Hello everyone
I hope you and your families are well and keeping each other safe.
My team and I are continuing to do our best to provide you with as much information as we can about Coronavirus. We know the importance of having access to relevant information, support and resources in a timely fashion. We update our Covid-19 Resource Hub with important developments and funding opportunities on a regular basis. We continue to be active on social media - If you don’t already, please follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks once again to my team for pulling this together!
VSGWL COVID-19 Third Sector Response Fund
We received 39 applications to our emergency grants fund that will support local, grass roots organisations and groups respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. We have assessed all applications and are in the process of making awards to a number of organisations. We will open a further round of funding later in the Summer.
Volunteers` Week 2020 Scot
In the absence of the annual Volunteer celebration, we ran a publicity campaign to recognise and thank volunteers. We created a dedicated Volunteers' Week page on our website and ran a mixture of online videos, and social media messages throughout the week to thank everyone that volunteered throughout the year and to those who had signed up to help during the pandemic. We got a lot of positive feedback about the campaign and our Twitter posts and Facebook site received a lot of attention.
Communications Survey
Earlier this year, we carried out a survey into the effectiveness of our communications with the Sector and asked for ideas about improving our support to them. We received 71 responses to the survey. The results of survey are published here.
Some of the actions we have taken on board already include;
- Ebulletin now contains updates from CEO and VSGWL on monthly basis
- Website content refreshed and adapted to be more mobile friendly
- Post’s are going out more regularly across various platforms
- 'Org in Spotlight` feature moved to mid-month for increased visibility
In the meantime, if you have any other ideas on how we might further improve our communications, please let us know.
Also, if there's anything else we can do to help, please shout!
Stay safe!
Alan McCloskey
CEO
|
|
Latest COVID-19 Updates
Provision of PPE to Unpaid Carers and Personal Assistants In West Lothian - If you are an unpaid carer or a PA providing personal care, West Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership is working with Carers of West Lothian to make PPE available to you. If you or the person you care for is in the shielded category, or if you normally use PPE in your caring role but are struggling to get it from your usual supplier, PPE is available to protect you or the person you are looking after. To check whether you are eligible and to place an order, please contact Carers of West Lothian on 01506 448000.
Small Business Support Fund and access for charities with premises - To help owners of non-domestic properties, including businesses, deal with the impact of coronavirus, the Scottish Government has introduced:
Employment Opportunity
Children and Young Person’s Worker - West Lothian Women's Aid are recruiting a Children and Young Person's Worker.
Community Fridge Co-ordinator - Due to the success of their Community Fridge, Whitburn and District Community Development Trust are now looking to recruit a part-time Co-ordinator until 31 December 2020.
Help to Claim / Money Talks Team Multi Channel Adviser - West Lothian Citizens Advice Bureau currently have a job vacancy for a Help to Claim / Money Talks Team Multi Channel Adviser.
Funding Available
Charity Bank COVID-19 Funding List - As a result of the Coronavirus, many organisations are now in an extremely precarious position, often having to deliver additional services with fewer volunteers and staff members, while having to cancel fundraising activities. Here you will find a list of emergency funds for charities and social enterprises that are experiencing difficulties. It will be updated as new opportunities are identified.
Foyle Foundation Small Grants Scheme - The fund has re-opened to applications from registered charities with a turnover of less than £150,000 per annum. Charities can apply for between £1,000 – £10,000. The scheme has been revised as a result of COVID-19, and will provide one year grants to cover only core costs or essential equipment, enabling ongoing service provision, homeworking, or delivery of online digital services to charities that can show financial stability.
Independent Grant Funding - The funds listed here are specifically for supporting Scotland’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund - In partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, Foundation Scotland is delivering the Community Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund. The RRR Fund will support local charities and grassroots organisations across Scotland to help them respond to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and recover from its impact. (Please note this fund is temporarily paused and applications will reopen in July.)
Third Sector Resilence Fund - T he Third Sector Resilience Fund (TSRF) is a £20m emergency fund for charities, community groups, social enterprises and voluntary organisations working in Scotland. The fund supports organisations that already deliver services and products but find themselves in financial difficulties directly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The primary intention of the fund is to help third sector organisations to stabilise and manage cash flows over this difficult period.
General News
Community Regeneration Newsletter - Community Regeneration Newsletter focusing on Employability.
Deaf Action's New Online Befriending Service - Deaf Action's new Online Befriending Service are recruiting Befrienders and Service Users.
Diabetes Scotland Online Clinics - We have three new Diabetes Online Clinics scheduled. With many routine appointments postponed, this is your opportunity to ask healthcare professionals and clinicians any questions you may have about managing your diabetes, living well and care. All from the comfort of your own home.
Macmillan Cancer Support Telephone Buddy Service - If you need to talk about cancer, Macmillan Cancer Support are here to listen. With a weekly call from one of our telephone buddies you don’t have to face cancer alone. If you or someone you know would like to receive a call please visit the website.
Org in the Spotlight - This months Org in the Spotlight is The Bridge Community Project.
Re-engage - Re-engage normally run Sunday afternoon tea parties for older, lonely people and are very active in West Lothian. As they have had to suspend their tea parties, and don’t know when they will be able to resume, they have have launched a new telephone befriending service, Call Companions.
Senscot Bulletin - Latest Senscot Bulletin.
The Larder are recruiting Volunteers - The Larder are looking to recruit a Volunteer Social Media Assistant and Delivery Driver Volunteer.
West Lothian FoodBank looking for Volunteers - West Lothian FoodBank are looking for additional Board Trustees
Westspace Newsletter - June Newsletter from Westspace.
2020 SURF Awards Launched - The SURF Awards are delivered each year by SURF, a regeneration forum with over 300 cross-sector member organisations across Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government. The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.
#VOLUNTEERSWEEKSCOT 2020 Key Stats - This Volunteers’ Week focused on thanks, gratitude and recognition.
|
|
|
|
|
