EVOC looks for answers on third sector grants

Anger and anxiety over funding debacle

CITYSKYLINE (3)

Third sector umbrella organisation EVOC is to seek answers to funding queries following the uncertainty caused by Tuesday’s Education, Children and Families committee meeting.

The meeting was expected to recommend that organisations that had received funding in 2015/16 would be given the same amount as last year, while successful new applicants would receive 50% of their bid. However the key report was withdrawn on the eve of the meeting, leaving scores of community organisations in the dark over their futures.

Following the decision to withdraw the grant recommendations paper before Tuesday’s meeting, EVOC approached the Executive Director of Communities and Families for clarification and she has agreed to respond to questions collected by EVOC on behalf of organisations affected. 

EVOC’s Children, Young People and Families Network development worker Sarah Wade said: “If you wish to raise a question please email me at sarah.wade@evoc.org.uk by 10am on Monday 14 December.

“This will enable us to collate questions from the Sector and submit them to Gillian Tee as soon as possible. Please include the name of the organisation you represent when you contact me – this will not be included with your question. For those organisations who have already been in touch with me, I will include the questions you have already raised.”

Email sarah.wade@evoc.org.uk or call 555 9133 for further info

Continue reading EVOC looks for answers on third sector grants

Scottish Youth Parliament wants to hear from YOU

Lead the Way campaign consultation ends soon

lead the way

This is the last chance to tell us what issues are important to you!

We’re creating a 2016-2021 Youth Manifesto, so we can lead‪#‎thewayto2021‬.

Time is running out, so give us your views on education, rights, the environment and more today! Your response will make it into our manifesto, so we can campaign on the issues that matter to you.

Take a minute to fill out our survey now:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LeadtheWayConsultation2015

Edinburgh College apprentices win medals at UK Skills Show

Gold and bronze for Dan and Jordan

image006

Two Edinburgh College apprentices lifted trophies at a national skills competition this week, toppling UK rivals as they painted, decorated and crafted their way to success. Continue reading Edinburgh College apprentices win medals at UK Skills Show

More government funding to support MVP programme

Schools violence prevention initiative ‘goes from strength to strength’

Jackson Katz

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson yesterday announced a further £450,000 of funding to provide extra training staff for the innovative Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Scotland programme. Mr Matheson made the announcement during a visit to Tynecastle High School, where he met the programme’s American founder Jackson Katz (above) and some of the young people benefitting from the scheme. Continue reading More government funding to support MVP programme

Beyond Gender: Minister visits Leith-based youth group

Minister praises Beyond Gender’s ‘fantastic work’ 

nicky

UK Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan MP (above) met with transgender young people in Edinburgh last week. Speaking to young people from Beyond Gender youth group – recently awarded Youth Group of the Year at the Equality Network’s LGBTI Awards – the Minister heard young people’s stories and learned more about the issues affecting their lives.

The Minister’s visit is timely, given that The Women and Equalities Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into equality for transgender (trans) people. LGBT Youth Scotland works with LGBT young people across Scotland, and supports two trans specific youth groups – one in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow.

LGBT Youth Scotland, Beyond Gender and Scottish Transgender Alliance all raised the importance of the Equal Recognition Campaign to reform the Gender Recognition Act, in particular the importance of legally recognising people who do not identify as men or women and lowering the age of gender recognition to 16 years old.

Fergus McMillan, Chief Executive of LGBT Youth Scotland said: We were delighted to welcome Nicky Morgan (Minister for Women & Equalities) to LGBT Youth Scotland to visit the Beyond Gender youth group. It was a great opportunity for young people to have their views heard directly by a Government Minister. Young people spoke about their experiences of education and health services: they asked for more teacher training in order that transgender young people feel safe and supported in their education; recognition of non-binary identities; and work to reduce the waiting lists for gender specialists. 

Our research shows that 67% of transgender young people self-identified as having a mental health problem or condition due to experiencing prejudice and discrimination; 37% of transgender young people had left education as a direct result of homophobia, biphobia or transphobia; and less than half of transgender young people would be confident to report a hate crime. It is clear that more needs to be done – we hope the visit has been valuable in getting trangender young people’s stories heard and will go some way to improve the lives of transgender young people across the UK.” 

Nicky Morgan MP said: “It was a pleasure to visit the Beyond Gender youth group in Edinburgh.  The young people I met were truly inspirational, and it is clear that the organisation is doing fantastic work to tackle discrimination and raise awareness of the issues affecting LGBT young people.”

On young person from Beyond Gender youth group added: “It was nice to be heard by someone who has power to make changes and we hope that the minister acts on the issues we raised with her today. Beyond Gender is a lifeline for us – it’s a place you will always be accepted as yourself.  We want to live in a Scotland and UK where trans people are accepted and respected for who they are and can grow up safe and happy.”

Who are Edinburgh’s youth champions?

Search is on for capital’s top youth workers

YLSBanner2015

Scotland’s National Agency for Youth Work is looking for the very best youth work being done with young people across Edinburgh. Youth workers and volunteers in Scotland are being encouraged to nominate entries for the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2016 organised by YouthLink Scotland. Continue reading Who are Edinburgh’s youth champions?

Gearing up for The Gang Show

The fabulous Edinburgh Gang Show is back!

DSCF10274

Over 250 young people from Scouting and Girlguiding will swap their camping gear and the outdoor life for the glitz and glamour of the theatre world when the annual Gang Show returns to the capital next week. Continue reading Gearing up for The Gang Show

Honest TOIL!

Young peoples’ hard work praised by Everest mountaineer 

Young people graduate with TOiL.

Thirty three young people from across Edinburgh have just completed an 18 week training programme – and 18 of them have gone straight into employment, apprenticeship or further education following their training! Continue reading Honest TOIL!

It’s not fair: ‘many people are being left behind’

More young people than ever living in poverty

fearful-child

The most comprehensive review ever carried out on progress towards greater equality and human rights protection across Scotland and the rest of Britain has been published. Continue reading It’s not fair: ‘many people are being left behind’