News
Below you will find all the Islay & Jura CVS News. | INVITATION TO STEERING GROUP FOR THE MINORITY ETHNIC LGBT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. |
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INVITATION TO STEERING GROUP FOR THE MINORITY ETHNIC LGBT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
I am writing to invite you or a member of your organisation, to an initial meeting to establish a steering group for the above project. This is a partnership between the Equality Network and BEMIS and is funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
This is a one year assessment and development project, to promote greater recognition within the Scottish equalities environment of the needs of Minority Ethnic people, who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender. The project is intended to inform future joint work between the Equality Network (a leading LGBT equality rights and equality organisation in Scotland) and BEMIS, (the national umbrella intermediary body for EM voluntary sector). It will also provide learning to other stakeholder organisations that are committed to reducing multiple discrimination, including the ECHR and Scottish Government Equality Unit.
The role of the steering group is to provide advice, guidance and to act a sounding board to the development workers, ensuring that the project is relevant to the needs of the Scottish equality sector and relevant communities. The steering group will have no formal responsibility for the management of the project but will enhance and inform its work. The steering group is likely to meet four times before April 2009.
The first meeting will be on Tuesday 16th September at 1pm pm and will be held at the BEMIS office in central Glasgow at 38 Queen St. Glasgow G1 3DX (3rd floor). Refreshements will be provided and travel expenses will be reimbursed. If you would be wiling to attend could you please contact me at 0141- 548 8047 or Patrick Stoakes from equality network
Email: Patrick@equality-network.org or write to write to Sam Rankin/Tim Cowan at the Equality Network 30 Bernard Street, Edinburgh EH11 6PR.
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| Thog FilmG air, a' lorg tàlant ùr |
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Thog FilmG air, a' lorg tàlant ùr
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Tha sinn air togail oirnn mu thimcheall nan Eileanan Siar an t-seachdain sa, a' sgaoileadh fios do dhaoine mun cho-fharpais.
Bha manaidsear na pròiseict, Flòraidh Forrest, thall aig fèis HebCelt ann an Steòrnabhagh.
FilmG aig An Lanntair, Steòrnabhagh
Dh'fhalbh Cailean Collier a dh'Uibhist gus tàlant a lorg (tàlant a thaobh fhilmichean tha sinn a' ciallachadh!) aig na gèamaichean ann an Uibhist A' Deas agus Uibhist A' Tuath, agus cuideachd aig BarraFest.
A-bhos an seo san Eilean Sgitheanach, bha Michelle aig foillseachadh 'An Sgàilean Ùr' aig Fèis an Eilein, cruinneachadh fhilmichean goirid air an dèanamh le sgoiltean às an Eilean Sgitheanach is Loch Aillse. "Tha pròiseactan mar 'An Sgàilean Ùr' math dha-rìreabh; tha tòrr tàlant ann agus 's e cothrom air leth math a th' ann am FilmG gus aire dhaoine a ghlacadh.'
FilmG air Rapal, Diciadain, 16 An t-Iuchar
A' bruidhinn ri Rapal aig Fèis HebCelt, mhìnich Flòraidh gum bu chòir do na daoine a tha draghail mun cuid sgilean riochdachaidh no sgilean Gàidhlig feuchainn air a' cho-fharpais co-dhiù.
"Tha sinn air roinn filmichean goirid nam fònaichean-làimhe a thoirt a-steach a shealltainn nach e pìosan spaideil dèante a tha sinn ag iarraidh," mhìnich Flòraidh. "Le fònaichean-làimhe gu h-àraid, 's e na beachdan-smuain a tha sinn a' sireadh an àite coltas a' film fhèin."
Tha còig cuspairean aig FilmG ann airson beachdan a dhùsgadh ann an daoine.
Flòraidh a bruidhinn ri Anndra air Rapal
"Bha sinn airson cothrom tòiseachaidh a thoirt do dhaoine, gun a bhith ro dhùinte leis; 's mar sin thàinig sinn an-àird le cuspairean diofraichte a bheireadh deagh àite tòiseachaidh do dhaoine," thuirt i. "Mar eisimpleir, dh'fhaodadh 'Chlisg Mi' (Yikes) a bhith na fhilm uabhais no na chomadaidh."
Coimhead a-rithist air na dealbhan cuspaireil airson faicinn dè bheir iad ort smaoineachadh mu dheidhinn. Thoir do bheachd dhuinn air na duilleagan facebook, bebo agus myspace againn.
Blog FilmG a thighinn a dh'aithghearr! Cùm sùil air www.filmg.co.uk airson a' bhlog thar nan seachdainean ri tighinn.
Còmhradh le Don Coutts
Air a' mhìos seo, bhruidhinn Flòraidh ri fear a tha air iomadh duais a bhuannachadh is filmichean a dhèanamh, agus a tha na chomhairliche do FilmG, Don Coutts.
Don Coutts comhla leis a bhean Lindy
1. Dè cho fad 's a tha thu air a bhith ag obair ann an film agus telebhisean?
Ceathrad bliadhna, an ath bliadhna.
2. Ciamar a thòisich thu?
Rinn mi air Lunnainn, agus dh'fhaighnich mi mu obair ann am filmichean aig an ionad-obrach. Beagan mìosan às deidh sin, fhad 's a bha mi ag obair ann am bàr fhuair mi fios bhon ionad-obrach. Lorg iad obair dhomh le Columbia Film Distribution, mar chlàrc. Lean mi orm air pròiseictan eile air sàilleabh sin...
3. Dè an rud a bu chudthromaiche a dh'èirich dhut gu ruige seo?
Nam bheatha fhèin, 's e a bhith a' togail còignear cloinne a chuireas suas leam, is fiù 's aig a bheil gaol orm, 's dòcha. Nam dhreuchd, bha e na thlachd mhòr dhomh a' cuideachadh le cruthachadh agus an uair sin a' stiùireadh 120 prògram beò dhe 'After Dark' airson Channel 4. Na programanan telebhisein as innleachdaile is as cruaidhe a bha ann a-riamh.
4. Dè an obair as fheàrr a th' air a bhith agad?
Tha cus ann ri innse. Tha e uile mu-dheidhinn cò-obrachadh, càirdeas, innleachd agus a bhith onarach. Chan eil sìon nas fheàrr. Tha e nas fheàrr na obair, gu dearbh fhèin.
5. Dè a' chomhairle a bheireadh sibh do dhaoine a tha airson filmichean a dhèanamh?
Stiall ort! Faigh mion-eòlas air roinn shònraichte, is dèan cinnteach gun toir daoine an aire dhe na tha thu ris. Na gabh brath air duine sam bith agus cùm nad chuimhne an t-adhbhar a tharraing thu a dh'ionnsaigh telebhisean is film.
6. Dè am film as fheàrr leat?
Bidh sin daonnan ag atharrachadh, coltach rium fhìn! An-dràsda, 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'. Agus gu dearbh fhèin 'Kes', 'Witness', 'Battle of Algiers', 'Quadrophenia' agus 'Closely Observed Trains'.
Cuir do cheistean gu Don aig fios@filmg.co.uk agus bidh e air leth dèonach cuideachadh a thoirt dhut, no theirig don làraich-lìn aige, www.moveonup.tv
Naidheachdan agus lèirmheasan fhilmichean aig sgleog.com
A bheil thu airson sgrìobhadh mu fhilm? Theirig gu www.sgleog.com airson aithrisean a leughadh is a chur thugainn. Tha 'The Incredible Hulk' ann an-dràsta.
Ceangal na mìosa:
'S e làrach-lìn air leth a th' ann an www.scottishscreen.com airson fiosrachadh is cuideachadh fhaighinn mu dhealbhadh fhilmichean. Cùm do shùil air an iris air-loidhne aca, 'Roughcuts' agus e-roughcuts airson earrannan air FilmG.
Tachartasan film ri tighinn:
30 An t-Iuchar - 1 An Lùnasdal: Bùithtean-obrach airson daoine òga a tha airson filmichean a dhèanamh ann an Eden Court Theatre, Inbhir Nis. Cuir fios gus an oifis-thiocaidean aig Eden Court airson barrachd fiosrachaidh. www.eden-court.co.uk
15 - 23 An Lùnasdal: Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams, Inbhir Nàrann. Fèis fhilmichean ùr le Tilda Swinton a tha air Oscar a bhuannachadh agus Mark Cousins, tiocaidean ri fhaighinn an-dràsta. Barrachd fiosrachaidh aig www.ballerinaballroom.com
6 An t-Sultain Taigh-cluiche Eden Court, 18 An t-Sultain Taigh-tasgaidh Kelvingrove: Cluiche do Dealbh Dùcha, an tabhartas aig Alba airson 'Portrait of a Nation', le neach-ciùil òga bho fèisean air feadh Alba wwwportraitofanation.net
11 - 20 An t-Sultain. 28mh Atlantic Film Festival, Halifax, Alba Nuadh. Barrachd fiosrachaidh aig www.atlanticfilm.com
Tiocaidean taigh-dhealbh ri bhuannachadh! Dìreach freagair a' cheist seo ann is cuir post-d le d' ainm, do sheòladh, agus d' àireamh-fòn gu fios@filmg.co.uk no cuir cairt-puist thugainn aig: FilmG, Cànan, Fàs @ Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach IV44 8RQ, Alba, UK.
Dè an t-ainm a th' air a' film aig Don Coutts a bhuannaich an duais airson 'Stiùiriche as Fhèarr' aig Feis Fhilmichean Mhilano' 2003?
Sin agad e airson na mìosa seo, cùm ort leis na beachdan a chur thugainn.
Tìors an-dràsta
Sgioba FilmG
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| Toy Library Developments |
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| The newly appointed committee get down to work on a feasibility study looking at the development of the service. The committee are looking at how to develop what the Toy Library can do for families across the islands; this includes looking at having a mobile service as well as activities and a fixed place for people to come for not only equipment but also for advice. | |
| HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS SCOTLAND |
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The Highlands & Islands Partnership Programme (the Intermediate Administration Body (IAB) for the Highlands and Islands), is holding a series of workshops offering information about the
2007-2013 European Structural Fund programmes.
Inverness Monday, 25 August 2008
Orkney Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Shetland Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Stornoway Friday, 29 August 2008
Oban Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Participants can opt to participate in either/or both of the morning and afternoon sessions:-
Session 1 (Morning)
Introduction and Strategic Overview of the Programmes
National Rules/Eligibility Update
Session led by Jim Millard, Scottish Government and/or Dennis Malone, Chief Executive, Highlands & Islands Partnership Programme
Session 2 (Morning)
Registration and Stage 1 Process
Application Stage 2 Process - Step-by-Step, plus Hints and Tips
Sessions led by HIPP Staff
Session 3 (Afternoon)
Progress Reports (Claims) - Step by Step
Article 60b - What monitoring visits are all about.
Sessions 5 & 6 led by HIPP Staff
The workshops are recommended for participants who are unfamiliar with the new I.T. system “€UROSYS”. Workshop leaders will be able to give guidance on filling in the required forms.
To ensure your place, please return the attached Registration Form to:
Rosemary Currie
Highlands & Islands Structural Funds Partnership Ltd
Jubilee Lodge
12c Ness Walk
Inverness IV3 5SQ
rosemary.currie@hipp.org.uk
For further information contact telephone us on 01463 279500
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| Islay Energy Trust hosts 'Power from the Sea' seminar |
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Islay Energy Trust hosted a very well attended seminar chaired and lead by Jim Mather, Minister for Energy. The meeting addressed a range of topics from the technology required to comunity benefuts arising from the project.
Phillip Maxwell, chair of the trust, advised of the partnerships and developments the Trust is working on to ensure that the islands benefit not only from any royalties or sale of energy but also from the service and supply side of development of tidal power here on the isalnds.
