviting ‘fast track’ applications from organisations working with people at risk of social isolation and loneliness, who can deliver devices in November and December. The deadline for applications has been extended due to high demand and applications will remain open until early/mid-December.MORE INFO
FORUMS & NETWORKS
Forums
Third Sector Forum: 2 Dec 21, 2-3pm Register
Children, Young People & Families Forum: 7 Dec 21, 10-11am Request Membership
Health & Social Care Forum: 25 Nov 21, 9:30-10:30am Register
Network & Learn Meetings
Social Justice & Poverty: 7 Dec 21, 12-1pm Register
Health & Social Care: 16 Dec 21, 10-11am Register
Social Enterprise: 2 Dec 21, 9:30-10:30am Register
FUNDING
Investing in Communities is a new Scottish Government fund, opening in April 2022. Worth £10 million per year, there are four themes:
Tackling Poverty and Inequality
Developing and Sustaining Place Based Approaches
Community led Regeneration
Ensuring a just transition to net zero
The team in the Scottish Government Regeneration Unit that delivers the Investing in Communities Fund (ICF), will be holding webinar sessions for interested stakeholders and prospective applicants to provide an overview of the fund’s aims, eligibility criteria and the application process prior to its anticipated opening for applications next calendar year. The webinars will also include time for Q&A. The team’s approach is also intended to provide time for interested organisations to develop quality collaborative place based proposals in conjunction with local partner organisations. The webinars will last one hour and are planned for 1030-1130 on Tuesday 30 November 2021 and 1400-1500 on Wednesday 8 December 2021. BOOKING
Public procurement and the voluntary sector – SCVO event: A session with Nick Ford (Scottish Government, Director of Procurement), Jennifer McKerrall (Scotland Excel, Social Care Senior Manager), and Sean Duffy (Wise Group, Chief Executive) to hear their opinions on procurement and the voluntary sector. Q&A to explore what’s working well, what are the main challenges and how can we improve the system for voluntary organisations, their staff and the people they are providing services for. More info here.
Social Isolation Fund Opportunity: Grants up to £3,000 this is a small grants programme funded by East Lothian Council from the COVID Recovery Fund. The fund is for East Lothian community organisations to respond to the challenges associated with social isolation and identified in the local area plans.
Deadline: 28 November 2021
https://www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/latest-news/social-isolation-fund-opportunity
One Council Partnership Funding 2022/23: Community groups can apply for grant funding from East Lothian Council to tackle inequalities, from Monday 1st November. The One Council Partnership Fund is an annual revenue grant which can help cover the running costs and volunteer expenses for community projects, charities and third sector organisations.
Deadline: 30 November 2021
https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210623/funding/12403/one_council_partnership_fund
TRAINING & LEARNING
Free Cyber Resilience training for the Third Sector: Volunteer Centre East Lothian is delivering FREE cyber resilience training for third sector groups and organisations across East Lothian. You only need to attend one session, which will take around one hour. Thursday 25th November, 2pm via Zoom. The session is open to anyone in your group or organisation who would benefit, including staff members, Board or Committee members, and volunteers. All materials from the training will also be emailed to you. To book your place, please use the link below.
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kcequqD0jH9XlROuXdLqGm_u5sQSIUXOA
Climate Emergency Training for Youth Workers
Registration is open for free climate emergency training to give Scotland’s youth workers and those working with young people an understanding of the climate emergency and equip them with skills and tools to help young people turn their concerns about climate change into positive action. Participants who successfully complete the three modules can apply to gain Carbon Literacy accreditation through the Carbon Literacy Project.
The training is part of the Scottish Government funded COP26 Youth Climate Programme and is being delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful and YouthLink Scotland.
Find out more and register at https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/cop26-scottish-youth-climate-programme/
Connected Communities training calendar 2022: Please find below the link to our January – March 2022 training calendar for staff/volunteers/community groups. https://mailchi.mp/72928c26a795/january-march-training-868378
Adult Support and Protection Roles and Responsibilities Training:Monday 17th & Wednesday 19th January 2022, 9am-12.30pm This Level 2 course is for multi-agency operational staff and managers who are in regular contact or carry out direct work with vulnerable adults and who have a requirement to learn more about Adult Protection for their role. This course is suitable for staff who have not previously completed this training as it is not refresher training. It is not appropriate for social workers in adult services who have Council Officer duties under the Adult Support and Protection Act. Please remember to download the form to your own computer before filling it in, otherwise the next person who opens it will see your information.BOOKING
Making Work Workis a fully funded online programme aimed at women with management experience or aspirations looking to get back into the workforce after taking time out. It is a peer-led management skills refresher programme which facilitates the development of the confidence and networks which are essential to finding work which is commensurate with returners’ skills, ambitions, and potential. Participants also get support with their job search, personal development and designing their (work)life blend.MORE INFO
RESEARCH & BLOGS
SCVO Fair Work Survey: SCVO is responding to the Scottish Government’s Becoming a Fair Work Nation Consultation and they want to hear your views. Organisations across the Scottish voluntary sector are invited to share their understanding of fair work, the challenges of providing fair work, and any priorities or progress via a survey.
