Tag: volunteering

Tech titans trade the cloud for Cramond coastal restoration

Business software experts join efforts to restore an iconic coastline

THE UK’s leading finance software implementation specialists have taken to the beach to help a conservation charity restore an historic Scottish coastline.

A team of 30 employees from Eureka Solutions descended upon the Cramond Foreshore and assisted The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) charity in restoring the coastal habitats and dune systems in the area.

The team’s efforts were part of the Sage Foundation’s initiative to support UK charities by providing volunteers to help achieve tasks relatively quickly that would otherwise take months to complete.

The volunteering work centred around removing invasive non-native plant species like Japanese Rose and suckering ash and sycamore to allow native plants to re-establish.

Volunteers also helped sow a special ‘Edinburgh coastline’ wildflower seed mix to create new pollinator corridors and extended protective fencing to prevent further degradation of sensitive grassland spots.

David Lindores, CEO at Eureka Solutions, said: “Our team was proud to roll up their sleeves and make a tangible difference in restoring such a unique and ecologically important area.

“We had a great day working alongside colleagues from TCV as well as volunteers from Modulr – it was wonderful to see different organisations coming together for a common cause.

“The Sage Foundation contacted us and asked if we could lend a hand to the vital conservation work happening along the Cramond coastline, and we couldn’t be happier to get involved. As an established business of twenty years, we feel it’s important to support community and environmental initiatives like this.”

Cramond Foreshore is a designated Site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI) and holds historical significance as the location of the “Dragon’s Teeth” anti-tank defences, Cramond Island and Lauriston Castle.

The extensive coastal path stretches from the mouth of the River Almond in the west, past the historic Roman village of Cramond, across the tidal causeway to Cramond Island, and continues eastward towards Granton Harbour.

The volunteering day was organised through the Sage Foundation, which facilitates charitable donations and volunteering opportunities for Sage employees and partners worldwide.

Eureka Solutions also has a long-term charity partnership with the Ayrshire Cancer Trust in which it raises funds through team events and initiatives throughout the year.

The East Kilbride firm specialises in implementing business software solutions and is one of the UK’s leading experts in Oracle NetSuite, iplicit and Sage 200, as well as producing its own complementary software solutions including the integration application, Besyncly.

With over 20 years of expertise, the firm works with hundreds of clients across multiple sectors providing consultancy, implementation, training and technical support.

For more details contact Eureka Solutions at info@eurekasolutions.co.uk or visit www.eurekasolutions.co.uk

Paramedic recognised at Buckingham Palace for volunteer work

A Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic has been recognised at Buckingham Palace for his volunteer work over the past nine years.

Richard Francis, who is based at Callander Ambulance Station, attended His Majesty’s Garden Party earlier this week (May 21).

Richard was invited to attend along with wife Marina MacKay where he was recognised for being the founder of the Leave A Light On (LALO) support group.

The group was founded on the 23rd March 2020 to provide aid, virtual help and a 24-hour support during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Since then, it has grown and over the past few years has housed more than 100 NHS staff, keyworkers and those in emergency situations into free of charge accommodation.

Richard said: “What a lovely occasion and celebration. We had the pleasure of being joined by over 2000 very well deserving honourable members of services, forces, politicians, celebrities and many mayors and religious representatives.
“It’s an occasion we shall never forget and we feel truly honoured to have been nominated and invited to the event.”

The LALO project has provided an abundance of emergency food hampers via referrals from the social services, child protection and domestic violence charities who almost immediately put their trust in Richard’s project.

Richard, who used to be a chef by trade, said: “The group is very passionate about not only supporting and inspiring our next generation of volunteers but also feels it is equally important to celebrate the work of those going the extra mile in the community or family support within difficult times.”

Richard has always been involved in community work. During Storm Desmond, which devastated Cumbria and parts of Lancashire, Richard began the support group ‘The Big Cumbrian Christmas Day Get Together’ which was initially setup in the hope of providing venues for those that had lost their homes to have somewhere to spend Christmas Day and still have the magical day despite all the devastation around.