With the assistance of Mr Mather's miond mapping technology a range of priorities and tasks were identified to be taken forward not just by the turst but by all the communities on islands. | |
| INNOVATUM and REJIG 'Where there's muck there's .. energy' |
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INNOVATUM from Gottaland in Sweden were hosted by REJIG, the Islay and Jura Community Recycling Company to help them examine the opportunities for the production of BioGas from waste and by products fropm the islands' main indistries - farming and distilling.
A week of events and site visits together with a well attended and representative semonar on the experience in Sweden ahs lead to considerable support for taking the next steps in scoping the feasibility of the various schemes.
REJIG have now applied for further financial support for a feasibility study of the 4 main options avail;able on the islands.
More to come when they hear the poutcome of their applications. | |
| £1,416,218 PAYOUT TO COMMUNITIES IN ARGYLL AND THE ISLANDS. |
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The new LEADER PROGRAMME is off to a flying start following the first funding round on 15th May and a subsequent round on 27th June. A total of £1,416,218 has been awarded to 29 community groups and supporting organisations in Argyll and the Islands. These projects have all benefited from funding which is available to eligible groups and organisations throughout the area. The overall aim is to support rural development at a local level. Funding for these projects brings a great boost to the local economy and provides communities with the wherewithal to tackle local issues. Details of projects funded to date can be found on the website www.argyllandtheislandsleader.org.uk
The next funding meeting will be held on 26th September 2008 with a deadline for receipt of applications of 22nd August. Initial enquiries can be made to Project Coordinators:
Lorna Elliott 01631 563016 lorna.elliott@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Sheila McLean 01631 564424 sheila.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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| NHS Highalnd Argyll and Bute PPF -Opportunities to get Involved |
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Please find below details of opportunities for members of the Argyll and Bute Public Partnership Forum (PPF) to get involved in various working groups. If you are interested in any of them, details of who to contact have been provided.
May I take this opportunity to remind you that the he next Argyll and Bute PPF meeting will be held on Tuesday 19th August 2008, 10.00am to 3.00pm in the Mid Argyll Community Hospital & Integrated Care Centre, Lochgilphead. The agenda and any supporting papers will be circulated in advance of the meeting but if you have any agenda items you wish to have included, please ensure these are submitted to me no later than Monday 28th July 2008.
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| Highland HealthVOICES Network |
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In the last week (since our latest Network News) we have received eight requests for members of the public to get involved in various things. Some are Highland-wide and some are more geographically local, but I hope you don’t mind receiving them all: it saves much time at this end. Because some of these events have deadlines which fall before our next Network News issue, here is the list. If you are interested in any of them, the person to contact is given below:
1. British Heart Foundation (BHF) focus group – deadline 23rd July 2008
Would you like to help BHF improve the way it evaluates and learns from its work? The BHF is looking for 10 heart patients or carers to participate in a focus group to let them know what you think they should be evaluating. They are keen to hear from men and women of all ages and from a range of ethnic backgrounds. The focus group will take place in the daytime in central London on 27th August. Travel expenses will be covered by BHF and a small incentive will be provided to participants. If you are interested in taking part in the focus group please contact Michael Shann, Evaluation Manager, by Wednesday 23rd July, at shannm@bhf.org.uk or call 020 74878629.
2. NHS Highland Car Park Review – deadline 30th July 2008
This group will look at all aspects of car parking now and for the future, tying up with the National Review on Car Parks. This is a community issue and NHS Highland Estates Department want to include as many local agencies as possible and seek your views and opinions. No technical expertise is required but ideally you will be someone with interest in the issue. You would like to be involved in shaping future decisions on car parking, which affects everyone attending hospitals across the NHS.
The first meeting will probably be no more than two hours. This meeting will decide future time commitment, but probably a once per month meeting for up to the next six months. Meetings will be in Inverness (Raigmore Hospital or Assynt House). There may be limited video linking available depending on the room available. Contact Lynda Gilfillan or Douglas Seago, The Cottages, Estates Department, Craig Dunain , email lynda.gilfillan@haht.scot.nhs.uk or tel 01463 705151.
3. Skye: Broadford Healthcare Services Development Group – deadline 11th August 2008
This group provides a patient/public perspective on proposed developments.
Ideally you would be able to be confidential, objective, and have an understanding of the needs of the community and clinical development. Each meeting lasts between two and three hours on the last Thursday of each month, in Broadford or Kyle (videoconference may be available on some occasions). If you are interested, contact Kate Earnshaw, Acting Locality General Manager on tel 01471 822137 or email kateearnshaw@nhs.net by 11th August. The next meeting is on 28th August.
4. Skye: Skye & Lochalsh Out of Hours Development Group – deadline 31st August 2008
This group provides a patient/public perspective on the Out of Hours service in Skye and Lochalsh. This is a major development and potential change to service delivery. Ideally, you would display confidentiality, objectivity and realism. Each meeting would last between two and three hours, once a month on an ongoing basis. They are usually held in Portree Hospital (possibly Broadford or Kyle occasionally) with videoconferencing usually available. If you are interested, please contact Kate Earnshaw, Acting Locality General Manager on tel – 01471 822137 or email kateearnshaw@nhs.net by 31st August.
5. NHS QIS Nutritional Assessments – no deadline given
Volunteers are needed to help assess nutritional care in Scotland’s hospitals. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) is part of NHSScotland and provides five main functions:
• provide advice and guidance on effective clinical practice
• set clinical and non-clinical standards of care
• monitor the performance of NHSScotland against our standards
• support NHSScotland staff in improving services,
• promote patient safety and implementation of clinical governance
They are in the early stages of setting up performance reviews across 16 NHS Boards in Scotland, looking at compliance with the food, fluid and nutritional care in hospitals standards. They conduct peer review visits to the NHS Boards and the review teams include members of the public with an interest in the topic who attend on a voluntary basis (public partners). They would like to recruit more public partners for these reviews.
As a member of a multidisciplinary review team you would be expected to:
• prepare for the visit by reading your evidence pack in advance of the visit. This pack includes a copy of the NHS Board’s own assessment of their performance against the standards, plus their supporting documents (for example meeting minutes, audit data, sample menus).
• attend and participate in the 2-day review visit, usually at a hospital site within the NHS Board
• participate in, and contribute to, the review team meeting before the visit itself when the team discuss the self-assessment and evidence and agree on questions for NHS Board staff. Participate in the interviews with the NHS Board staff.
• reach agreement within the team on the level of performance achieved by the Board.
• read and comment on a draft copy of the report prepared following the visit before it is sent to the NHS Board.
The first visit day is likely to start at 11am and you would be expected to make your own way to the venue. Lunch will be provided. At around 5pm, the review team would then travel to a hotel nearby which NHS QIS will have booked for you (on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis). The team then dine together and reconvene in the morning around 8.30 to travel to the visit venue. The visit then continues until around 16:30 with lunch, teas and coffees provided. Travel expenses are reimbursed upon submission of a completed expense claim form with relevant receipts. Visits are usually mid-week and booked several months in advance. (Visits will start in March 2009, with roughly two a month until October 2009.) Each public partner would be expected to attend at least two visits during this period.
Training/information sessions (a morning or afternoon) in the topic and review process will be provided in the autumn for all the reviewers, either at the NHS QIS offices in Glasgow or Edinburgh whichever is more suitable. Availability for the visit dates will be determined after completion of the training sessions when the visit teams of 6-8 members will be ‘booked’.
If you have an interest in and/or some prior knowledge of food, fluid and nutritional care in hospitals then please do volunteer to assist with this round of reviews. Other opportunities to participate in our work will also be available Further information is available on our website www.nhshealthquality.org. For an informal chat about the role please call Avril MacLennan on 0131 623 4372.
6. SIGN (Scottish Inter-collegiate Guidelines Network): two groups updating guidelines – no deadline given
SIGN is beginning two new groups this autumn. They are looking for lay representatives on both:
• Management of Patients with Stroke: Rehabilitation and Dysphagia (first meeting is in September, 2008), or
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (first meeting is in October, 2008)
Both groups are selective updates from previous guidelines. You might like to see their most recent newsletter at http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/pnlmay2008.pdf
If you are interested, please contact Kara Clark, Patient Involvement Officer, SIGN Executive, Elliot House, 8-10 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA, telephone 0131 623 4740 or email kara.clark@nhs.net.
7. Maggie’s Highlands Support Programme: Tue 7, Wed 8 and Thur 9 October – no deadline given
Maggie’s programme of support is designed to give people the tools they need to cope with the major upheaval cancer causes in their lives. They offer information, psychological and emotional support and practical advice. Their programme encourages you to have more control in your life and to gain confidence to live with hope and determination. The design of their buildings, domestic scale and imaginative environment are a key part of their programme. Maggie’s centres are a place for you to be yourself, not a hospital patient.
They are offering a new Programme of Support for People who have a cancer diagnosis, who live in the remote and rural areas of the islands, Highlands & Moray, and other areas without easy access to a Maggie’s Centre, on Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th October 2008.
They are developing this new programme for those who are not within easy access to Maggie’s Highlands (in the grounds of Raigmore Hospital, Inverness). They hope that by putting together a condensed programme over three days, they can offer support for people who would not ordinarily be able to visit a Maggie’s centre for a shorter period. If you would like to book a place, or to talk to us about this new programme, please phone Carole or Debbie – 01463 706306 or email highlands@maggiescentres.org. We may be able to assist you in arranging accommodation and travel. See also www.maggiescentres.org.
8. Headlice leaflet for comments – no deadline given
Helen Tissington, Infection Control Nurse, has produced a draft information leaflet about headlice. She would like to hear any comments about its content and layout, how easy it is to understand, etc. Leaflet is attached; if you have any comments, please send them directly to Helen at helen.tissington@hhb.scot.nhs.uk or call her on 01463 704882.
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| Consultation - BYELAWS PROHIBITING THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC DRINK |
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I am writing to advise you that the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee at their meeting on 04 June 2008 agreed to consult on the proposal to introduce a bye-law prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic drink in designated public places in Bowmore, Isle of Islay. The area in Bowmore covered by the proposed bye-law is shown on the attached plan (Plan A).
Background:
The proposal to introduce a bye-law in Bowmore prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic drink in designated public places follows requests that a bye-law be considered due to concerns about the number of persons drinking in public in and around Bowmore town centre and incidents of public disorder.
Further to correspondence from the Islay and Jura Council on Alcohol dated
11 September 2006 the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee resolved, on 8 November 2006 that a bye-law be investigated as a response to public drinking. Preceding this date requests that a bye-law be considered in Bowmore were made by the Alcohol Strategy Group (1999) and public drinking was identified as a problem in the Islay and Jura Health Needs Assessments in 1997 and 2000.
On 22 November 2007 a meeting involving Argyll and Bute Council Corporate Services, Strathclyde Police, Islay Healthy Living Centre and Islay Community Council considered measures that may be taken in response to public drinking including the investigation of a bye-law.
Strathclyde Police, in a letter dated 6 February 2008, provided an analysis of crimes and incidents of disorder and anti social behaviour for the period 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2007. This showed that a cluster of offences took place within Bowmore town with only a small number of complaints received elsewhere. While not all of them confirm that alcohol contributed to or exacerbated the behaviour, alcohol does feature as a recognised element in some of these complaints and disturbances.
Consideration has been given to ways in which problem behaviour can be tackled including measures under statute or common law. While random and isolated incidents of disorder may be tackled in this way, the introduction of a bye-law has been recognised as part of a solution in public areas where disorder, that is often alcohol related, is frequent or persistent.
