Latest News

Dementia Scotland 2013 Conference

Dementia Scotland 2013: a national priority
21 October 2013, Surgeons` Hall, Edinburgh

Following the publication of Scotland`s first Dementia Strategy in June 2010, there has never been a time of more public and political interest in dementia

The Scottish Government is currently developing a new dementia strategy, there has been excellent progress, but there is still much to do

Would you like to learn how this momentum is being maintained and built upon?

How will policies around personalisation, integration and funding of care and support improve the lives of those living with dementia and their families?

Glasgow 2014: Commonwealth Games £4m Celebration Fund Opens

A £4m fund has opened to allow people around Scotland to mark the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Celebrate scheme will offer Lottery funding of between £500 and £10,000 to arts, heritage, sports and community groups to hold one-off events. These can focus on the Games themselves or Scotland`s links to the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth. Details on the scheme are available through the Celebrate website or on Facebook and Twitter. Speaking at the launch of the fund, Sports Minister Shona Robison said: "Creating exciting opportunities for communities across Scotland is what Celebrate is all about.”

The fund has been developed by the Scottish Lottery Distributor`s Forum, which is made up of the Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund and sportScotland.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland chairwoman Maureen McGinn said: "With Celebrate we want to ensure that communities across Scotland are able to share the feel-good factor of the Games."

Training Opportunity - On Welfare Reform and Universal Credit

Dates for May, June and July - Glasgow and Edinburgh

April 2013 has seen the implementation of many of the welfare reform changes including the `bedroom tax` and the benefit cap. Never has it been more important for professionals working with families to have an understanding of these changes, how they are likely to impact and what can be done to support them.

If you work with single parents, then come to our training sessions on Welfare Reform and Universal Credit being delivered in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. These three hour sessions cost £40 per person and you can book here.

Ethnic Group Health Event

Thursday 23rd May 2013 - 2.30 - 4.30pm - Glasgow

This is an opportunity for third sector and public sector including academics to listen to the US experience in relation to some of the points.

We have Dr Sean Valles, a visiting scholar from Michigan State University, USA who will talk about the use of broad racial and ethnic categories as a source of both evidentiary and ethical problems in public health programmes.

For more information and to register click here

Making Advice Work (MAW) - Funding

Cash totalling £7.45 million is to be made available through a jointly funded programme that is to be managed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, it was announced today.

The Making Advice Work (MAW) programme will support organisations helping people in Scotland facing debt and other problems stemming from benefits changes and the ongoing impact of the economic downturn.

For more information click here

Cafe Hope Launch

Friday 7th June 2013 - 4pm - Ayr Community Church, 59 John Street, Ayr.

Cafe Hope has been developed by RecoveryAyr and offers a safe alcohol and drug free community space for people to come together from 5-7pm every Friday night.

To RSVP please e-mail recoveryayr@southayrshire-adp.org.uk

SCVO Welfare Report

A new report shows the impact of welfare reform on Scotland`s third sector.
SCVO has published its Welfare Reform Mapping Report, which incorporates evidence from around 400 people across the third sector on how welfare changes are affecting their organisations.

The report makes several recommendations on what should be done to take on the cuts.

Read Full Report
Executive

Cancer Screening Information

Below are two booklets regarding Cancer Screening.
Please download for your information.

Breast Cancer information pack
Detect Cancel Early Briefing Pack

Little Book of Scams

Strathclyde Police have provided a
Little Book of Scams for your information.

To download please Click Here

Universal Credit Toolkit

The toolkit below is for organisations to inform them about Universal Credit and to help them explain to claimants the changes that Universal Credit brings.

To access the toolkit please click here.

Tendering Opportunity

There is an opportunity to tender for funding to support ex-offenders who are in receipt of welfare to work benefits, allowing them to compete more effectively in the employment market.

For more information and to apply please click here

Funding Concern - Third Sector Early Intervention Fund

In response to funding concerns raised at our recent Mirrored Theme Group Meetings, please find below a short survey to establish what potential impact this may have on service availability/delivery in South Ayrshire.