LALO recently celebrated its four-year anniversary and has over 5,700 regular followers. The group is now a regular source of help for social service teams, vulnerable adult and child protection teams, food banks throughout the county, discharge teams across the counties’ hospitals, wellbeing officers and key workers for those with specialist needs.

Volunteers clock up 1 million minutes looking for whales and dolphins

Major milestone for community citizen science project helping marine life in Scottish waters 

Members of the public who have committed to helping to save whales and dolphins have clocked up a massive one million minutes-worth of voluntary watches in Scotland whilst taking part in a citizen science data collection project. 

The 100,000 individual 10 minute watches have highlighted the amazing number of different whales and dolphins that visit or inhabit the seas around Scotland. Over 19 years, 30,000 whales or dolphins have been sighted, and 18 different species. The five most commonly seen are bottlenose, common and Risso’s dolphins, harbour porpoises and minke whales. 

Other species seen each year include orca, fin and humpback whale, white-beaked dolphin and white-sided dolphin. Some of the more unusual sightings have included deep diving Cuvier’s, Sowerby’s and sperm whales, Sei whale, and the most exciting (18th species) sighted this year- a beluga whale normally found in the high Arctic. 

The 1000+ strong community of local people involved have been taking part in marine charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s Shorewatch programme, which monitors at risk species of whale, dolphin and harbour porpoise across Scotland.

Members of the public are encouraged to train as volunteers to identify and scientifically record the movements of legally protected species from coastal lookout points, collecting vital data about where they breed, feed and travel. 

This data then helps with efforts to ensure better protection for whales and dolphins by informing marine conservation planning, influencing policy and development decisions.

In the past, Shorewatch data has helped create marine protected areas in the seas around Scotland, including in North East Lewis, supported the identification and designation of Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) off the Scottish coast, and fed into research and conservation efforts to better understand a range of human pressures including from shipping and fishing activities.

The volunteers have also helped to monitor and report the growing threat posed by disturbance. As more people are visiting the coast and enjoying taking to the water, the potential of harm to whales and dolphins from recreational water-based activities is growing, especially at peak holiday times. 

Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) has been working to raise awareness of and reduce this threat, providing advice to members of the public on what not to do when in the water near whales, dolphins and porpoises, and what signs to look out for if they are disturbed. 

‘Effort from the public has been remarkable and hugely valuable’, Emma Steel, Shorewatch coordinator said.

‘But it’s not just about the data – it’s the power of the people. Shorewatch volunteers contribute far more to WDC than their 10-minute surveys, writing to their MSP/MP, attending local protests, writing to foreign governments about cruel whale hunting… the list goes on.’  

As well as helping protect whales and dolphins, Shorewatch has brought many other benefits for those members of the public taking part over the years, whether it be personal wellbeing or quality family time together. 

David Jones, one off the army of Shorewatch volunteers said: ‘I started doing Shorewatch with my daughter – is a great way to spend some quality time with her especially as she is now reaching the mid teenage years and Dad is usually not so popular!

“I still get a great feeling inside when I hear the excitement in her voice when she sees a dolphin or whale, it makes it all so worthwhile.’ 

‘It is like therapy for me, one of the only ways that I feel relaxed and sitting still at the same time’, says Shorewatcher Ronnie Mackie.  

‘As well as the excitement of seeing incredible cetacean species, it is very rewarding to be able to share your enthusiasm with passers-by. So many people regularly stop to chat and enquire about what I am seeing … a whole new social life!’ 

‘It was hard to rid the anxiety brought on by the pandemic. Getting back to socialising is important and this Shorewatch social has been part of my recovery’, says volunteer Cathy Mullins. 

Charity fears over PVG proposals

“These changes will inevitably force a decline in the number of volunteering opportunities organisations are able to support in the future” – LifeCare CEO Sarah van Putten

Foysol Choudhury MSP, Co-Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Volunteering, has today raised alarm bells over Scottish Government proposals to replace the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership fee waiver, for volunteers in Qualifying Voluntary Organisations (QVOs), with a fee discount.

MSP Choudhury, who visited LifeCare Edinburgh last month, raised alarm bells over this proposal, which he said would hugely impact organisations such as LifeCare Edinburgh who carry out vital work and rely on volunteers to be able to deliver their services.