Proposal:
Argyll and Bute Council has already promoted bye-laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in designated places within the Council area. If the proposed area shown on Plan A is covered by a bye-law the effect would be that any person consuming alcohol in any place within that area to which the public have access would be committing a criminal offence. The proposed area is based on information received in particular from Strathclyde Police.
Creation of Bye-Law:
Argyll and Bute Council has the power to create and promote bye-laws in accordance with Sections 201, 202 and 203 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended by Section 110 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Any decision on the promotion of a bye-law must first be made by the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee and if they resolve that a bye-law should be promoted, then the matter must be referred to the full Council for approval. If this is obtained the proposal for the bye-law must then be subject to application to the Scottish Ministers for approval. Prior to this, notice must be given in newspapers circulating within the area where the bye-laws are to have effect stating that application is to be made to the Scottish Ministers and that the bye-law may be inspected by the public who may object to the bye-law. If objections are made the Scottish Ministers may order a Public Local inquiry be held to hear the case for and against the bye-law.
Consultation:
It is essential to the process that there is consultation involving relevant and interested parties. It is considered that the relevant parties for such a consultation are Strathclyde Police, the Procurator Fiscal, Community Council, the Licensed Trade Association, Community Safety Forum and Health Service.
As part of the consultation process responses are requested from these bodies to the following:
1. Do you agree with the proposal to introduce a bye-law prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic drink within the environs of Bowmore, as detailed in this consultation document, as a solution to the public disorder and anti social behaviour identified?
If yes, please specify your reasons why.
If not, please specify your reasons why.
2. Do you agree with the proposed scope of the geographical area to be covered by any proposed bye-law as shown on the map annexed to this consultation document (Plan A)?
If you do not agree, please indicate on the map what area should be designated.
Please provide detailed reasons and any evidence available for this.
Consultation Period:
Responses are requested by 19 August 2008.
Responses should be sent to Robert Cowper, Corporate Services, Argyll and Bute Council, 45 West Princes Street, Helensburgh G84 8BP.
A response will be collated in a report submitted to the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee as soon as possible after the close of the consultation period.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Cowper
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| Supporting Voluntary Action - Quality Matters |
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SVA news
The SVA Management group agreed to appoint Quality Scotland to lead the development of a quality framework for the CVS Network. The first task is to set up a steering group that will agree the data set which will be the basis of the framework. Once this is done a pilot phase will involve fifteen or so CVS, with the new system being rolled out in the next financial year. We are targeting invitations at those known in the Network to have knowledge in this field, but any CVS can nominate someone to serve on this group as we don't know everyone's skills. People with some knowledge of quality issues will be able to use those skills for the benefit of the whole Network. Time and travel will be re-imbursed. Contact Gilbert Grieve for more information. gilbert.grieve@scvo.org.uk
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| CVS National Conference advance notice for members |
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CVS Network Conference 1, 2 October, Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld
Next meeting of the steering group will be held on Friday 11 June at SCVO. The final programme will then be posted on the website, and will be developed into a flyer for registration shortly after that. Thanks to everyone that has sent in ideas. we have not responded to these individually, but all have been considered, some accepted and some rejected. The result is a considered view of all involved and will be a real opportunity to learn and share across the Network, as people indicated they wanted after last year's event.
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| Third Sector Implementation team |
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Third Sector Implementation Team
All CVS will have been sent a letter from Fiona Malcom, Head of the Third Sector Implementation Team regarding the role and remit of the team of liaison officers. This development includes an offer of investment to ensure a competent, sustainable and confident Third Sector, building its capacity and ability to deliver public services. CVS are invited to send info to ECVS as these relationships develop so that the whole Network can benefit from different experiences.
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| Funding opportunity for Community Groups across Argyll |
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Grants available from the Scottish Community Projects Fund
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland , in association with the Robertson Trust, is seeking to promote the involvement of local people in the design, use and management of buildings and spaces as well as in the decision making process which affects their local environment.
The Scottish Community Projects Fund can award grants up to a maximum of £2,000.00 or half the cost (whichever is the lower) for a local Community Group to employ an architect or any other building professional, to prepare a feasibility study for building or environmental improvement projects or employment or other initiatives which have social benefit.
When such a study has been completed, the Community Group will have a clearer understanding of all the issues relating to building or environmental projects including their own requirements, responsibilities, long-term sustainability, timescales, programming, project management and will be in a stronger position to seek funds for the project itself from more major funders.
When required, assistance and advice from professional assessors can be made available from the pre-application stage to the completion of the study.
Other resources you might find useful include A Guide to Good Practice - see below.
Link to Application Form: link
Link to Guidelines: link
Link to A Guide to Good Practice link
For more information contact Charlene Byrne, Client Services Manager at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland T: 0131 229 7545 E: cbyrne@rias.org.uk
NB, the above information can all be found on the RIAS website | |
| LEADER applications success |
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The CVS was pleased to note that not only its own application for LEADER funding but also the applications by member organisations, Port Mor Centre and Jura Development Trust, were successful in the latest round of grant awards.
For Jura Development Trust this is the culmination of considerable hard work to match Growing Community Assets funding, Council and LEADER funding to realise a long term plan to redevelop the Antlers building on the island.
Port Mor have been successful in gaining funding for a development worker to take the project forward and develop its trading arm.
The CVS funding is to support other organisations across the islands to develop feasibility studies and business plans together with relevant applications to external funders. It is linked to training and development targets for each organisation.
For more details contact the CVS | |
| Port Ellen Harbour Developments |
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The consulting engineers and staff from Caledonian Maritime Assets have organised a meeting with the Transport Forum and the Community Council to make a presentation about the proposals to redevelop the Ferry terminal at Port Ellen.
A meeting at the Machrie Hotel on 16th July at 7.00 pm will here the options and timetable being considered.
This is an important development for the island and people are encouraged to contact the Treansport Forum through the CVS to get their points and questions raised and to identify the best ways of continuing public consultation.
Contact the forum through the CVS. Contact details are on the home webpage | |
| Social Work Inspectors seek views on Older People Services in Argyll and Bute |
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The Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) has been back to visit Argyll and Bute to follow up on progress or otherwise on the action points put to the council at the end of their inspection earlier this year. Concerns were raised by the voluntary, community and carer organisations who were invited to meet with the inspectors.
These concerns included proposed changes to the project team for the redesign of Older People Services. It was felt that the leadership and management of that team had gone through a nhuge learning curve in involving the wider public and encouraging the particpation of service users and that this might be lost. There were also concerns that having made a start to communicating more effectively the council might not progress service user and carer involvement in ways which would make the redesign of services more effective. Finally, there were concerns that there was insufficient 'joined up' thinking, planning and working between health and social work and where there were good examples - such as the rehabilitation strategy - lessons learned there weren't then applied elsewhere.
The Inspector looked for positive suggestions being made to the council and it was suggested that involving community organisations not only in the sampling of views about services about about using them to encourage particpation in planning new services would be a signicant step forward. | |
| SCO visits Islay and Arran |
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ISLE OF ARRAN Whiting Bay Hall
Friday 18 July, 8pm
BOWMORE Islay High School
Saturday 19 July, Saturday 19 July, 8pm
ELGAR Serenade for Strings
PURCELL Suite, The Fairy Queen
TCHAIKOVSKY Souvenir de Florence
Christopher George director/violin
SCO STRINGS TOUR 2008
SCO Leader Christopher George directs a concert boasting two of
the most popular works ever written for strings. Elgar’s Serenade
and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence were both written at the
start of the 1890s, when Elgar was a promising young talent in
contrast to the senior fi gure of Tchaikovsky. Elgar’s youthful
spirit sings out in every note, but Tchaikovsky gives him a run
for his money with sheer breathless excitement.
“There is not a band in the land that can hold a candle
to the SCO... They are a wonderful band, world-class....”
The Herald
the most popular works ever written for strings. Elgar’s Serenade
and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence were both written at the
start of the 1890s, when Elgar was a promising young talent in
SCO Leader Christopher George directs a concert boasting two of
ELGAR Serenade for Strings
PURCELL Suite, The Fairy Queen
TCHAIKOVSKY Souvenir de Florence
Christopher George director/violin
ISLE OF ARRAN Whiting Bay Hall
Friday 18 July, 8pm
BOWMORE Islay High School
Saturday 19 July, 8pm
Tickets £10 Concessions £7 Under 16s £4
ISLE OF ARRAN Whiting Bay Hall Friday 18 July 8pm
Inspirations of Arran, Shore Road, Brodick, Isle of Arran
01770 302990
BOWMORE Islay High School Saturday 19 July 8pm
Islay Celtic Craft Shop, Main Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay
01496 810262
Tickets for both venues are also available online at www.thebooth.co.uk
Tickets will also be available at the door from one hour prior to the concert.
Subject to availability
The SCO gratefully
acknowledges generous
fi nancial support from
The Misses Barrie Charitable Trust
The Binks Trust
The Miss Jean R Stirrat Charitable Trust | |
| Islay and Jura Community and Health Alliance |
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A range of local organisations came together top review the work of the Healthy Living Initiative on Islay and were greatly encouraged to find that despite the loss of Lottery funding many of the aims and tasks of the Ini9tiative were likely to continue with the active support of the trust and orgaisations which had come together to establish the centre nearly 9 years ago.
The group heard from Carol Muir in her new role as Senior Health Improvement Officer for Community Development in the Argyll Community Helath Partnership. She illustrated the continuity of opportunity and resources available to allow muich of the work undertaken under the Healthy Living Centre to go on into the future. Eileen Wislon, Community Planning Partnership Manager with Argyll and Bute Council also linked this activity to local community planning and referred to links to be made to the many partnerships working away across Argyll to miprove the life of individuals and communities.
After much debate on howa local contribution from community organisations could best be harnessed, it was agreed that the consitution of the current Health Alliance would be reviewed and amended as appropriate to create a formal strucutre for taking forward a community based approach to health improevement in its wodest sense and to incoporate aspects of community and organisational development on Islay, Jura and Colonsay. | |
| Youth Transport |
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Argyll and Bute Volunteer Centre staff visited Islay High School to engage young people there on transport issues which affetc their way of life. This comes at a point when the school itself is raising the issue of the cost of particpation in mainland events for young people from Islay and Jura - see Ileach for details.
Alsion McCrossan Volunteer Centre Youth Development worker held sessions with two groups in the school and has left material for the CVS to follow up with young people aged 18-24. | |
| Am Pàipear Spearheads Rural Fuel Campaign |
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Am Pàipear Spearheads Rural Fuel Campaign
Am Pàipear, the community newspaper of the Uists in the Outer Hebrides have launched a campaign on behalf of its readers and the wider community to demand the UK Government take action to reduce the cost of fuel in the islands and rural Scotland.
Speaking about the paper’s campaign Editor, Helena Coxshall said;
‘We have been inundated with concerns from the local community who have asked us what we are able to do to highlight the distress that high fuel prices are causing.
‘Fuel prices have rocketed and our islands are suffering more than anyone. We have decided to take the issue to the government and have launched a petition to the Scottish Parliament requesting that they represent the views of not only our, but Scotland’s wider rural community.
‘Not only does the cost of fuel impact on us all here, with crofters, fishermen, business and motorists suffering, but the additional effect of a decline in tourism hits us even harder.
‘We are asking that everyone who is affected by the high cost of fuel sign our petition on the Scottish Parliament website at http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=250 whether resident in the islands or not. If you live in the Highlands, or any other rural community, you will be among the hardest hit. Not only is the price of petrol and diesel rocketing, the price of heating oil has doubled in 18 months, putting enormous strain on the elderly in particular. If you live in our cities you will probably not be able to enjoy your own beautiful countryside and islands as holiday destinations because of the high cost of fuel. It is as beneficial to our urban communities as it is to our rural communities to ensure that the cost of fuel in rural Scotland is not prohibitive.