To complete our survey Click Here

Hearing Aid Clinic - Toon

Do you wear NHS hearing aids? Come to our FREE walk-in hearing aid clinic for:
• new batteries and new earmould tubing
• advice on how to use and clean your hearing aids
• information on services that can help you
Your local service is:
Troon Library, 5 South Beach, Troon KA10 6EF
•Tuesday 4th June 2013 2-4pm
•Tuesday 2nd July 2013 2-4pm
•Tuesday 6th August 2013 2-4pm
•Tuesday 3rd September 2013 2-4pmIf you require further information contact Donna McSwiggan,
Project Coordinator on 01563 539900 or
donna.mcswiggan@hearingloss.org.uk

Hearing Aid Clinic - Sandgate - Ayr

Do you wear NHS hearing aids? Come to our FREE walk-in hearing aid clinic for:
• new batteries and new earmould tubing
• advice on how to use and clean your hearing aids
• information on services that can help you
Do you wear NHS hearing aids? Come to our FREE walk-in
hearing aid clinic for:
• new batteries and new earmould tubing
• advice on how to use and clean your hearing aids
• information on services that can help you
Your local service is:
South Ayrshire Carers Centre, 43 Sandgate, Ayr KA7 1DA
•Thursday 20th June 10am – 12pm
•Thursday 18th July 10am – 12pm
•Thursday 15th August 10am – 12pm
If you require further information contact Donna McSwiggan,
Project Coordinator on 01563 539900 or
donna.mcswiggan@hearingloss.org.u

Hearing Aid Clinic - Dundonald

Do you wear NHS hearing aids? Come to our FREE walk-in
hearing aid clinic for:
• new batteries and new earmould tubing
• advice on how to use and clean your hearing aids
• information on services that can help you
Your local service is: Dundonald Pharmacy, 11 Main
Street, Dundonald KA2 9HF
•Friday 31st May 2pm – 3pm
•Friday 28th June 2pm – 3pm
•Friday 26th July 2pm - 3pm
•Friday 30th August 2pm – 3pm
•Friday 27th September 2pm – 3pm
If you require further information contact Donna McSwiggan,
Project Coordinator on 01563 539900 or
donna.mcswiggan@hearingloss.org.uk

Welfare Reform

Further Info: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/action_plans/get-ready-for-universal-credit

There are several sources of information on welfare reform online.

Please refer to the websites link above which contains valuable information for those affected by the incoming changes.

South Ayrshire Benefit Change Directory

For further information regarding benefit changes please refer to document below.

The Big Lottery Fund - Communities and Families Fund

The Big Lottery Fund has recently launched a new programme in conjunction with the Scottish Government - the Communities and Families fund. This joint fund offers small grants (of between £250 and £10,000) to support projects working with young children (pre-birth to 8 years) and their parents.

National Screening Programme

From June this year all men aged 65 in Ayrshire and Arran will receive a letter inviting them for an ultrasound scan as part of Scotland’s Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme, the first male-only national screening programme.
An ultrasound scan is a simple, painless test that can detect an aneurysm, with results made available instantly after the scan. Look out for leaflets, posters and advertising in the run-up to the programme starting here in Ayrshire and Arran. You can also find out more by visiting www.nhsinform.org/screening, calling the NHS inform helpline on 0800 22 44 88; tuning into NHS 24’s digital TV channel on Freesat, Sky (community channel 539) and Virgin Media (home button, interactive number 7) which is also available on the NHS24 app for iphones, ipads and android smartphones.

Scottish Government Response to Integration

Please see the link below to the Scottish Government’s response re Integration:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00414332.pdf

Scotmid Grants (Scotland)

The Scotmid Co-operative is offering small grants to assist and support community projects and initiatives throughout Scotland. Last year Scotmid awarded grants totalling £235,000 to organisations ranging from parent and toddler groups to national campaigns.
Funding is concentrated on the following areas:
• Children/education
• Community Groups
• Active Lifestyles
• Environment
• Elderly
• Homelessness
• Fairtrade
• Arts & Culture
• Charity.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a group or individual acting for the wider benefit of the local Community; and live within the geographic boundaries of one of Scotmid Regional Committees.
Applicants can be submitted at any time.
http://www.scotmid.com/community-charity/community/communities.aspx

Additional Funding - Welfare Advice Work

Additional funding for welfare advice work

The Scottish Government has announced additional funding to support advice work as the impact of the UK Government`s welfare reforms take hold. Some of the money comes from UK Government "consequentials", with some £300k available immediately. The funding includes a new £1.7 million fund to for advice services and some £3.5 million to help organisations mitigate the impact of welfare reform.

Claiming Gift Aid is Changing

Claiming Gift Aid is changing - are you ready?

From April this year, the current forms and method for claiming your Gift Aid will change. According to HMRC, the fastest and most effective way will be to claim electronically using the HMRC`s new Charities Online system. There will be a new paper based claiming option which will completely replace the current R68 paper form, but we are not yet certain how fast the new paper-based approach is going to be. We urge our charity members to ensure they have reviewed their systems to ensure that they can make best use of the HMRC`s new Charities Online system.

