Tag: charities

5000 tickets for Edinburgh’s Christmas offered to community groups

Everyone deserves to share in the magic of Christmas, and this year 5000 tickets for Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions – including the Alpine Ice Rink and Big Wheel – are being gifted to local community groups and charities to ensure those who are less fortunate can join in the fun as the city comes to life with the festive spirit.  

UniqueAssembly, who produce Edinburgh’s Christmas on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, today announced that applications are now open for local groups and charities who work with disadvantaged people in the community to claim tickets for rides and attractions at this year’s event – which will take over the Scottish capital from Friday 17 November 2023 until Saturday 6 January 2024.  

Applications can be made via the form on Edinburgh’s Christmas website, or via email at communities@unique-assembly.co.uk. 

Tickets will be limited per applicant/group, and applicants will be asked to include details of their organisational aims and how they would like to use the tickets.

Applications are now open and will close midnight Sunday 5 November, with decisions to be made by Friday 10 November. Event producers invite applications from charities and volunteer organisations, including young carers, refugee groups, and others in the community who need support.  

Another uplifting Christmas initiative is the return of the annual Winter Windows schools competition, which will be even bigger this year with the number of winners doubled to 24.

School children from across Edinburgh are encouraged to submit an artwork that represents their idea of winter and the festive season to be selected for display along walkways across the city. The winners’ artworks will also be showcased on Edinburgh’s Christmas social channels. Contact your school for more information. 

Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations will also include open access to the iconic Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens which will host a community-focused programme of events in association with various local charity partners.

Running for four weekends 18 November – 10 December, there will be a mix of free and ticketed events that touch upon some of the pillars of Christmas – Light, Music, Dance, and Santa.  

Some of the partners that Edinburgh’s Christmas are supporting this year include Edinburgh Diwali on Sunday 19 November, a St Andrew’s Day Outdoor Ceilidh on Sunday 26 November, Nativity Carol Concert with Edinburgh Churches Together on Sunday 3 December, and the 19th annual Santa Fun Run with When you Wish Upon a Star on Sunday 10 December.

More details will be available on the Edinburgh’s Christmas website in coming weeks.  

The spirit of giving and community continues with Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness, which includes the 10m tall Kindness Tree and Gift Donation point, dedicated to spreading goodwill to those who need it most.

Donations can be made to help provide thousands of Christmas dinners, food packs and gifts to homeless and vulnerable families, children, and individuals, or for shelter to those without a roof over their heads this winter. 

Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations will run from Friday 17 November 2023 – Saturday 6 January 2024, including the free-to-enter markets and ticketed attractions which are now available for purchase online.

The city centre will form a circuit of Christmas cheer with four zones to explore – a Festive Family Funfair in West Princes Street Gardens, the East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Market, Santa’s Workshop and Social Bite Festival of Kindness at St Andrew Square, and the Alpine Ice Rink and LocalMotive Castle Street Christmas Market on George Street West and Castle Street. 

Residents with an EH postcode are eligible for a 20% discount on tickets to all of Edinburgh’s Christmas events.

For further information, visit Edinburgh’s Christmas website:  

edinburgh-christmas.com.  

Charities Regulation Bill passed

Strengthening charity law and maintaining public trust

The Scottish Parliament has voted unanimously to pass the Charities (Regulation and Administration) Bill.

The Bill will improve the accountability and transparency of charities and increase the powers of the independent Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The charity sector plays a vital role in society and support for charities is high amongst the public who volunteer and donate to thousands of charities across the country.

This legislation makes practical improvements and updates to existing charity regulation increasing transparency and to help ensure public trust is maintained.

“Scottish charities have a combined income of £14 billion each year so it is crucial that the way they are regulated remains fit for purpose. These reforms will support the effective regulation of charities, helping them to have the best possible environment to thrive.

“I am delighted that the Parliament has unanimously backed this legislation from the start.”

Provisions in The Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill include:

  • updating the criteria for the automatic disqualification of charity trustees and extending them to individuals with specific senior management positions in charities
  • removal from the Scottish Charity Register of unresponsive charities that fail to submit statements of account
  • a requirement for all charities in the Scottish Charity Register to have and retain a connection to Scotland
  • a requirement on OSCR to publish the statements of account for all charities in the Scottish Charity Register
  • requirements on OSCR to include charity trustee names in the Scottish Charity Register, to keep an internal schedule of charity trustees’ details and to create a publicly searchable record of charity trustees removed by the courts

Success for local charities at Scottish Charity Awards

Two Edinburgh charities have each won a top award at the Scottish Charity Awards run by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).