Following his visit to LifeCare Edinburgh, Mr Choudhury lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament on Recognising LifeCare Edinburgh’s Contributions to Community Wellbeing. For these essential contributions to continue, however, Mr Choudhury says the Scottish Government must listen to the pleas of integral third sector organisations.

Mr Choudhury said: “LifeCare Edinburgh has worked tirelessly for 80 years providing uplifting, positive and practical support for older people, such as through day clubs, support with household tasks and home care, which allow older service users to thrive in their own homes and community.

“LifeCare Edinburgh and many other organisations foster community wellbeing, both by providing volunteering opportunities and by running essential services using volunteers.

“They therefore rely on the goodwill of volunteers being easily accepted by the system, such as via the PVG fee waiver system which allows volunteers to be easily and freely accredited for volunteering opportunities with vulnerable groups.

“The proposal to remove this fee waiver and replace it with a fee discount will, therefore, mean more barriers to volunteering, especially for those from economically deprived backgrounds, which will have a knock-on effect in terms of decreased wellbeing for volunteers and decreased services available to be run for the community.”

Sarah van Putten, LifeCare Edinburgh CEO, said: “LifeCare strongly opposes the Scottish Government’s proposals to remove the current fee waiver for volunteers and replace this with a fee discount.

“The price of a PVG application, even at the subsidised rate, is not inconsiderable, particularly for those from economically deprived backgrounds. 

“The proposed changes would create a further barrier at a time where the cost-of-living crisis is already limiting access to volunteering. Adopting the proposed changes would worsen this problem and further exclude marginalised and disadvantaged communities throughout Scotland.

“The only way volunteer-involving organisations could conceivably help to mitigate this barrier would be to reimburse the cost of the PVG application back to volunteers. However, the cost of even subsidised membership applications is a substantial burden for charities to bear – particularly for organisations like LifeCare who have been significantly impacted by funding cuts, increasing demand rising costs. 

“These changes will inevitably force a decline in the number of volunteering opportunities organisations are able to support in the future. 

“This will ultimately have an adverse impact on all those who benefit from volunteer-supported services across Scotland, and of course the volunteers themselves whose health and wellbeing benefits through the hugely rewarding experience volunteering can bring.”

Mr Choudhury, following his visit to LifeCare Edinburgh and the submission of his motion recognising their work, is joining LifeCare Edinburgh in highlighting concern over these PVG proposals.

Mr Choudhury says he will, as Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Volunteering, continue to pursue this matter with the responsible Minister.

Edinburgh Leisure receives new funding for dementia programme

SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT FOR MEMORIES PROGRAMME

Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s leading sports and leisure provider, has received a significant grant from the Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity Fund to support their dementia programme.

Funded by Age Scotland’s About Dementia project in partnership with the Scottish Government, Edinburgh Leisure has received £19,800 to support their Movement for Memories programme.

Sam Scott, Development Officer at Edinburgh Leisure, welcomed the support saying: “We’re delighted and thankful to receive the grant.

“The funding will enable us to continue offering people with dementia in Edinburgh a range of opportunities to keep active, from 1:1 support from buddy volunteers to enjoy activities of their choice, to dementia friendly activities within our sports and leisure facilities, to our physical activity outreach service with community groups across the city.

“Edinburgh Leisure is always looking for volunteers to support people living with dementia. Our volunteers make a real difference by accompanying and supporting individuals with dementia to take part in a physical activity of their choice, like gym, golf, fitness classes, tennis, or swimming.

“Whatever the participant enjoys, your support will play a vital role in helping them enjoy their activity and improve their wellbeing. So, if you have an interest in health and physical activity, we’d love to hear from you.”

The funding will support people like 79-year-old David, who plays badminton with his buddy volunteer at Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre.

His sister and carer Julie said: “David used to play football professionally, so physical activity has always been a big part of his life. He wanted to keep active, but his dementia meant that he could no longer do it without extra support. 