‘We are not asking for any special treatment over our city neighbours: all we are asking for is that fuel in our rural communities doesn’t cost any more than it does in our cities.’
The higher price of fuel in the Western Isles - where a litre of diesel has passed £1.45 at some petrol stations – means that islanders are paying more tax than anywhere in the country when VAT is added to the basic cost. Islanders have expressed outrage that VAT is added after fuel duty has been taken into account, effectively creating a third, hidden tax. It is believed that fuel in the Outer Hebrides is the most expensive anywhere in the world.
The newspaper’s campaign is supported by Western Isles politicians, Alasdair Allan MSP and Angus Brendan MacNeil MP. Alasdair Allan commented;
‘I would like to commend Am Pàipear for taking this step, and hope that their petition attracts signatures not just from Uist, but from around the Western Isles and throughout rural Scotland.
‘Angus Brendan MacNeil has been raising the issue of island fuel costs in Westminster - where the power over fuel taxes presently lies – and now, thanks to 'Am Pàipear, we have the opportunity to formally ask Holyrood to lobby the UK government on behalf of islanders.
‘The Scottish Parliament has a unique system where any individual citizen can petition parliament to look at an issue and have their day in front of the Parliament's Public Petitions Committee. This provides another chance for the islands to highlight the injustice of paying the highest prices in the world for fuel - in an oil producing country.’
Mr Allan recently secured a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the issue which garnered significant cross-party support.
Angus MacNeil added;
‘It is now at least 2 years since I got the famous answer from the London Treasury that they could not lower island fuel duty by 3%, as was agreed by all governments of the EU for rural France, in case people travelled from the cities to the Islands to take advantage of the concession. The Treasury was clearly massively out of touch with this part of Scotland and still is.
‘I hesitate to state the price of fuel per litre in black and white because it goes up so much and so quickly. However at over £1.40 per litre when over 60% of that is tax is clearly far too much especially as the Chancellor will raise, according to estimates, £5-£6 billion, (that's a £5-6 thousand million) more than he expected this year. Diesel in the Republic of Ireland, which has no oil fields as Scotland does, is £1.05 per litre, according to AA Fuel Price Reports.
‘But the overriding factor is that the Chancellor gets more tax per litre on fuel sold in the Uists, and other islands, than anywhere else in the UK and therefore, we probably pay the highest fuel taxes in the world. The Chancellor also charges VAT on his duty and VAT also goes on the increasing base price too. So a triple whammy for the Islands!
‘When I meet the Chancellor in Westminster I will be highlighting Am Pàipear’s important campaign and the real difficulty people are having with fuel prices that are 40p a litre above Irish prices.
‘Many people have contacted me with details and when it hits aspects of island life, the Chancellor will hear the message directly from me.’
Ends
More Information:
Fuel Petition Text:
Petition by Helena Coxshall calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to make representations to the UK Government about the cost of fuel in the Western Isles and other rural areas of Scotland which are now amongst the most expensive places in the world to buy petrol or diesel; to highlight in particular the refusal of the UK Government to introduce measures similar to those operating in France which reduce the tax on fuel in very remote areas; to protest at the serious consequences which high fuel prices have for fishermen, motorists and businesses in island and rural areas and to request parity with mainland city prices.
The petition is available for signing on the Scottish Parliament’s e-petition system at: http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=250 | |
| A Good Turn Cuts Both Ways |
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Pupils from Islay High School tried their hand at cutting down some ‘jungle’ as part of their preparations and money raising efforts for the proposed school trip to Borneo.
They had been invited, or rather challenged, by Islay and Jura CVS to deal with the jungle of weeds which had grown in the back garden at Highfield. An hour’s effort by a group of young people from the school soon rendered the area back in to a semblance of order and almost garden like. No one got lost and all were safely accounted for at the end of the task and, as an additional reward, the pupils received a £50 contribution from the CVS towards the planned trip.
“If the pupils managed to deal with that mass of weeds and overgrowth so easily that should stand them in good stead for Borneo!” said John Davidson at the CVS offices in Highfield. “We are really grateful for their efforts and wish them well in fund raising and on the trip itself.”
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| Patient Transport – the story continues! |
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A well attended meeting of the Islay and Jura Transport Forum heard about progress being made on a number of issues affecting patients using public transport to get to and from Islay and Jura to mainland hospitals.
The meeting heard from representatives of Glasgow Airport, Loganair, Caledonian MacBrayne and the National Health Service about the responses they are making to issues and problems identified by islanders as adding difficulties to already stressful journeys for hospital appointments.
A number of people present raised their own experiences of travel through Glasgow Airport and the lack of facilities there. One patient who uses the Airport on a regular basis raised the issue of lack of access to drop off and pick up points close enough to the terminal, for people who have problems in walking any distance. Paul Scott of Glasgow Airport Limited pointed out that a number of changes had been introduced. “ Since 1st April 2008 Glasgow Airport has taken over direct responsibility for the provision of services to people with reduced mobility problems from the individual airlines which use the airport. We have gone on to introduce a number of changes to help passengers. These include security access for taxis to allow the temporary drop off immediately in front of the terminal, telephone points at the drop off points for passengers to seek assistance, booking facilities which incorporate the opportunity for passengers to ask for assistance on arrival at the airport, wheelchair service available 24 hours a day as opposed to the limited arrangements made by each airline previously”
He went on to offer to work with the Transport Forum and the Patient Transport Co-ordinator to make this information available locally through a booklet which can be provided to patients through their GP surgery and in other islands’ outlets. This would include a clear map of where the drop off points were for ambulances, taxis and the public who may be assisting patients to get to and from the airport. These points have been provided with shelters and benches so that any wait is more comfortable than in the past but he also said that there is a service level agreement with the wheelchair service saying that no one who needs a wheelchair should wait for any more than 10 minutes. The transport forum broadly welcomed these changes but pressed Mr Scott about finalising arrangements at the airport. He advised that these were subject to security clearance and approval by the Department of Transport but the airport hoped this would be agreed by 30 October 2008. Meanwhile he would make sure that the forum and Patient Transport Co-ordinator was advised of any changes.
There was a wider debate about the costs of getting to and from the airport to the major hospitals and reference was made to the cost of taxis which were seen to be the most convenient form of transport for patients with reduced mobility. Comment was made that the re imbursement offered by NHS Highland deters people from using taxis. A very specific issue raised about the complexity of the expenses claim form was raised with the co-ordinator and action to make it simpler is in hand, in light of the comments made.
There are now no direct buses or other forms of public transport to any of the major hospitals in the Glasgow Paisley area as the last airport bus to the RAH was withdrawn in April. Responding to this Bill Brackenridge, Chair - Argyll Community Health Partnership advised that Transport for Island patients was now a matter being directly reported on to the Cabinet Secretary for Health- Nicola Sturgeon. He told the meeting “A few weeks ago I convened a meeting of all health boards which provide services to Island communities and a recurring theme was transporting patients safely to major hospitals on the mainland. Roger Gibbons –Chief Executive NHS Highland – has been asked to develop a plan to address issues and concerns from islanders about transport arrangements. He is to present this to the Cabinet Secretary later this year. I would like to invite the Transport Forum to submit their experiences to Mr Gibbons and to support the development of future plans.”
Any views from islanders would be welcome and should be passed to the Forum to pursue.
A further suggestion was made to engage with both Transport Scotland and Strathclyde Public Transport agency (SPT) and other island communities who use Glasgow airport to address this deficit in public transport.
Mr Brackenridge then went on to consider the wider usage of Oban, Lorne & Isles Hospital to address clinical needs of the islands and this raised a debate about whether this was in fact any easier than getting to Glasgow for people from Islay & Jura. Public transport difficulties were noted as there are no direct public transport links from the ferry but perhaps the new Oban airport services could be extended!
A number of issues regarding the administration of the warrant system and its replacement by direct bookings made by the Patient Transport Co-ordinator left a number of matters unresolved. There was a feeling expressed that the new system was inflexible and incurred additional burdens on patients to travel back and forth to surgeries to pick up papers/tickets etc. The co-ordinator did explain that once he made bookings on flights or ferries there was no need for any other paperwork other than the letter of appointment at mainland hospital as he would either phone or send by post or email any reference numbers required. Examples were given where these arrangements were not working and these will be investigated. He did advise that some of the developments were out with local control as the NHS nationally had contracted out all patient and staff travel bookings to Chambers Travel agency who used a computerised system.
Questions about who decides on escorts to support patients travelling were also raised and it was noted that NHS Highland have now laid down criteria the co-ordinator has to follow, any requests out with that will be a matter for a patient’s G.P.
This discussion raised a whole series of further questions which the Forum hopes to continue raising with the NHS, the Airlines and the Airport and we hope to keep people informed through the Ileach and other means. However there was a general view that progress was being made in making the patient journey smoother than it has been in the past.
A report on other matters raised at the forum will, we hope, be in future Ileachs.
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| Highlands and Islands Equality Forum information and news |
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Dear friends,
Here's a link to our latest E-Bulletin http://www.hief.org.uk/id25.html
If you would like this document as a Word attachment, please reply to this message with "Attachment" in the subject box. If we can help you in any other way, please get in touch. We hope that you continue to enjoy our monthly bulletins, but should you wish to unsubscibe from our mailing list, please reply to this message with "Unsunscribe" in the subject box.
Additional news items that may be of interest to you:
NB. Please contact the relevant people direct as these are not HIEF events - we pass on the information purely for your interest
Item 1: Tackling Poverty, Inequality & Deprivation in Scotland: Listening to Scottish Women Thursday 26th June, Glasgow Concert Hall - One Parent Families Scotland “Choices” service and The Scottish Women's Convention are holding an event to enable women to discuss the Scottish Government’s consultation on tackling poverty, inequality and deprivation. Priority for places will be given to women in the following key target groups: Women who are lone parents; Women who are carers; Women living in rural areas; Women from black & ethnic minority communities; Young women/ older women; Women with a disability; Lesbian and transgender women; Women without dependants. The conference will offer the opportunity to feed in your views on issues such as: the benefits system; employment & income; childcare; training & education; health; family issues; housing and neighbourhood; and community involvement. Your views and ideas will be fed back to the Scottish Government. Lunch provided. (Travel expenses and a contribution towards childcare costs can be reimbursed.) If you are interested in attending this event please contact Mary Kerr at the SWC to register on 0141 248 8186 or mary.kerr@scottishwomensconvention.org. If you require further information you can also contact Marion Davis at Choices (OPFS) on 0141 847 0444 or mariondavis@opfswest.org.uk
Link to Information on the Consultation http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/210936/0055757.pdf
Item 2: "'By living we learn' - a motto for the 21st century" - The WEA in association with Community Learning and Development, Highland Council, welcomes you to attend an informal evening where Fraser Patrick looks at the challenging territory in which adult education currently must not only survive but also thrive - for the sake of democracy and the human spirit. Wednesday 25th June 7.00 refreshments; 7.30pm talk. The Netley Centre, Ness House, Highland Hospice, 1 Bishops Road (across from Eden Court Theatre). Please RSVP to the WEA: Tel 01463 710577 or email inverness@weascotland.org.uk
Item 3: The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) are recruiting 2 Area Tutor Organisers (ATO) in Inverness and Fife to lead on the development and delivery of the full range of WEA activities in Community and Workplace based learning within the designated area. Starting salary range £28,846 - £30,906. Car Allowance of £1,448 pa. The ATO is the WEA’s lead education officer in their geographic area of Scotland and post-holders will have the ability to develop and maintain effective links with external strategic bodies; ability to win resources, prepare funding applications; manage a range of budgets and projects and support and supervise the work of other staff. Both posts are 35 hrs per week and are subject to Criminal Record Disclosure check. To receive an Application Pack, Telephone 0131 226 3456 or email hq@weascotland.org.uk. Please indicate which post you wish an application pack for. Closing date: Monday 16th of June.