Fresh Start Scotland, a charity working to help end homelessness, and Feniks, which supports the integration and wellbeing of the Central Eastern European community in Edinburgh, won their respective awards at a celebratory awards ceremony hosted by Sally Magnusson at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh on Friday (23 June).

Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrates the best of the voluntary sector and this year’s shortlist included 32 individuals and organisations from charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups across the country.

West Pilton-based Fresh Start Scotland won the Community Action award. Biddy Kelly, managing director, Fresh Start Scotland, said: “We would like to say how delighted we are to win this prestigious award.

“We have only been able to achieve this thanks to the thousands of people who support us, the dedication and hard work of all our staff and volunteers and to positive and supportive partnerships.”

Feniks won the Campaign of the Year award for their campaign ‘Shed your armour, show the scars’. Magda Czarnecka, chief executive, Feniks said: “Winning the Campaign of the Year category is a humbling and exhilarating experience.

“This victory is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our Community Ambassadors, who dedicated their time and skills to address the most stigmatized challenge within the Polish community.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, See Me Scotland, who believed in our cause and stood beside us on this inspiring journey. This award strengthens our commitment to continue advocating for change and creating a brighter future for the Polish community in Scotland.”

The winner of each of the nine categories was decided by a judging panel, with the tenth People’s Choice category winner decided by the public with over 14,000 votes cast online.

The winners for the Scottish Charity Awards 2023 are:

  • Climate Conscious award: Climate Action Strathaven
  • Campaign of the Year award: Feniks
  • Community Action award: Fresh Start Scotland
  • Volunteer of the Year award: Andrii Zhehestovskyi – Libraries & Information Services Dundee
  • Employee of the Year award: Paul Sheerin – Beatson Cancer Charity
  • Pioneering Project award: Quarriers
  • Trustee of the Year award: Vongayi Mufara – Amma Birth Companions
  • Digital Citizen award: Simon Community Scotland
  • People’s Choice award: Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity
  • Charity of the Year award: Diversified

Anna Fowlie, chief executive of SCVO, said: Anna Fowlie, chief executive of SCVO, said: “What a fabulous event to celebrate the achievements of organisations and people across the voluntary sector in Scotland.

“Our finalists and winners are all shining examples of the great things happening thanks to the commitment of people working and volunteering in charities, community groups and social enterprises, all championing good causes, providing vital support and making our communities better places to live.

“Every community, and every part of our society, benefits from the work that SCVO is lucky to see on a daily basis. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Scottish Charity Awards this year, including our sponsors, the Sheraton Hotel for hosting us and of course to Sally Magnusson who was lovely as ever.

“Congratulations to all the finalists – I’m already looking forward to what the next year brings!

Dementia book launch at Stockbridge Library

Are you interested in learning more about dementia and how to support those who are affected by it? Do you have dementia and have questions about what it all means? A new self-help book, “FAQs on Dementia” written by Tom Russ and Michael Huddleston comes out today!

To celebrate this exciting release, there will be a book launch event at Stockbridge library on Friday 5th May, from 3.30pm-4.30pm. The event will feature the authors, and some friends and colleagues with dementia. Representatives from Alzheimer Scotland, Brain Health Scotland, the NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network will be there to share information.

The Golden Hare bookshop will be in attendance to sell the book, so you will have the chance to buy your own copy at the event.

Here’s an extract from the blurb:

Will my partner stop loving me now they have dementia?

Does my mum have to go into a home now?

Is dementia a terminal illness?

All these questions, and hundreds more, are covered in this short but powerful, helpful, practical guide to understanding the nature, and impact, of dementia. Read at your leisure, or dip in and out when you most need the support or to shine a light on the issues and concerns that are making you uncomfortable or unhappy, and to bring them out of the shadows so you can understand and accept them.

Public comes out in force to attend Emergency Services Open Day

LAST Saturday (25 March), 25 different organisations and hundreds of staff arrived bright & early at the Scottish Government Building, Victoria Quay, for our Emergency Services Open Day.