“The change in him since he started playing badminton has been enormous. His short-term memory is poor, but he remembers how to play, and he hasn’t lost his competitive spirit. He comes out of the session like a new man – his spirits are lifted, he’s chattier, and often his memory seems to improve for a while. He’s almost like ‘enhanced David’ when I pick him up.”

Movement for Memories offers people at all stages of their dementia journey with a range of options to be active, from personalised one-to-one support to enjoy activities they previously enjoyed independently but need a helping hand with now, to a physical activity outreach service for local support groups to enable people to get active in familiar community settings like church halls or community centres. 

All participants referred to Movement for Memories receive an Edinburgh Leisure card providing 12-weeks free access to gym, swim, golf, tennis, and fitness classes followed by 9 months of subsidised access.

Not only does getting active help participants to maintain or improve their physical health, but it also helps them to improve their mental wellbeing, build social connections, remain integrated in their community and maintain independence for longer.

Dementia affects an estimated 8,000 people in Edinburgh and 90,000 people in Scotland, an estimated 3,000 of whom are under 65.

Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. It is an umbrella term that can be caused by a number of diseases which, over time, damage the brain, typically leading to deterioration in both brain and bodily health.

The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.

To find out more about Movement for Memories, visit: http://rb.gy/xeua2l

To find out more about being a Movement for Memories Buddy Volunteer, visit: http://rb.gy/nzsnp7

North Edinburgh projects hit the Lottery jackpot

Community groups across Edinburgh will be able to provide vital services and support for thousands of local people thanks to National Lottery funding announced today.

North Edinburgh projects have done particularly well in the latest round of funding. Both North Edinburgh Arts and Stepping Stones North Edinburgh are awarded six figure sums, while Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Heart of Newhaven, Blackhall Children’s Sports Committee, Ama-zing Harmonies and Granton Parish Church are among other local organisations to receive grants today.

The latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund is shared amongst 384 projects across Scotland, sharing in £15,048,544. 

See below for a full list of projects

North Edinburgh Arts will use their award of £148,821 to continue their ‘Green Projects’ programme which provides green spaces for local people to come together whilst offering a range of volunteering opportunities and arts and garden activities for people of all ages to get involved in.

Valla Moodie, Green Projects Manager, North Edinburgh Arts said: “This funding will enable us to start an exciting phase of work as we move back into our refurbished and extended building after two years in temporary venues, setting up our new Community Shed workshop and redeveloping our community garden at the back of our venue.

“This support, given to our ‘Green Projects’, will allow us to continue to offer opportunities for our local community that improve their health and well-being whilst contributing to the enrichment of their neighbourhood, building local resilience to big issues and sharing and supporting them with actions that combat climate change.”

STEPPING STONES North Edinburgh receive £132,020 through the Improving Lives programme.

The group, based at Inchgarvie Court in West Pilton, will use the funding to continue delivering their Family Wellbeing project, supporting primary school children and their families by providing individual, group and equine mental health support in North West Edinburgh.

Thanks to an award of £126,671, Deaf Action will run a digital literacy programme to help deaf people across the city develop and improve their skillset.

Support will be provided through a series of one-to-one sessions and group work covering specific topics such as word processing, scam awareness, healthcare apps and video calling software.

Lauren McAnna, Community Services Manager, Deaf Action said: “Our Digital Inclusion Service will support deaf people living across Edinburgh to become digitally empowered, unlocking a world of information, resources and opportunities that will foster greater independence and help improve life outcomes.

“We will support deaf adults and older people who face significant barriers to communication and social inclusion and who are likely to be experiencing financial hardship and/or socioeconomic disadvantage. 

“By supporting deaf people to overcome barriers to digital literacy they can become more connected and active citizens, have increased independence and improved wellbeing in many aspects of their lives.”

An award of £19,929 to Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland means they can continue to identify more victims of human trafficking across the city.

Joy M Gillespie, CEO, Survivors of Human Trafficking said: “We will be able to work with our cross-sector partners to recover more victims of human trafficking in Edinburgh and provide vital prevention information to those most at risk. 

“We believe there is power in partnership and are grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for partnering with us to help end end human trafficking in Scotland.”

Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “This latest round of National Lottery funding will be distributed to groups across Edinburgh who are providing a range of essential services and support for thousands of local people, helping to make a real difference to their lives.