And finally……
…… We hope you will become involved in Highlands R Us 2008, 8th July, Falcon Square Inverness - see the HIEF website/Calendar of Events for more information. http://www.hief.org.uk/id11.html
Kind regards
Morag E Redwood
Project Leader, Highlands & Islands Equality Forum
SCVO
Tel 01463 251738; Fax 01463 716003
Mob 07968 475 003
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| Patient Travel Problems – What’s your story? |
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Have you experienced any problems or difficulties in getting to and from hospital appointments on the mainland? Have you or someone you care for found the discharge arrangements from mainland hospitals didn’t take account of travel back to the islands? Have you been left stranded at a station or airport without assistance? The Islay and Jura Transport Forum would like to hear from you. Indeed, if you have found all the arrangements have worked well and smoothly, the Forum would like to hear about that too. Please contact the CVS so that all the thoughts and comments can be collated to make sure the islands make a clear case. Phone us on 810743 or e-mail janet.waterworth@ijcvs or drop in a note to Highfield!
The Forum is meeting at Islay Airport on 16th June – see advert elsewhere for details. The Forum has invited representatives from organisations who support travel arrangements for patients from the islands attending clinics or having treatments in mainland hospitals to discuss and resolve some of the problems experienced by patients and carers. Members of the Forum have been made aware of situations where some frail and vulnerable individuals have been left in taxi ranks without assistance; or who have arrived at Glasgow Airport after 5pm and there has been no-one there to assist them if they have mobility problems; or have been discharged from hospital without any travel arrangements being made. This last seems to occur when people have been admitted as an emergency and have no money or resources of their own.
The Health Service have a Patient Transport Co-ordinator, both Airports have staff and volunteers to assist people with mobility problems and there are volunteer drivers through the Red Cross who can help people get to and from hospital. There are leaflets and information on websites but not everyone seems to get this information. The Forum wants to ensure that anyone going to and from mainland hospitals has all the right information to make already stressful journeys as straightforward as possible and that they know their entitlement and get the proper assistance.
Bill Brackenridge, chair of both the local Healthcare Partnership and the Scottish Ambulance Service, will be in attendance. He has already been supportive of the development of the patient transport co-ordinator post and is keen to make sure that any problems arising are sorted out as quickly as possible. Both Islay and Glasgow Airport will have staff there to look at the services they provide and how these are publicised so that any examples of problems can be addressed.
Come along and help us make sure your story is told and your concerns are addressed.
The Ileach has already carried an article about the other main topic of the day – the proposed redevelopment of the ferry terminal at Port Ellen. The appointed consultants have said they will involve the local community in the planning of the development and the transport forum feels this is a good opportunity to discuss the best ways of doing this as CalMac regularly have a representative at the forum. The Port Ellen Harbour Association is trying to make sure that the interests of Port Ellen and the harbour users are taken in to account. This discussion can help get the other communities across the islands involved.
The Forum is an open public meeting and people are encouraged to think about coming along to hear and participate in the discussion. To help with catering and to ensure that transport can be organised should it be needed, you are asked to contact the CVS at Highfield, Bowmore, telephone 01496-810743 to let them know you will be coming and your requirements for lunch and transport.
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| Islay and Jura Dog Management group 'bark' at Holyrood |
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The Islay and Jura Dog Management group will be represented at the Parliamentary Committee on out door access on 18th June 2008. The Scottish Canine Consultative Council have been asked to report on their outreach development projects. Islay is the first major project undertaken and has proved to be a great success with 7 courses on responsible dog ownership having been completed and 67 dogs and owners successfully completing the 12 week course - a considerable commitment all round.
The impact around Islay has been noted with less dog mess and fewer incidents of concerns about dogs being reported during lambing time.
Well done to everyone who has contributed to making it such a success.
If you would like to know more, get involved yourself, get yourself and your dog on a course contact Janet Waterworth through the CVS
Pilot schemes for Campbelltown and Lochgilphead are being developed for start in the autumn. | |
| OSCR compliance support for local charities |
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John Davidson has recently undertaken training lead by Ediburgh Voluntary Oragisations Council (EVOC) and the charity regulator (OSCR). Arising from this the CVS are now in a position to moffer a full and comprehensive service to small and medium sized local voluntary organisations covering Governance, financial management and regulatory compliance
This is just a quick note to all of you to draw attention to a course(s) that the CVS intends to run in partnership with other business organisations.
The CVS has been approached about running a course to help Directors and Trustees of charitable companies on the islands to understand their role and function and statutory duties.
The material for the course has been developed by the CVS, OSCR, EVOC and the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations and is used extensively throughout Scotland.
If you or any of your Board members might be interested in attending such a course, please get in touch The contact details are listed across the page.
If there is enough interest to run a course then views on suitable times and venues will be circulated to make sure that it takes place at the most convenient and suitable time for as many people to take part as possible.
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| Independent Financial Review for small and medium sized voluntary organisations |
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| Janet Waterworth has successfully completed the Association of Chartered Independent Examiners course to enable her to undertake independent financial reviews of organisations accounts to comply with OSCR regulations. She can undertake such reviews with organisations whose annual income is up to £100,000. The CVS wll make small charge to defray expenses for any organisation wishing to make use of the service | |
| LEADER funding - thinking about applying? |
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Island organisations are reminded of the significant funding opportunity which is available through the LEADER programme of European funding. Lorna Elliot and Sheila McLean at the LEADER secretariat are committed to ensuring that a wide range of organisations get the opportunity to seek funding from this programme. You can find details through this site and through Argyll and Bute council website.
Organisations will need to think through how they will match fund any application they make but the LEADER programme can sustain up 40% of eligible costs in any application. The last meeting of the LEADER Local Action Group in Oban approved grants ranging from £19,000 to £300,000.
A group of island organisation have already come together to support a CVS bid for development and training funding BUT each organisation will also be considering its own needs and submit one for themselves.
If you want to know more, contact the CVS | |
| Investing in Ideas |
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A late flurry of activity saw 11 island organisations submit funding bids to Investing in Ideas strand of the BIG lottery. The bids range from funding to develop village halls to ambitious investment plans for harbours and the Gaelic Centre. Early years services including Fas Mor Ile and the Toy library have also taken the opportunity to seek support for development plans to enhance the quality of services available for very young children and their parents.
The decision making for this fund is within 6 weeks so the island will know soon what and who has been successful in beiong able to proceed to the next stage. That too will be hectic as outline plans for developments need to be with the lottery by August!!
Oh well such is life in the voluntary sector - get on with it or lose out. Well done everyone though in getting plans to this stage. Rememeber to keep the CVS up to date with your progress and for any help wit the next stage. | |
| Ferry Committe of Enquiry invited to travel to Islay by Ferry |
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The CVS has invited, or rather challenged, the Scottish Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry into ferry sevices to travel to Islay by ferry to see the reality of the service for islanders. The CVS on behalf of its member organisations supports the work being done by other local partners to tackle the inequity of the RET trial to the north of the islands and the council subsidies to Shetland Orkney and the Clyde Islands leaving this island group the only place without such support.
The CVS also believe the islands are disadvantaged by the poor roads and limited accommodation at the Kennacraig ferry terminal. This accommodation is in sharp contrast to ferry facilities almost everywhere else.
The CVS believes that holding a session of the committee on a ferry to Islay will give the MSPs a first hand experience which will better inform their deliberations and treat the whole matter as an issue of urgency in developing a Fairer Scotland which is after all the overarching policy of this government.
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| LEADER funding and Investing in Ideas Deadlines looming |
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I&JCVS is holding a funding forum to look at LEADER and Investing in Ideas applications. The closing date for IiI applications is looming and the CVS wants to make sure that local organisations don't miss out on the last Tranche of the Community Investment Programme which will close next year. If IiI applications aren't in by 1 May this year then groups won't be able to make submissions after that.
The CVS is also keen to link this to LEADER funding bids to strengthen the capacity of local organisations to develop business case, business plans, project development and management skills to make the best applications possible and to be successful in taking their services forward. It has therefore invited local groups to come along to Highfield on 22 April to consider submissions. | |
| Funding anouncement for CVS in Argyll |
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The three CVS which operate in the boundaries of Argyll and Bute are set for an increase in the level of support they receive from central government. The above inflation increases will help to sustain these organisations over the next 3 years. The funding has been provided to enable the CVS to help the local voluntary sector 'Thrive' and be more 'Connected' to a wider network of government and local authority agencies to ensure higher quality public services across the area. Although Islay and Jura CVS intends to invest this directly in to small local organisations to give them the capacity to apply siccesfullly for European and Lottery funding for their projects.
More news when the announcement is confirmed to all! | |
| Governance Matters - Training for Boards and Trustees |
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This is just a quick note to all of you to draw attention to a course(s) that the CVS intends to run in partnership with other business organisations.
The CVS has been approached about running a course to help Directors and Trustees of charitable companies on the islands to understand their role and function and statutory duties.
The material for the course has been developed by the CVS and the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations and is used extensively throughout Scotland.
If you or any of your Board members might be interested in attending such a course, please get in touch with either myself or Janet Waterworth. The contact details are listed below.
If there is enough interest to run a course then views on suitable times and venues will be circulated to make sure that it takes place at the most convenient and suitable time for as many people to take part as possible.
Contact john.davidson@ijcvs.org.uk or janet.waterworth@ijcvs.org.uk or telephone 01496810743 | |
| £7.2 MILLION FROM LLOYDS TSB GROUP FOR SCOTTISH CHARITIES |
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The four Lloyds TSB Foundations across the UK will receive £37.1 million this year from the Lloyds TSB Group following its annual results announced on Friday, 22 February 2008. £7.2 million is for work in Scotland, and will benefit charities supporting people who are disadvantaged or marginalised.
Mary Craig, Deputy Chief Executive for Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, said: “This is fantastic news for the charities we fund, many of whom are working at a grassroots level. In 2007 we made awards of just under £7 million, and the £7.2 million we’ll receive this year means we can continue to invest in helping charities make a difference at the heart of our local communities.”
The independently run Lloyds TSB Foundations receive one per cent of the Lloyds TSB Group’s pre-tax profits, averaged over three years, in lieu of shareholder dividend to distribute to local charities throughout the UK. The four Foundations have distributed over £330 million since 1987, and the Foundation for Scotland is Scotland’s largest independent grantmaking trust.
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For further information contact Catriona Henderson, Press & PR Manager, on 0131 444 4023, or Juliet Scougall, Press & PR Officer, on 0131 444 4028. Mary Craig, the Deputy Chief Executive, is available for interviews.
Notes to editors:
How the Foundation works
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland began life to support local community groups and time has only served to cement its identity as a community charity, indeed, most of the awards being made by the Foundation are still given to grassroots charities.
The Foundation is governed by a board of Trustees who meet six times a year to consider applications and grant funds. Their work and passion for the Foundation turn hopes into reality and dreams into experiences.
When it was set up in 1985, the Foundation for Scotland became one of four independent charitable trusts that annually receive 1% of the then TSB’s pre-tax profits, averaged over three years. The Foundation for Scotland receives 19.46% of this amount from Lloyds TSB Group plc.
Awards are made through a number of different routes:
• The standard grant scheme focuses on local charities working at grassroots level.
• The partnership drugs initiative targets children and young people in families in which parents misuse drugs or alcohol, pre-teen children who are at higher risk of developing problems with substance misuse and young people who are developing or who have established problems with substance misuse.