The day’s focus was to bring the community together with our emergency & other public services, as well as local charities and partner agencies, to acknowledge the vital role that we all play in community cohesion.

Some partners started early with Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team & Border Search and Rescue Unit travelling from the Scottish Borders. The Ministry of Defence Police came from HM Naval Base Clyde.

We had a #CHASHospice Stormtrooper & Spiderman entertaining us throughout the day. Lothian Buses brought a bus popular with big and little kids alike! Close contenders for the most popular attraction were the fire engines provided by the fire service & International Fire & Rescue Association.

Local charities on site included St Columba’s Hospice Care, Macmillan Cancer Support, St Andrew’s First Aid, British Red Cross, Scottish Charity Air Ambulance & Blood Bikes Scotland. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency had an impressive display of rescue kit.

Specialist police units included Police Scotland’s Operational Support Unit, Armed Policing, Police Partnerships, Wildlife Crime & British Transport Police – Scotland. The Civil Nuclear Constabulary came from Torness Power Station.

Local units from The Army in Scotland & 603 (City of Edinburgh) RAF Squadron supported our event. They provided everything from an ambulance through to a large army lorry.

Rapid Relief Team UK served an incredible 2000 free delicious meals and hot drinks during the event to both event staff and visitors.

In total, we welcomed close to 4000 people through the gates of our event.

A big thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event happen: The Scottish Government, Places for People Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Scottish Ambulance Service & The City of Edinburgh Council

Royal Bank of Scotland announces £160K fund to support communities affected by cost of living crisis

A £160,000 fund to help local charities and good causes supporting communities affected by the cost of living has been announced by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Royal Bank of Scotland’s frontline colleagues in local branches and offices will be nominating good causes that they have chosen from their communities, to save charities from finding time to nominate themselves, or individuals on their behalf

The fund is part of a £1 million fund announced by the NatWest Group, which will be distributed by the bank’s boards across the UK, and forms part of a wider £5.7 million commitment to provide cost of living support across the country through partner organisations including the Federation of Small Business, the Trussell Trust, and Responsible Finance.

Over the last year, NatWest Group has provided £40 million cost of living support to its personal customers and community partners and this latest fund reaffirms its commitment to help people, families, and businesses with the rising cost of living.

Judith Cruickshank, Scotland Chair, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “This local funding is a real opportunity for us to tailor the support we provide to Scottish charities and organisations who are delivering vital support to our communities.

“Our colleagues across the country will be shaping how the money is donated, nominating the good causes that are making a difference in their towns and villages.”

Raghu Narula, NatWest Group’s Managing Director of Customer Engagement & Distribution, said: “We are a bank driven by our purpose and values and right now that is to help our colleagues, customers and the communities they live in through the challenges faced with cost of living.

“The funding we are providing directly to our boards across the UK means that we are targeting support on a local level where it can have maximum impact.”

£500,000 more support for Scottish victims’ organisations

Organisations supporting victims and survivors of crime in Scotland will receive a £500,000 boost from a fund that takes money from offenders.

Seven organisations – including Victim Support Scotland and Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland – will share grant funding to provide practical help directly to victims.

This includes paying for emergency housing costs, meeting food, utility and clothing expenses, and helping with costs to repair or replace damaged property or goods and for mental health services such as counselling. 

It is the third tranche of payments from the Victim Surcharge Fund – which comes from the additional penalties imposed on offenders who receive a court fine – since its introduction in 2019.

To date, the Fund has helped more than 1,200 people affected by crime, with around £917,000 awarded  – a clear sign of how the Scottish Government continues to prioritise victims.

Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: “It is absolutely right that criminals should pay towards helping victims of crime as they recover from their experience.

“Over the past five years we have invested £93 million through our justice budget to put victims’ rights and needs at the centre of the criminal justice system, demonstrating our commitment to putting victims first.

“This latest funding we are awarding from the Victim Surcharge Fund will help people impacted by crime to access support when they need it most while enabling organisations such as Victim Support Scotland and Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland to provide even more help to victims and their families.”

Kate Wallace, CEO of Victim Support Scotland (VSS) said: “Confirmation of this funding means that VSS can continue this vital and life-changing support to people affected by crime and who have no other means of financial support.