“As The National Lottery prepares to mark its 30th birthday later this year, today’s investment is a timely reminder of the difference that National Lottery players continue to make to communities across the country.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.   

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk    

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Community Orchard planting at Lauriston Farm this weekend

After our lovely inaugural Orchard Wassail last month, and winter pruning the existing trees, we are ready to plant some additional trees in the orchard – apples, cherries, damsons, gages and the mulberry!

If you would like to join the Community Orchard Group and help with planting, come along this Saturday 9th March, from 11am.

Meet at the green portacabin, just inside the farm gate off the Toby Carvery car park.

#NorthEdinburgh

#Edinburgh

#CommunityOrchard

#Agroecology

Volunteering Drop-In at PCHP

WEDNESDAY 28th FEBRUARY from 9.30am – 12.00pm

Curious about volunteering?

Pop along to PCHP for a hot drink & a chat with Natalie Wednesday 28 February 9:30am-12 noon.

Informal drop-in sessions let you know how to volunteer in your community, make new friends, enhance your skills, or develop new ones!

@PiltonComHealth EH5

Granton Youth’s AGM

Granton Youth held its virtual AGM this week for its members and invited guests. Apart from the usual administration process of electing its volunteer board members those present heard about the work that the organisation did over the past year as well as a look ahead.

Mary Q-Burnside, Manager of GY, said in her report: ‘The year 22/23 was the first year following the pandemic when we were free to operate with full complement of staff and put the focus and vision of the GY strategy fully into practice – which is to provide holistic support to work with young people and their families.

‘GY has created a multi-support network and programme that can make a real difference to young people’s lives – by being where they are: in their streets, school, at our base within RWCC and within the family home.’

Mary highlighted there was a growing demand following pandemic and exacerbated by cost of living crisis means services are at capacity.

As part of GY strategy it has been recognised what we do well and ask young people and their families what they need and want.

In order to make this happen we have developed valuable and supportive collaborations through:

  • Community Mental Health fund partnership – Bwell together
  • North Edinburgh Youth Work collaborative – supporting youth work apprentices
  • Single Point Access pilot in North Edinburgh – working with NHS, Social Work and schools to ensure the right targeted support is identified for local families and young people

Despite the challenges in finding funding GY continues to be successful in sustaining its funding in an ever more competitive market.

Currently GY provides:

  • Open access youth work – a safe space to explore learning, creativity and be heard
  • Targeted youth work for nuerodivergent/isolated young people
  • Music – employing professional tutors so young people can learn to play, write their own songs and record and release them as well as being given and opportunity to play live with some of our musicians playing venues such as King Tuts and La Belle Angelle
  • Families Together – working with families to identify areas where support is required and providing tailored programmes to meet their needs
  • Volunteering – offering local people an opportunity to volunteer and receive accredited learning and have access to a paid apprenticeship in youth work
  • Mentoring- delivering 1:1 for young people requiring additional support, targeted at those who may be socially isolated or who are  at risk of antisocial behaviour
  • Streetwork – working to engage young people who are not engaging in mainstream youth work services and or education. Meeting them in the local area and on their terms
  • Counselling – GY has a centre based counselling service for local young people and adults as well as counselling presence across 6 high schools in North West Edinburgh
  • Positive Activities programme is part of our open access youth work but also with offers a targeted programme to engage physically inactive/socially isolated or those engaged in risk-taking behaviour
  • Schools based youth work – supporting young people by providing 1:1 youth work mentoring to sustain attendance and improve attainment

Dave Macnab, Chair of GY, said: “All of this happens because we have developed a dedicated staff team who are experienced, skilled and enthusiastic about the work they do and the difference they make.

“It is heartening to see that 10 of our team of 21 are from the local area and that 6 of the core team started as volunteers at GY.

“In fact, in the last two years GY has employed five young people who are the product of the volunteer apprentice scheme”.

GY reaches around 500 young people and adults per year through its various provisions and demand is ever increasing as our word of mouth reputation and positive profile grow. 

If you want to know more about the work of GY contact Mary@grantonyouth.com