• Capacity building grants help charities review how well they are performing and put in place improvements.
• Overseas grants support Scottish based charities carry out work in developing countries.
• Inspiring Scotland is a new venture philanthropy fund led by Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, and its first fund focuses on working to support 14 to 19 year olds struggling to make a successful transition from school to the next stage of their lives.
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| European Funding Application DEADLINES |
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The CVS is seeking information from local organisations about funding applications which may require support from European sources .
If you have a project in mind please contact John Davidson at the CVS.
Projects who have already contacted us include the Port Ellen Harbour Association, MacTaggart Leisure Centre, The Gaelic Centre, The Antlers project and various halls across the isles.
Any one else - please let us know as the funding for the next three years is being prioritised by the local authority and other partners
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| Nollaig Chridheil is Bliadhna Mhath Ùr |
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| Nollaig Chridheil is Bliadhna Mhath Ùr bho a h-uile duine aig Seirbheis Saor-thoileach Ìle is Diùra. | |
| Christmas and New Year Arrangements at Islay and Jura CVS |
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Nollaig Chridheil is Bliadhna Mhath Ùr bho a h-uile duine aig Seirbheis Saor-thoileach Ìle is Diùra.
Bidh an oifis dùinte bho 5f 21mh An Dùbhlachd agus fosgailte a-rithist aig 9m 7mh Am Faoilleach 2008.
Islay and Jura CVS wish you all joy for the festive season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
The CVS office will be closed between 22 December 2007 and will reopen 7 January 2008. E-mails will be picked up during this time for any urgent matters
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| Islay Counselling Initiative - dissolution |
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It is with regret that the CVS notes the dissolution of the Islay Counselling Initiative. The Initiative has been an asset to the community over the years but more recently its functions have been gradually taken over by more specialist organisations.
The local committee therefore agreed last night through a special general meeting to notify the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator of the 'winding up' of the group and that its funds would be given to Encompass Counselling for the purpose of training volunteer counsellors on Islay and Jura.
Committee members reflected on the successes of the Iniotiative and the skills and experiences they had all gained through the training and development opportunities offered by the Initiative. They wished Encompass as much success in the future. | |
| Annual General Meeting decides on Free Membership |
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Islay and Jura CVS Annual General Meeting
A well attended meeting of member organisations enjoyed a full agenda at the Annual general Meeting of the Islay and Jura Council of Voluntary Service. The meeting started with a showing of the film ‘..and Its Goodbye to Care?’ written, directed, filmed and starring young people from across Islay. The film was greeted with many positive comments about the professionalism of the production and some thought provoking discussion about the points raise in the film.
The meeting formally commenced with a presentation by the Highlands and islands equality forum taking members through the implications of the changes in the law over the last year and what effect this may have on local organizations and how they conduct their business. A light hearted quiz showed that many local organisations have already ‘got the message’ about equalities and involving the whole community in their activities.
The business of the AGM noted the current financial position and the decision by the Board to dispose of Highfield and invest any benefit arising in local communities to promote CVS services. This decision provoked debate about the future direction the CVS was taking. The members took note of the strategy to take the CVS out of Highfield and to be working alongside local community groups, especially Hall Committees to providing more accessible services in locations across the islands. Due consideration will be taken of the need to ensure contact points are clear and that historical and archival material is properly stored and accessible for retrieval. However, the consensus was that this was worth trying and there was at least one initial offer of premises.
The member organisations also agreed that future membership of the CVS will be free of charge and that most services will be offered free. However, web page support, independent financial review and consultancy work will be charged for at or near cost.
Both the chair Ann Pilley and Executive Officer John Davidson took the opportunity to review the work of the last year and the campaign and action priorities for the next year. These priorities include working with the Parent Council of the High School to develop a bid for free ferry travel for educational visits and activities; restarting the Advice Centre services with help from local volunteers and the Argyll Advice Network; developing bids for European funding for capital projects with Port Ellen Harbour Association and the Gaelic College; and developing an Islay and jura radio service through ‘podcasting’ and ‘webcasts’ with the support of the High school and the young people who took part in making the film shown at the start of the meeting.
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| Islay produced movie nominated for top award First Light Movies Awards 2008 |
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First Light Movies Awards 2008
The Nominees
It’s Awards time again and we are happy to announce the following films have been nominated in the ten categories.
The First Light Movies Awards 2008 nominated films are being judged by a wonderful panel of fabulous film industry giants and celebrities including actors Kevin Spacey, Orlando Bloom, Alan Rickman and Stephen Fry, producer Nira Park and directors Sam Mendes, Gurinder Chadha and Michael Winterbottom.
The Awards will take place on Tuesday 4 March at the ODEON Leicester Square in London – so watch this space to find out who won!
See the web site www.firstlightmovies.com
The Islay film ‘And its Goodbye to Care’ is nominated in the Best Documentary section What a terrific achievement and a great experience in store for the young people involved to meet with this stellar cast of filmmakers. Well done all.
The production of the movie was underwritten in part by Islay and Jura CVS
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| Market testing Older People Services in Argyll |
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Market Test Future of Older People Services
I refer to the above and to our previous communications in this matter.
I am writing to update you, on the Council’s position since you took the time to submit your proposals for the above market test.
With the projected increase in older people in Argyll and Bute between now and 2020 i.e. 38% (11,2111) of over 75’s by 2020 and 45% (2,888) of over 85’s, a range of services both existing and new, will be required to meet the increasing needs of older people and people with dementia. Existing budgets and configurations of service arrangements will not deliver these services.
Currently our resources are fully committed and a redesign of services is being progressed in order to ensure both Best Value and that these services are fit for purpose.
In order to achieve the outcomes described in the Joint Service Plan for Older People, resources may be able to be released from current services (both Council and NHS) and used to purchase appropriate services in greater quantity.
I can confirm that a Project Team has been appointed to take forward a Work Plan as part of the redesign of services.
The Plan is currently being drafted and will include an Options Appraisal, which will seek tenders for certain services, to determine whether direct provision or external provision of services offers the best solution to the Council in terms of value for money, affordability and meeting the Council’s objectives for Older People’s Services.
The Project Team consists of: a number of Council and NHS Officers, Older Peoples Representative, Carers Representative and Voluntary Sector Representative, and will report to the Project Board of the Council which consists of 7 Elected Members and the Chairman and General Manager of the Argyll and Bute Community Health partnership.
The Project Board will report to a Special Committee of the Council, Executive of the Council and Full Council as appropriate.
The Council will make the final decision as to which course of action the Council will take in respect of ensuring the Future of Older People’s Services within Argyll and Bute.
I shall be back in touch once the Work Plan has been finalised to keep you updated with progress.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact either myself at the above contact details or Sandra Greer, Head of Service, email address:- Sandra.greer@argyll-bute.gov.uk or telephone number 01546 604391
Yours sincerely,
………………………
ANNE MACCOLL-SMITH,
Performance Improvement Officer – Quality Assurance
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| Islay and Jura CVS AGM - 27 November 2007 |
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The AGM of Islay and Jura CVS will take place on 27 November at the Servicepoint, Bowmore. The Highland Equalities Forum will be making a presentation on the new legislation which will affect ll publicly funded organisations. All welcome.
It is important at this time when there are many changes being proposed locally and nationally for the CVS network for local bodies to get involved. We look forward to seeing you at the Servicepoint. | |
| Scottish Islands Federation AGM and conference - Mull 14 and 15 November 2007 |
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| The AGM and 1st annual conference of the SIF will take place on Mull on 14 and 15 November. Contact James Hilder at MICT for more details and information. | |
| PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE GROUPS (SCOTLAND) ACT 2007 |
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CONSULTATION ON POLICY PROPOSALS SECONDARY LEGISLATION
The Scottish Government’s consultation on the secondary legislation required to implement the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (PVG Act) is now available.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current
The PVG Act will deliver a robust scheme that will help to safeguard children and protected adults by keeping people who would harm them out of caring positions and a fair and consistent system that will be quick and easy for people to use.
To complement the written consultation, open events for all those with an interest in the vetting and barring scheme will be held during November and early December 2007.
These events are scheduled to take place in:
· Edinburgh - Murrayfield Stadium Conference Centre, November 16th
· Stirling - Albert Halls, November 20th
· Inverness - The Ramada Jarvis Hotel, November 28th
· Aberdeen - The Hilton Treetops, November 29th
· Dundee - The Hilton Hotel, December 6th
· Glasgow – The Hilton Hotel, December 13th
For full details of the consultation events and to register, go to www.protectingvulnerablegroups.com
For more information about the PVG Act and implementation plans go to http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pvglegislation
The consultation will run until 12 February 2008.
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| Bowmore Hall handover |
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Last Friday, after years of uncertainty and struggling, was the official handover of Bowmore village hall from Argyll & Bute council to a community committee for a nominal fee of one pound. In the picture you see Margaret McLean from the local committee handing over the pound note, and Sandy MacTaggart from the Argyll & Bute council handing over the key. Margaret held a speech which you can find below:
Margaret: A Warm welcome to everyone,
This is a day many of us thought would never come. We have had many ups and downs in the nearly 3 years since we said we would undertake action to save Bowmore Hall from closure following the council's announcement they could or would no longer run it at a loss. We have lost a few members along the way including a wonderful chairman Malcolm Younger, but this was due to him having to be away from Islay so much in connection with his work.
We all realise what we have taken on will involve commitment and a lot of hard work but we also think it is worthwhile as the hall is worthy of saving, being centrally situated and being of a size which can accommodate large and varied functions and even conferences.
The hall looks a "bit sad" at present and requires immediate painting outside and in, it needs more than a little TLC but I am sure you all agree it is certainly a valuable commodity the council are handing over to us today for the princely sum of £1!!
Thanks must go to several people who have helped from the outset, the architect, Robert White who made the proposed drawings, Christine Menhennet for the work preparing the feasibility study collating the questionnaire and presenting our proposals to the public meeting.
A big thank you to our councillors, Robin, John and Ann for their part in ensuring we received the monies promised and we hope we can rely on their support in the future. Thanks also to Anne Clark and John Davidson of CVS who have done a lot to help us get to where we are today. We wish Anne in her retirement and we rely on John's continued invaluable guidance. I would like to thank all committee members for their input at all meetings and at fund raising events with special mention to Kate, secretary and treasurer who regularly liaised with John Davidson and Sandy MacTaggart and who has done a lot of work behind the scenes resulting in getting two large grants amounting to nearly £13000, well done!
Although we have a serious task ahead I sincerely hope the fun and comradery we shared as a committee will continue.
Finally we must highlight Sarah's contribution, as everyone can see she has the hall sparkling! In the past I feel she was taken for granted and did a lot of work beyond the call of duty. We are delighted she has agreed to advise and help the new committee, we would like her to accept a small token of our appreciation of all her hard work and her part in making take over easier.
It just leaves me now to thank Sandy for ensuring all essential repairs and electrical works were completed before the handover date and also for coming over today to do the "honours.! We look forward to putting our plans into action and we hope we will have the support of the whole community behind us and at this hall OUR HALL, THE COMMUNITIE'S HALL will be there for everyone for many years to come.
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| Better Health Better Care - Consultation - Oban Islay views sought |
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Marie-Ann Brown, chair of the Islay Community Council has responded to an invitation to attend a consultation meeting about the future of Health Care Services. There will be a number of meetings across Scotland but the local event is to be held in Oban. Notice for themeeting has been relativelt short and, given the timng of the event will mean Ileach wishing to attend will be faced with an overnight stay. There is no funding avalable for this for any individual or group, a maatter which has raised the Community Council's ire. In making a written response, the Comunity Council were conscious of the need to have Islay views expressed both about the organisation of the event and matters which still seriously affect the population as a whole.