“The cost-of-living crisis has meant that more people affected by crime are struggling to make ends meet. Funding from the Victim Surcharge Fund allows VSS to provide essential items such as food vouchers, property repairs, alarms and funeral costs, thereby meeting the needs of vulnerable victims immediately following a crime.

“Since April 2020, VSS Emergency Assistance Fund has provided £903,000 worth of goods to 3,143 people and their families, funded in part through the Victim Surcharge Fund. We accept applications directly from people affected by crime and have received referrals from over 200 support organisations.

The following organisations are set to benefit from the Victim Surcharge Fund in 202:3

  • Victim Support Scotland (VSS) – £440,000
  • Edinburgh Women’s Aid – £25,559
  • Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland (SOHTIS) – £7,700
  • Central Advocacy Partners – £5,000
  • Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee & Angus – £10,000
  • Dumbarton District Women’s Aid – £10,000
  • Manda Centre – £5,000

A Connected Scotland: Tackling social isolation and loneliness

Funding will help tackle social impact of rising cost of living

Projects supporting people most at risk of social isolation and loneliness will receive a share of almost £1 million support funding announced today.

The money will help to provide warm spaces, hot meals, group activities and fuel payments to people most at risk of isolation including older people, young parents, carers and disabled people.

Organisations to receive grants/funds include Age Scotland, who will continue to deliver their ‘Keeping The Doors Open’ grants programme, and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland who are recruiting Urdu and Punjabi-speaking volunteers to make Kindness Calls.

Equalities and Older People’s Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, especially at this time of year when people can struggle to get outside and socialise. The pandemic and the cost of living crisis have increased isolation for some people, including young people, carers and disabled people.

“The funding will be a lifeline for a range of organisations who are helping to keep people connected during this challenging time.

“This fund is just one of the many crucial steps that we are taking to tackle social isolation and loneliness as part of our plan, A Connected Scotland.”

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Chief Executive Jane-Claire Judson said: “We know that living with a disability or long-term condition can be hugely isolating and that for those who are unable to read or communicate fluently in English, this isolation can be even more significant.

“This funding from the Scottish Government will greatly enhance the ability of our support services to reach non-English speaking and minority ethnic populations in Scotland to reduce isolation and loneliness.

“Ultimately, it will allow us to engage with and support more people across Scotland who are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions, better enabling them to live their lives to the full.”

Chief Executive of Age Scotland Mark O’Donnell said: “Older people’s groups have an incredibly important role in communities across Scotland, supporting health and wellbeing, physical activity, tackling loneliness and food insecurity.

“Our research has identified that around 200,000 over-65s rely on groups like this but the impact of Covid-19 and spiralling inflation has meant that these lifelines have been facing incredible pressures to keeping their doors open. We’re incredibly grateful that the Scottish Government took notice of our research and our ask of greater financial support for older people’s groups.

“The funding will help many such groups and clubs meet the rising cost of energy bills, food, transport and venues to meet, ensuring that their members can stay connected and are able to be as well as they can be.”

18 projects and organisations will receive a share of £971,019. They are:

  • Age Scotland
  • Befriending Networks
  • British Red Cross
  • Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland
  • Glasgow Disability Allowance
  • Home-Start Scotland
  • Youthlink Scotland
  • Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland
  • Faith in Community Dundee
  • Glasgow Central Mosque Foodbank
  • Safe Families
  • Bethany Christian Trust
  • Christians Against Poverty
  • Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
  • Sikhs in Scotland
  • Church of Scotland
  • Edinburgh City Mission
  • Glasgow City Mission

A Connected Scotland: our strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections

Winners of the special Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award announced

A special one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) has been awarded to 20 national charities for their exceptional work to empower young people.

  • 20 charities across the UK recognised for a unique one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, created in honour of Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
  • The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, The Social Mobility Foundation and The National Deaf Children’s Society among those awarded for their exceptional work empowering young people

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award, a special one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), has been awarded to 20 national charities for their exceptional work to empower young people.

From large household names to those operating on a smaller scale, the work of each awardee is vital in providing young people aged 16-25 with new opportunities, challenges, activities and skills.

The awardees include The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, widely recognised as the world’s leading youth achievement award that helps young people develop new skills and build self-belief and resilience, and the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade, which helps to develop essential life skills and offers experiences to help young Jewish people reach their potential.