Volunteer Development Scotland Survey: Volunteering in Scottish Charities

Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) has published its findings from a new and interesting survey: ‘Volunteering in Scottish Charities’

The survey, the first of its kind in Scotland, was carried out by VDS to better understand volunteering in local charities and the challenges they face in involving and managing volunteers. The results show that volunteers make a significant contribution in sustaining and driving local charitable activity, with 55% of all local charities being run and supported entirely by volunteers. But more volunteers are needed. Sixty-one percent of local charities said they would like to involve more volunteers in their work.

Please see below for ‘Volunteering in Scottish Charities’ Press Release. You can access the report and associated documents here on our website.

Good Morning Service: Feel Safer and Have Confidence to Live Alone

A new telephone befriending (with an alert role) service has begun in South Ayrshire for older people. Further information contained in the document below.

South Ayrshire Tobacco Control Strategy Implementation Group

Raising the issue of smoking training:
Tue 24th September 1.15pm – 4.15pm Room 2, Training Centre, Ayrshire Central Hospital

Consultation on the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill

Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill - An analysis of responses
Please refer to: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00410864.pdf

SOA Guidance - Tailored to the Third Sector

The Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney), have issued a letter and guidance document, both highlighting the importance of the Third Sector`s role in community planning.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Training

Please select document below for Suicide Prevention Awareness Training Courses in 2013.

Scottish Charity Awards

Further Info: http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo-events/apply-2013/

The Scottish Charity Awards is getting ready to roll out the red carpet to honour and celebrate excellence, talent and innovation from across the sector. 2013 will see the return of the popular People`s Choice Heart and Soul Award decided by a public vote.

Charity of the Year 2013 | Charity Champion 2013 | Community Action 2013 - Partnership of the Year 2013 | Campaign of the Year 2013

SCVO - Jim McCormick Welfare Report

Further Info: http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo-news/report-welfare-reform-and-mitigation-in-scotland/

SCVO commissioned one of Scotland`s leading policy experts, Jim McCormick, to examine the impacts of the UK Government`s welfare cuts and reforms on Scotland and suggest remedial policy solutions.

Draft ten year Vision for Joint Services - Reshaping Care for Older People

New Scottish Care Report on Joint Commissioning and its Relevance for Ayrshire Partnerships

Developing a Strategic Commissioning Framework for Care Services: The Independent Sector Perspective
As the principal representative body for the Independent Sector, Scottish Care is fully engaged in all of the national strategic initiatives around Reshaping Care. Central to this, as we see it, is the development of a fully integrated approach to commissioning which combines the focus on affordability with a focus on quality, sustainability and personalisation.
Scottish Care has produced the attached report that brings together policies, guidance and good practice advice and makes a contribution to the development of Joint Strategic Commissioning. We see the report as playing our part in being clear about our partnership expectations and creating the opportunity for every partnership to work with us to demonstrate the “commitment of the four sector partners (NHS, Council, Independent and Third Sectors)” as required by Change Fund Guidance.
We believe that meaningful involvement of the Independent Sector (and the Third Sector) in the development and planning of Joint Commissioning Strategies is pivotal to ensuring that local plans are properly informed by an understanding of current service provision and the needs of service providers in developing and delivering future services.
We also believe that for this to deliver the required outcomes, the Independent Sector has to be a full partner at all levels. To that end, and as the basis for discussion with all of our partners and stakeholders, we have set out some of our starting points in the report.
We have made good progress in working with your partnership and are keen to build on this going forward. We would like to further develop the meaningful working relationship we have and our aim will be to work with you in partnership to achieve the recommendations on page 6 of the attached report.
We are therefore keen to discuss this report further with you and look forward to your response. Please feel free to be in touch with Scottish Care at enquiries@scottishcare.org and/or your local Development Officer for the Independent Sector, Victoria Hill, at victoria.hill@scottishcare.org.

Scottish Government’s response on the Health and Social Care Integration Consultation

Please click on the link below for the Scottish Government`s response to the Health and Social Care Integration

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/12/1068/0

VASA Funding

Reshaping Care For Older People
Change Fund Capacity Building Grant Fund

The Change Fund Capacity Building Grant Fund provides grants of up to £500 and free training to Community/Third Sector groups involved in providing older people`s services in South Ayrshire. The aim is to help them sustain and develop their activities.

The fund can be used to build capacity and could include for example:
• Food Hygiene training for volunteers
• Small pieces of equipment e.g. dishwasher
• Volunteer expenses
The free training is designed to increase the skills and experience of Community/Third Sector groups and covers topics such as:
• Fundraising Ideas
• Charity Law
• Governance
• Volunteer Involvement
For more information or an application pack contact:
Tel: 01292 281800 or Email: capacitybuilding@voluntaryactionsouthayrshire.org.uk