Day: September 22, 2014

Lazarowicz: transfer of powers ‘without delay’

westminsterMark Lazarowicz MP has pledged to work for the transfer of powers promised to the Scottish Parliament without delay as Ed Miliband and the other UK party leaders confirmed their commitment to the process. 

The North & Leith MP sets out his views on the way ahead for Scotland and the rest of the UK on the path to constitutional reform in an article published on his website today.

He said: “There must be no delay in the transfer of powers promised during the referendum campaign to the Scottish Parliament.

“Gordon Brown announced a timetable with cross-party support for further transfers of power to the Scottish Parliament and Ed Miliband as well as the other UK party leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to it.

“That has now begun with the agreement of a Parliamentary Motion which will be published as soon as Parliament returns. Full debate involving the Scottish Parliament and civil society in Scotland will follow leading to legislation being drafted by January.

“We now need to re-engage people to rebuild democracy throughout the UK by devolving power and Scotland is leading the way in that.”

You can find the full text of the article at:

http://www.marklazarowicz.org.uk/constitutional_reform_all_round_needed_but_must_not_delay_implementation_of_commitments_to_scotland

Volunteer Recruitment Fair’s this Wednesday

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The Volunteer Recruitment Fair takes place at St Paul’s and St Georges Church on York Place this Wednesday (24.09) from 11am – 7pm. 

Entry is free, and we expect more than a thousand visitors to come along to find out more about the wide variety of volunteering opportunities available across Edinburgh with charities, social enterprises and the public sector.

This year, in addition to fifty plus stalls, there will be free employability workshops running at 11.30am and 3.00pm, and when visitors need to sit down after taking in all this new information there’s a café serving delicious food and drink run by the by city-based social enterprise Out of the Blue Drill Hall Arts Café .

Volunteering helps people build new skills, get a taste of different working environments, create new friendships and boost individual confidence and wellbeing. For those seeking a route into work, volunteering also adds skills to CVs as well as providing work experience and up-to-date references.

Making the choice to give your time and expertise to help others is a positive and meaningful commitment, with big rewards for the volunteer and the organisation or clients that the volunteer donates their time to. The Volunteer Recruitment Fair is the perfect way to match those who want to make best use of their time with those who benefit from their input. It’s also an opportunity to publicise Edinburgh’s vibrant Third Sector community.

VCE Convener Kris Von Wald said: “The role of volunteers in improving the quality of life in their communities has never been more important. The success of last year’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair demonstrated that the desire to donate both time and skills to help others is alive and well in the citizen’s of Edinburgh. All the signs point to 2014 being even more successful.”

For more about the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, visit the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s website, or Facebook page.

 

You for coffee?

Is your group, organisation or club supporting Macmillan’s Coffee Morning? If so – let us know – we’ll share your event with NEN readers!

It’s Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event, where people across the UK are asked to hold a coffee morning and raise money for people living with cancer. In 2013, 154,000 people signed up, raising a record £20 million.

Cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face. And as treatments improve, more and more people are living with cancer in their daily lives. The money you raise at your coffee morning will help make sure no one has to face cancer alone, from the moment they’re diagnosed, through treatment and beyond.

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Join Gladys at PYCP’s event on Saturday from 10.30 – 2pm!

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Also on Saturday, Granton Parish Church Big Coffee Morning kicks off at 10am in the West Hall. Can you help? Contact Heather McArdle

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You can also sign up to host your own coffee morning by visiting www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or telephone 0300 1000 200.

Voluntary Sector Forum: extra date added

Due to the retirement of Gena Wylie and Thomas Brown moving to pastures new the Forth and Inverleith Forum now need to elect 2 new chairs for this Forum.

Due to the length of time between Forums I thought it best to organise an extra meeting for the Forum to discuss the election and how they wish to go forward with this.

The Forum meeting will take place on

Wednesday 15 October from 10am -12 noon

at Pilton Community Health Project, 73 Boswall Parkway.

It would be beneficial to the Forum and Third Sector in these areas if we could have strong representation at the meeting to ensure everyone has had time and the opportunity to discuss as a collective.

Whilst there is no Chair for both areas my role is to cover all NP meetings where possible to represent the Third Sector in that area. I’m very keen that the representation comes from local Grassroot workers in the area, as I feel they would be better placed than I to represent a particular area.

Can you please let me know if you are able to attend.

Many thanks

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