Marie-Ann Brown, chair of the CC said, "As the Islay Community Council have no funding to enable us to attend off Island meetings, we will be unable to attend so please lodge our apologies, however there are a number of issues we would like to raise at the Consultation Event to be held in Oban on Wed. 7th Nov.07 and we would be very grateful if you could pass them on to the appropriate person (s).
Gynaecology patients have to fly from Islay to Glasgow to attend Anti Natal/Post Natal Clinics in Paisley, it would be much more cost effective to the NHS if a Gynaecologist came over to Islay and held a Clinic at the hospital here, resulting in one expenditure instead of multiple expenditures. Air fares are not cheap from Islay to Glasgow for the NHS.
There are currently only two Paramedics covering the Islands of Islay and Jura, 7 days a week 24/7, with a population of approximately 4500, is this reasonable?
Scottish Ambulance Services, covering different geographical areas, apparently do not communicate effectively with each other.
Communication between Local Surgeries, Scottish Ambulance Service and Hospitals regarding Patient Transport, Wheel Chair requests, and escorts needs to be co-ordinated more efficiently and effectively.
Patients from Islay/Jura, when flown out from our Islands as emergency cases, are taken by air to Glasgow or Paisley. When they are out of danger, the suggestion is they be sent to Oban for convalescence, as this is in the Islay/Jura geographical area as far as NHS are concerned. It is not a suitable destination for a patient from Islay or Jura to be sent as there is no direct transportation link from Oban to Islay orJura.
We trust you will put these points forward to the appropriate representitives for the consultation on 'Better Health, Better Care' NHS Scotland and we look forward to receiving a report from the Consultation."
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| Lottery decision in full - BIG supports CVS network |
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Dynamic Inclusive Communities - Supporting Voluntary Action Solicitation
On Wednesday 17th October the Scotland Committee of the Big Lottery Fund sought the responses, aspirations, views and commitment from representatives from the SCVO, the CVS Network, CAS, VDS and the Scottish Government on the proposals put forward by the SCVO in response to BIG's Supporting Voluntary Action solicited bid prior to making their decision.
We recognise that this is the final product of the dedicated work and commitment of a wide range of stakeholders, on both an individual and organisational level, across the sector over the past two years, and believe that this bid presents an unprecedented opportunity for positive progress for the Third Sector in Scotland over the next five years.
This process has involved a new way of working for our organisation, and it is our intention that this inclusive approach offers greater transparency and accountability around this funding opportunity, and offers the potential to meet our ambitions for a step change in the quality and strength of the Third Sector in Scotland.
This is a lofty ambition and one that requires resolve and pragmatism in equal measure. BIG recognises that the process followed by SCVO and its partners has posed challenges for all concerned. Not least among these was the challenge to see Supporting Voluntary Action (SVA) as an opportunity, which is greater than the promise of funding. We recognise that this is easier said than done. The process of solicitation set out by BIG has precipitated a strategic dialogue within the sector about its strength, its connectedness and sense of common endeavour. BIG’s Scotland Committee bore witness to key national stakeholders who signalled their willingness to engage in constructive dialogue, to work better together, and to recognise that BIG's funding decision is a starting point for positive future progress not an end point. It is because of this commitment that BIG remains committed to the strategic approach to strengthening the Third Sector in Scotland in which this bid plays a vital part.
BIG’s Supporting Voluntary Action programme has at its heart five outcomes. These range from building the quality of services provided to people and communities by voluntary and community organisations across Scotland through to creating the conditions in which voluntary action can flourish. BIG has, therefore, agreed a decision on the proposals put forward by the SCVO to achieve these outcomes.
BIG’s decision enables SCVO and its partners to build on the strong elements of the bid, while leaving the door open for further development and strengthening of other wider elements.
BIG has agreed to give its approval to the elements of the SVCO bid which will enable a common quality framework for the delivery of services and their management to be established and recognised as common brand; to improve collaboration and connectivity within and across Third Sector networks; to develop robust trusted systems for gathering data on local groups and communities and the means for sharing this intelligence across networks; to respond directly to the needs of this change management agenda and to include diverse and remote organisation in this process. This is Phase One of the deal, and the proposed funding for these elements is approximately £6.7 million.
In spring 2008, the Scotland Committee will assess the viability of Phase Two of this development, which would be about deepening connections, and activity between Third Sector network and improving the capacity to deliver improved volunteering experiences. The funding for this Phase is approximately £1.3 million.
The total size of the award, which includes a revised management fee for SCVO, is
c. £8.4 million
There were a number of elements of the bid which BIG was not sufficiently satisfied would achieve the outcomes proposed in the plans. We will now assess the continuing need for some of these aspects of the bid and give further consideration to alternative options for delivering these outcomes.
It should be noted that whilst ‘Mainstreaming Equalities’ forms a part of the elements removed from the bid this should not be confused with a lack of BIG’s commitment to equalities. It is because we have high aspirations for this agenda and consider it to be vital that BIG will consider alternative options for achieving our outcomes in this area of activity. Furthermore, SCVO and its partners will be expected to place equalities at the heart of delivering all aspects of SVA.
BIG has also proposed improvements to the structures put in place to manage and oversee the delivery of SVA in order to more clearly define the roles of the bodies involved and to further secure the support of partners and the confidence of stakeholders at the centre of this process. This would involve rethinking the current configuration of the SVA Management Group, Change Task Group and Vision and Voice Group. Aligning these groups around a common purpose and agenda may strengthen the delivery of the bid and provide the communication mechanism required to shape the further progress of the sector. To support this process BIG has recommended the establishment of a Strategic Partnership Body, which would include national partners, chaired by an independent nominee, to provide a strategic overview of progress, identify learning and guidance to shape future development; improve and enhance connections and synergy across sectors and interests. BIG also endorsed the offer by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to provide management support for the bid through the Business Mentor programme.
BIG is committed to working in partnership with the SCVO to deliver progress across the sector.
The Big Lottery Fund believes that this decision can begin a process of further development and progress for the Third Sector in Scotland. Our aim in framing this agreement has been to create the right conditions to strengthen voluntary action and the quality of infrastructure across Scotland, in order to realise the enormous potential we have to make a positive difference to communities across our country. We believe that we have now laid that important foundation, and so we look forward to working with you all in future partnership to realise a positive vision of the Third Sector that we can all be proud of in Scotland.
Regards
Dharmendra Kanani
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| Highlands and Islands Community Capacity Partnership Update – October 2007 |
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1. Training Needs Analysis
This exercise was launched in May 2007 and has proved a great success; we have gathered
information on over 200 voluntary organisations training needs and also details about their
operating environment – such as sectors covered, training budgets, geographical remit, annual
income and numbers of staff and volunteers.
The deadline for submitting information to be included in the main analysis has now passed and we
are now in the process of analysing the data submitted to produce a comprehensive report on the
training needs of the sector across the Highlands & Islands. The on-line questionnaire still remains
open however, and we would encourage any organisations to complete the exercise to help us
better inform training provision in the future.
Particular thanks go to the following organisations that have actively supported and promoted the
TNA in their areas:
- ABSEN (Argyll & Bute Social Enterprise Network)
- Moray Voluntary Services Organisation
- Voluntary Action Orkney
- Voluntary Action Lochaber
- Voluntary Groups East Sutherland
- Inverness CVS
- Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations
The first details from the results of the TNA analysis will be delivered at the Advisory Group meeting
in November. If you would like to glean any particular information from the analysis, please let us
know and we will see what we can do.
The next step in this exercise is to begin to influence the provision of training and learning
opportunities, which leads us onto…
2. Training Provider Forum
This forum continues to grow in strength and numbers thanks to the work of Nicole, our Training
Liaison Officer. We now have a network of around 90 providers listed on the Website who are
providing training, learning or support services to the sector across the Highlands & Islands.
Nicole has been organising some ‘Meet the Trainer’ events across the Highlands in November, the
following dates have been organised:
Fort William 1st Nov
Lochgilphead 13th Nov
Portree 20th Nov
Durness 21st Nov
Ullapool 22nd Nov
Thurso 26th Nov
Brora 27th Nov
These events will incorporate an update from HICCaP including results from the TNA based on the
area, a ‘showcase’ element for 2 providers to promote their services, a facilitated discussion on
barriers to learning and an opportunity for the audience to meet with other providers who did not
have a chance to do a presentation over a networking lunch.
If anyone is interested in attending, or would like to promote these events to contacts, please give
Nicole a call on 01463 732315.
3. HICCaP Communications
You will hopefully see over the coming weeks some significant changes to the HICCaP website. We
are introducing some new features to the site to improve its usability and relevance. New sections
include: e-learning opportunities, a dedicated training provider section, improved search facility of
the training calendar and directory and more linkages with the e-bulletin and Noticeboard.
On that note, we hope you have all received the new Noticeboard e-bulletin recently which has
proved a great success. The aim of this bulletin is to improve communications between voluntary
organisations and with training providers. There are 4 main sections: Training Enquiries, Joint
Learning, Skills Swap and Learning Experiences. If you don’t currently receive a copy, please get in
touch.
4. Staff Changes
It is all change here at Team HICCaP; Nicole has been successful in securing employment with the
National Trust at Culloden as their Learning & Interpretation Manager. As some of you may know
Nicole is currently studying through UHI for her Degree in Interpretation Management, so this is an
ideal and rare opportunity to work in the field (quite literally in this case!). We would like to wish
Nicole all the very best in her new job, and to thank her for the fabulous work she has done whilst at
HICCaP.
It is also time for me to move on, well temporarily at least, as I start Maternity Leave from
December.
As it turns out both Nicole and I will be leaving the project on the same day! So watch this space for
our replacements…
Before we go however, we both look forward to seeing you at the meeting on the 14th November to
say ‘Hello Again’ and then ‘Goodbye’.
Helen Sandison
HICCaP Development Officer | |
| Bowmore Hall transfers to Community Ownership |
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On Friday 19 October at a ceremony in Bowmore Hall in the presence of the Hall Committee members and Councillors from Argyll and Bute Council, the local community took ownership of the Bowmore Hall.
Margaret MacLean, chair, spoke of her great pride in the achievement of the local committee and the support they had received so far from the wider community in getting to this point. | |
| BIG lottery to Fund big changes to CVS network |
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BIG Decision on SVA Programme
Following the meeting of the Big Lottery Fund's Scotland Country Committee last week, colleagues from the CVS network, SCVO, the Scottish Government's Third Sector Team, VDS and CAS met BIG staff today to hear the Committee's view on the SVA programme.
BIG has announced its intention to invest at total of £8.4m in the SVA programme. The following four project strands have been formally approved and will form Phase One of the programme:
* Quality Matters
* Collaboration and Connectivity
* Managing Intelligence
* New activities, including Change Champion projects
In Phase Two, three project strands will require further development before consideration by the Committee in Spring 2008:
* Leading the Change
* Developing Organisations
* Investing in Volunteers
It is further understood that the following project strands will not proceed as part of the SVA programme:
* Mainstreaming Equalities
* Strengthening Voices
* Proactive Partnerships
* Supporting Sustainable Growth
In addition, it is understood that the SVA management structures will be reviewed to ensure they are clear, streamlined and able to deliver the range of DInC outcomes, while the percentage of SVA funds committed to managing the programme will be limited to 7%.
SCVO expects to receive a revised offer letter from the Big Lottery Fund within the next few days and further detail will be shared with the CVS network as soon as it becomes available.
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| Transport Forum Annual General Meeting |
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The AGM of the forum was held on 4 September at the Airport. New office bearers were appointed - Ken MacLean, Patient Transport Co-ordinator was made chair; and Angus Rice from IDEA's Transport was named vice chair. The Islay and Jura CVS will continue to provide adminstrative support to the forum.