Her Late Majesty The Queen displayed a life-long dedication to public service throughout her 70-year reign, so it is fitting that this one-off edition of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises the thousands of volunteers who have showcased a similar longstanding commitment to their work.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “From Action Tutoring to StreetGames, these 20 charities deliver outstanding work to help give young people the skills they need to grow and succeed. I’m delighted that their contribution is being recognised with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award.

“Ensuring young people get the best possible start in life is a priority for me and the Government, and there is no more fitting way to celebrate these brilliant charities than a unique edition of the highest award for voluntary service.

“The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups. It was established 20 years ago to commemorate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and has recognised around 250 outstanding local volunteer groups across the UK each year to date”.

Sir Martyn Lewis CBE, the QAVS Chair said: “These awards are a timely acknowledgement of the wide-ranging support and encouragement that is available to young people across the UK.

They highlight the indispensable role that the voluntary sector plays in targeting help, advice and guidance where it is needed most.

These awards should also be seen as a tribute to the millions of volunteers and donors who, in difficult times, provide the resources of time and money which contribute so powerfully to the social fabric of our country.

Judging panel member Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “I was delighted to be part of the judging panel for the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award.

“The process highlighted the amazing amount of work that is being done across a wide range of organisations and how it truly transforms the lives of so many people.”

Lucie Vickers, StreetGames Head of Volunteering and Youth Voice said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award.

“Creating opportunities for young people from low-income, underserved communities to become volunteers and future community leaders is at the heart of our Doorstep Sport approach, and we are delighted that the impact of this work has been recognised through this prestigious award.”

Kevin Munday, Chief Executive at City Year UK said: “The journey towards receiving the Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award is the success of hundreds of talented and dedicated volunteers taking the right small steps towards social change for over a decade.

“This Award represents a joyful and proud giant leap forward into the kind of future our volunteers have all aspired to.”

Additional recipients of this one-off award include:

  • British Youth Council – with 700 volunteers, this charity empowers young people to create political and social change through a number of programmes. The Make Your Mark consultation, led by UK Youth Parliament is an annual ballot allowing young people from across the UK to vote on the issues that matter to them, whilst the Youth Steering Group invites young people to participate in 26 round table discussions on issues such as gambling, climate change, youth violence and mental health.
  • Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team – supports young BME people, refugees and asylum seekers in Wales. It provides specific support to 16-25 year olds through three projects: BME Youth Invest project, The Think Project and the Young, Migrant and Welsh project, which aimed to engage ethnic minority people aged 16-25 to explore and document their experiences by creating films to increase public awareness and appreciation of Wales’ diverse history and heritage.
  • LGBT Youth Scotland – works to create safer spaces where LGBTI young people aged 13-25 can explore their identities in an affirming environment, learn new skills, gain confidence, develop resilience and find community. With 133 volunteers, they provide specific support via youth groups; one-to-one support; youth commissions; an LGBT Charter Programme and award-winning online community, Pride & Pixels.
  • YMCA England & Wales with The Scottish National Council YMCA – provides young people with the critical foundations for a better quality of life by offering support with housing, education and welfare. They provide a home to more than 20,000 people experiencing homelessness each year, making them the largest voluntary sector provider of supported housing for young people in England and Wales.
  • Brook Young People – delivers clinical and education support around sexual health, wellbeing and relationships to young people aged 16-25 through providing information, education and outreach, counselling, confidential clinical and medical services, professional advice and training. They also work in partnership with Youth Offending Services to deliver targeted education support to reintegrate youth offenders back into education and the community.
  • The National Young Advocacy Service (NYAS) – 600 volunteers work to support children in care, care-leavers and care-experienced young people through a variety of services including advocacy, mentoring, mental health projects, and a free national helpline. Their Independent Visitor Service is a befriending service for children in care up to the age 18, offering long-lasting friendship and support, and the opportunity to take part in new and fun activities.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is awarded annually, with the date for the 2023 awardees soon to be confirmed. In June 2022, 244 local voluntary organisations across the UK received this prestigious award, all of which enhanced the lives of others through their work. Awardees of the 2022 award can be found here.

To celebrate their achievements, the awardees of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award will be invited to a unique presentation event in 2023.