Tag: voluntary sector

EVOC says thanks to Edinburgh’s voluntary organisations

Today is the International Day of Charity, and to mark the occasion Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) staff, along with an elderly black Labrador called Sally, are to deliver ‘thank you cards’ to voluntary organisations across the city Continue reading EVOC says thanks to Edinburgh’s voluntary organisations

Edinburgh Partnership launches community planning review

Your chance to influence how community planning works for Edinburgh

Do you feel involved in decision-making? Are community voices being heard? What can be done to improve local democracy and community engagement? Where does the community fit into community planning?

In the snappily-titled ‘Edinburgh Partnership Review & Consultation on Governance and Community Planning Arrangements (the name alone should be enough scare a few people off!) The Edinburgh Partnership is consulting community councils, community groups and individuals on community planing in the capital.

Community planning brings together public agencies, the third sector and communities to work together to plan and deliver services which make a real difference to people’s lives.  The Edinburgh Partnership involves these partners in overseeing this work for the city.

The Edinburgh Partnership recognises that community planning processes can be improved.  In this consultation, the Edinburgh Partnership would like to hear people’s views on:

  • how communities and community groups can more effectively influence decisions about their community.
  • how the governance arrangements can be improved to:
    • make it clear how decisions are made, and who is making them, by improving the groups and structures involved
    • make partnership working stronger
    • make better connections between the different levels of partnership working in the city.

Why is The Edinburgh Partnership consulting?

In Scotland, the law says a range of public bodies must take part in community planning. This is set out in the Scottish Government’s Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. The act was designed to strengthen the influence communities have in making decisions about their area – this is known as community planning.

Below is the current governance structure in Edinburgh, which forms the basis of the consultation. It shows many partnership and advisory groups feed into and from the Edinburgh Partnership.

There are other bodies in the city which link to and/or have a role in these arrangements but they are not part of the governance structure. These include community councils, Council committees, the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils and the Equality and Rights Network. They provide the city-wide perspective for community and interest groups. These are not included in the consultation.

To help develop the consultation the Edinburgh Partnership carried out a review with the people involved in the current partnerships and groups shown in the governance structure (as above).  Their views on what is working well and what could be better have shaped the proposals and questions in this consultation.

The Edinburgh Partnership would now like to hear YOUR views as it’s recognised that this consultation is relevant in different ways to a wide range of organisations.

Timescales

Deadline for submissions is Sunday 9th September 2018.

Your chance to influence how community planning works for Edinburgh: Take part here:

 

Democracy Matters: an opportunity for people to have their say

People across Scotland are being invited to join a conversation about community decision-making to help make public services more locally focused. The Democracy Matters conversation will identify new legal rights for communities which would place them at the heart of decision-making.

As part of the conversation people are being invited to consider a short set of questions on shaping local democracy. Community groups can also apply for grants of up to £300 to host their own events related to the project.

Communities Secretary Angela Constance said: “The start of the Democracy Matters conversation is an important moment for community decision-making in Scotland. We believe that more decisions about public services should be taken locally, and that communities should be able to influence those decisions.

“We want to hear from people across Scotland about the issues they want decisions on in their neighbourhood, town or village, and the kind of arrangements that would help that happen.”

COSLA President Alison Evison said: “Across the country, it is widely recognised that Scotland needs local solutions to the opportunities and challenges it faces.

“The conversation is a vital contribution to the change that is needed across all spheres of government to make Scotland a more democratic place, and to ensure that Scotland’s public services are built around the communities they serve.”

Scottish Community Alliance Director Angus Hardie said: “As things stand, communities often find that the really important issues that affect them the most are decided without their involvement and in faraway places. 

“But if democracy is working well, most of those decisions would be taken much closer to these communities and often by local people themselves. Democracy Matters is a rare opportunity for communities everywhere – especially for those groups whose voice doesn’t always get heard – to become involved and to re-imagine how democracy can be made to work for everyone.”

The Democracy Matters conversation is a joint venture between the Scottish Government, COSLA and the community sector and will run over the next six months.

More information on how to take part in the conversation and how to apply for funding to run an event is available online.

You can also contact the organisers via: democracymatters@gov.scot

 

EVOC thinkSpace events

Hello,

thinkSpaces are an opportunity for organisations to come together to learn about and discuss relevant issues and developments in different fields the Third Sector are involved with.

EVOC are proud to be running an ongoing thinkSpace programme covering the widest range of topics.

We have two exciting, upcoming thinkSpaces which are free to attend, and we hope you will be able to join us.

To book your place, click on the button and register via Eventbrite.

We look forward to seeing you. 
EVOC thinkSpace – City Transport & Environment: Shaping the Future – 8th May, 09:30am-11:30am

This thinkSpace is to discuss three inter-related projects that are being developed collectively to improve the quality of life of those who live, work, and visit Scotland’s capital city.

The ambitious outcome for the work is to help create safer and more attractive streets and spaces, cleaner air, and improved access for all.
Book Your Place
EVOC thinkSpace: ‘All Hands’ – The New Primary Care Improvement Plan, 24th May, 09:30am – 11:30am
In January 2018 a new GP contract was agreed nationally and we are now moving into implementation.

The Scottish Government requires each Integration Joint Board (IJB) to produce a Primary Care Improvement Plan by July 2018 and Edinburgh’s is currently being developed.

This thinkSpace is an opportunity for third sector organisations to hear about the development of the plan, the future of Primary Care in the city and to explore how “All hands” are to be valued in order that we can continue to provide quality and timeous care and support to patients.
Book Your Place

Pennywell All Care Centre: what’s in that shiny new building?

Pennywell All Care Centre (formerly North West Partnership Centre) opened to the public on 18th December and will be officially opened later this month. The new Centre will provide a range of health and social care services, including new GP accommodation (Muirhouse Medical Group has opened a new branch surgery to complement their Muirhouse Avenue practice), podiatry and child health services. Continue reading Pennywell All Care Centre: what’s in that shiny new building?

£1 million for national social and community care organisations

 

More than £1 million has been awarded to voluntary organisations to help support and develop social and community care services in Scotland. The allocation is part of the Section 10 grants scheme and together with on-going grants, brings current Scottish Government investment in the scheme to £2.82 million. Continue reading £1 million for national social and community care organisations

Creating a fairer Scotland: Aspiring Communities Fund launched

Community and third sector projects that try new ways to tackle poverty and improve people’s lives can now apply for a share of £29 million ‎funding, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Continue reading Creating a fairer Scotland: Aspiring Communities Fund launched