At the regular meeting of the forum which followed ommediately therafter, it was agreed that a funding application to both the Lottery and Communities Scotland would be prepared and submitted with a view to taking the forum to the people and communities it tries to serve - that is rotating round the principal townships and villages across the islands. | |
| Film First for Islay |
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The premiere of two locally produced films will be held on 20 September 2007 in Port Ellen. The White Hart Hotel have kindly offered to host the event at the request of the young people who have produced, written directed and starred in these two productions.
Young people from across Islay, supported by Strangeboat Film Company, have produced two films which reflect aspects of their life here.
‘Goodbye to care’ is a documentary showing life for a range of people highlighting issues which affect everyday living on the island. Interviewees were filmed responding to questions put by the young people and the result is an intriguing take on life on Islay showing many positive feelings about their Westering Home.
‘Hot Pursuit’ is an action drama with a touch of romance! The focus is a love triangle which involves a ‘boy racer’ and what happens to him and the love of his life.
As well as giving a number of young people the opportunity to star in front of the cameras, the production helped them to develop other skills in writing scripts, camera work, editing, sound tracking and other post production activities.
The production company are also going to leave behind the film and projection equipment for use by young people and local organisations and it is intended to encourage the development of skills, expertise and experience to make more films. It is hoped to work with others to get an island cinema off the ground not only for local productions but also for the latest releases.
As well as the premiere showing in the White Hart – which is open to all – Islay High School have invited the young stars of tomorrow to provide a copy of the films to be added to their digital library for use in school as education material. This meeting will be attended by Superintendant Raymond Park, Chair of the Community Planning Partnership and the Argyll and Bute Road Safety Committee. The Partnership want to use the material from ‘Hot Pursuit’ in the Young Driver Project (which is endorsed by DriveSafe) to be rolled out across Argyll and Bute.
So, get your autograph books out and head for the White Hart next Thursday – there may well be some stars of the future there.
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| OSCR visit to the Isles |
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Regional events 2007
Over the course of 2007, OSCR will be running a series of half-day training events. These have been designed for charity trustees and administrators of smaller charities (those with an income of less than £100,000). The programme will reflect key developments as we move through 2007 but to begin with we will concentrate on the following key areas:
General introduction to the charity accounting regulations
Consents and Notifications
Accounts workshop (receipts and payments)
Charity Trustee duties
Venues
Venues in the following locations have been confirmed:
Skye (9th May) +
Kirkwall (19th September) Find out more
Lerwick (26th September) Find out more
Dumfries (2nd October) This event is fully booked
Lairg (24th October) Find out more
Islay* (November)
These will be half-day sessions with a capacity of around 50, again lasting three and a half hours.
* Exact date and venue to be confirmed
+These events have been completed
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| Wind Turbine Project for Islay |
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The members of the Islay Energy Trust (IET) met on Monday night, 23 July, to hear a presentation about the potential for a wind turbine project on Islay.
Phillip Maxwell, chair of IET, took members through the preparatory work and projects which have been undertaken by IET in relation to alternative, 'green' power generation. He particularly referred to work previously carried out by Dunlossit Estates which demonstrated the limited areas on Islay where the energy potential of wind power could be harnessed.
Many at the meeting agreed ith Phillip Maxwell that water driven alternatives were probably the better option for the future. However, there is the opportunity at present to explore the deployment of wind turbines on the island through support from the Highlands Community Energy Company. Making a success of such a development was likely to make Islay a recognised site for future investment according to Mr Maxwell's presentation.
The meeting agreed to suypport the Trust Board in a robust consultation process with island communities about the potential of particular sites which had already been identified by consultants as the most viable options in terms of generation capacity and likelihood of gaining planning consent. | |
| Changes to the Ambulance service on Islay and Jura? |
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Bill Brackenridge, Chair of the Scottish Ambulance Service, paid a visit to the Transport Forum meeting held at Islay Airport last week. He was responding to a request from the forum to meet and discuss concerns raised by individuals and communities across Islay and Jura.
He was questioned closely about possible conflicts of priorities for the Service provided on the islands between necessary patient transport services and emergency responses. Everyone at the meeting appreciated the skill and dedication of the staff and volunteers on the islands in providing ambulance cover. However, concerns were expressed about the long periods of ‘on call’ that local staff were having to undertake to provide cover across the islands and how tying and disruptive to family life such commitment was.
A number of options are being looked at with local ambulance staff seeking to make best use of the available people while at the same time reducing the amount of ‘on call’. This was likely to mean some changes to the kind of service provided but Mr Brackenridge went on to say that; “Change is likely to happen but that will be achieved without a dilution of service” He described a number of options which will be put to staff and to local GPs who were recognised as providing a level of access to immediate medical interventions which was not always available on the mainland. He also noted that the Air Ambulance had been deployed on 15 occasions over the last 6 months and that there was great co-operation between local services to make that service work effectively and safely for patients. He hoped that future arrangements will also be based on that sound team work.
He responded to a question about the volunteer ambulance service on Jura by saying that he was looking in to the provision of a newer vehicle for use by the people of Jura and to supporting the development of first response teams there to make sure that the service was able to respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies there.
Mr Brackenridge went on to acknowledge the work done by the local Patient Transport Co-ordinator and the local ambulance service managers gave undertakings to work with the Coordinator to develop discharge services from Hospital, particularly the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Paisley. There had been some recent issues of concern about people from the islands being left to make their own travel home arrangements after arriving in emergency and these will be addressed.
The forum welcomed the commitments given by Mr Brackenridge that the ambulance service will be sustained and developed and looked forward to hearing in more detail how any proposed changes will be implemented for the benefit of the islands’ communities.
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| Swinney makes two! |
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Following on from meeting with Alex Salmond, First Minister, during his recent visit to Islay, John Davidson, CVS Islay and Jura managed to meet up with John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for Finance. Both were attending an awards ceremony at Angus Volunteer centre’s premises in Arbroath where John Davidson is a Director of the Centre. The Centre is the first to receive the ‘Excellence’ Award from Volunteer Development Scotland.
Bill Howat, chair of VDS introduced Mr Swinney, who has been an interested supporter of the Volunteer centre over the years as one of its local MSPs. Both paid tribute to the visionary leadership of Gary Malone, Centre Manager and then went on to refer to the commitment of local volunteers and to the benefit of having accessible local buildings such as village halls to provide a focus for voluntary activity.
After the Award ceremony, both men took the time to find out more about the campaign and after signed up to the campaign. Mr Swinney made it clear he was aware of the issues and was looking forward to hearing the specifics of the proposals SCVO who are leading the campaign
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| First Minister and Halls for All |
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Press release 170707
John Davidson, Executive Officer of Islay & Jura CVS was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the First Minister Alex Salmond to Islay recently and, along with Islay resident Rebecca Brown, presented the First Minister with the Halls for All petition.The Halls for All campaign is sponsored by the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and urges the Scottish Executive to tackle the slow-burning crisis in village halls by increasing financial support and cutting red tape. The campaign continues to gather momentum, with nearly 1000 signatures on the e-petition and hundreds of signatures being collected on paper. John explained that the First Minister had expressed an interest in the campaign and asked for further information to be sent directly to him.
John also met with John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance last Friday and not only received his interest in the campaign but also gained his signature. This has been passed on to SCVO campaign managers and will be used as part of the negotiations for a constructive agreement to address the issues raised.
What’s the situation in Islay, Jura and Colonsay?
In his follow up letter to Alex Salmond, John Davidson explains the situation in Islay, Jura and Colonsay:
‘In the context of the three islands to which the CVS provides support, assistance and guidance, Islay, Jura and Colonsay, you should know that three of the six Halls are already in forms of community ownership and another, Bowmore, will be transferred to community ownership in August. Each of these halls represent considerable challenges to their communities as well as affording a wonderful set of opportunities to develop social enterprises to pay their way in to the future. To that end, the communities across the islands are offering their support to this campaign.
All of the Halls across the islands are supported by hard working committees and volunteers and do a great deal of fundraising as well as organisaing activities for their communities. The continuing added costs through rising utility bills and the prospect of water charges being levied after 2009 makes it so much harder. Further, every hall requires maintenance to one degree or another. Having access to capital, a ready source of advice and guidance and a continuation of the abatement of water charges are seen to be essential right across Scotland.
On Islay the current issue is the capital funding of the Hall in Bowmore However, there are a range of local organisations which would like to use a refurbished hall – most are social enterprises and can pay for leases etc. On Jura, this small community needs their Hall refurbished as a focus for the whole island. They too have social enterprises which will help to sustain activity in a refurbished property. The sums involved are beyond the capacity of the islands’ communities to find themselves.
The issue of a Capital Fund is important from these islands perspective and should not solely be regarded as a matter for the voluntary sector but perhaps should be included in the development of rural infrastructure to support the communities which help to shape the countryside alongside farming interests.’
A challenge fund?
There is a view, therefore, that the Executive could work in partnership with these island communities to help them to shape Rural Development investment to build social capital as well as economic well being; to challenge rural industries and commercial interests to support the development of infrastructure which is not solely built for profit. That will also apply across many communities in rural Scotland who will face similar challenges. An example might be to take the Capital fund referred to above, not only through Government funding but to set this up as a Challenge Fund – a challenge to these interests to match what the Executive can provide.
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| Community Planning Partnership Conference |
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The CVS across Argyll were invited to make a key note presentation to the Community Planning Partnership Biennial Conference in Rothesay on Friday 15 June 2007. The CVS invited their partners in the Voluntary Sector, the Volunteer Centre and Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) to join them in the presentation which presented a challenge to the statutory partners to review the 'Representation' role which the Partnership has so far asked CVS to undertake. The presentation, done in partnership gave examples of the work going on across all the Voluntary Sector, including the role of volunteers. The presentation illustrated in its content and by involving all three partners that there is a need for a wider involvement and participation of the Voluntary Sector in Community Planning processes and decision making.
Louise will be adding the presentation to the web site to be accessed by all. Feel free to comment to any of the CVS at their contact details as given on this web site
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| Patient Transport |
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The logistical nightmare facing many patients was discussed both at the CVS Board meeting and at the Islay and Jura Transport Forum. Both meetings gave unanimous support for the existing project and sought an imminent decision from local NHS managers to support the development of this service.
A number of options were tabled by the project coordinator and after hearing from him and several members who have experienced the issues of organising transport to and from hospital appointments, there was a very strong view that this role was crucial in ensuring the well beng of frail patients during their journeys.
There was also agreement that this project should remain within the NHS if possible and that there was scope for this to be rolled out across remote rural Scotland in future. | |
| Community Planning Partnership - Rothesay |
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The Voluntary Sector gave one of the key note presentations at the Biennial Community Planning Conference held on Bute.
The theme of the presentation was particpation not just representation. James Hilder from Mull and Iona Community Trust and Pat Logan from the Volunteer Centre added their voices to the 3 local CVS in showing the statutory Community Planniong Partners just what they were missing by only allowing a limited representational role for the sector in the processes and meetings which underpin Community Planning across Argyll.
The theme was echoed and complemented by key note speeeches by Kate Braithwaite of the Carnegie trust and local MSP and Cabinet Secretary Jim Mather.
The worth and value of the sector in the communities of Argyll, the contribution it makes to developing skills and businesses was emphasised and how that can be brought to bear on many of the problems and issues facing the planning partners was the main focus of the day.
Concrete examples of Volunteering and Social Enterprise organisations gave colour and power to the presentation which was warmly welcomed by delegates.
The challenge of involving and ensuring particpation of communities in the Community Plan has been highlighted and a clear steer given about how the voluntary |
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