Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian
Business Hours The GATEWAY is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and we can be reached by Email – vsg@vsgwl.org – Telephone (01506) 650111 – or Fax (01506) 650222
Volunteers
During Volunteers
A number of local organisations have joined us with their pop-up banners featured in the display.
We were able to distribute literature to the many potential volunteers who visited the stand.
There is a further opportunity during Volunteers’ Week for potential volunteers to drop in and find out how to build new skills and gain new experience by volunteering with a local group at the Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Thursday 6th June from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm in the Bathgate Partnership Centre, South Bridge Street, Bathgate, EH48 1TL.
http://www.voluntarysectorgateway.org/2013/05/volunteer-recruitment-fair/
First Minister’s Reception in Edinburgh Castle
On Tuesday 4th June, two West Lothian Saltire Awards recipients, Ross Pitbladdo and Lewis Allan were the guests of the First Minister at a reception in Edinburgh Castle at an event to celebrate the achievements of Saltire Award holders and the Scottish winners of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award.
Garden Angels Project
Click on the graphic to download a PowerPoint presentation on the Garden Angels Project
What is Garden Angels About?
Who Can Volunteer?
Who Can Receive The Service?
Benefits for Clients
Benefits for Volunteers
Building Positive Relationships
If you want to volunteer with Garden Angels or you know of someone who could use their help, contact Jeneva Storme, Gardening Project Co-ordinator at the Gateway. Tel: 01506-650111, e mail: jeneva.storme@vsgwl.org, Garden Angels on Facebook
Consulting Older Peoples Project – Survey
Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian are interested in hearing your views and ideas about living here in West Lothian and to hear from you what you feel would make living here even better for you. The information you record will help to inform planning for the elderly in your area. Your contact details will not be shared and will only be used to give updates about this consultation (if you wish) or to contact you if you are interested in getting involved in any volunteer opportunities regarding this consultation. If you are not interested in getting updates about this survey, you do not need to leave your name or contact details with us.
So that we can get an understanding of the number, age and gender of people who have shared their views and ideas, we do require you to record your age, gender and postcode. If you do want to participate please click on the link below. A flyer is also available.
Select - Survey Link COPP Flyer
Volunteer of the Year 2012 Awards
- West Lothian Volunteers of the Year 2012
Photos from the awards ceremony can be found on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vsgwl/
Videos of nominees can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/vsgwl
Other photos are available from the West Lothian Courier’s photo’s website
Volunteer Mentors required
Voluntary Sector Gateway has secured funding to run a two year Mentoring Programme for 14 year olds in 11 of West Lothian’s secondary schools. Each school will be allocated 10 mentoring places. All the young people involved in the project will come under the category of needing More Choices More Chances.
The aims of the project are to provide trained and experienced Mentors to work with the young people on a regular weekly basis to achieve specified agreed outcomes. The role of the Mentors will be to assist with the development of the young people by facilitating their stated path to a positive destination such as: further education, training, employment or volunteering through their voluntary engagement with the Mentoring process. The Mentor will become a positive “Role Model” who can offer their own life experience and skills to help the young person achieve their goals.
As a Volunteer Mentor you will be trained and supported throughout the programme. Training will take place at the Voluntary Sector Gateway in Bathgate from 6pm to 9pm over two evenings. The next training dates are:
Wednesday 29th May, Thursday 30th May
If you have a few hours to spare each week and feel you are able to inspire, encourage, motivate and support these young people and take part in this exciting new project contact Maureen Mancini or James Penman on 01506 650111 or email maureen.mancini @ vsgwl.org
Saltire Awards
Saltire Awards is a new recognition programme designed for young people, between 12 & 25, engaged in volunteering. There are 4 sections to the Awards – Challenge, Approach, Ascent and Summit. Young people can progress through the various stages but also have the option to enter and exit the programme at any level. On completion of a level the young volunteer will be presented with a Saltire Award certificate. This offers complete flexibility making it more accessible to young people regardless of ability, personal circumstances and lifestyles.
A new interactive website has been developed to support the involvement of young people, schools and voluntary organisations in the Saltire Awards www.saltireawards.org.uk. This will give a direct specific online presence and support package for the Saltire Awards.
The Saltire Awards dovetail neatly into the 4 key objectives of Curriculum for Excellence as they will enable young people to develop their capacities through volunteering as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. The 4 sections to the Awards are as follows:
- THE CHALLENGE
- THE APPROACH
- THE ASCENT
- THE SUMMIT
The age range for each section is flexible and dependent on individual circumstances but, for guidance and to facilitate delivering the Awards in schools and volunteer involving organisations, a suggested age range for each award is listed below:
| AWARD | AGES | SUPPLEMENTARY |
| Challenge | 12 – 25 | This is designed as an introduction to volunteering and is undertaken as part of a team. Summit Recipients & Ambassadors may participate as enablers. |
| Approach | 12 – 15 | Young people under 16 but not ready to make a sustained commitment to volunteering or requiring extra support may prefer to start with the Approach. |
| Ascent | 14 – 25 | For any young person ready to make a sustained commitment to volunteering. |
| Summit | 12 – 25 | Ideally recipients should have completed the 200 hour Ascent but this is at the discretion of the Summit Panel. |
How does the Saltire Awards programme work?
How do Young Scot Reward Points work?
Pinewood pupils are the first to receive a Saltire Award
These pupils at Pinewood School in Blackburn are the very first young people to receive a Saltire Award in West Lothian and it is a tribute to the school as a whole that they have achieved this in the very short time from the launch of the Saltire Awards on the 1st April this year.
Volunteering of varying sorts has taken place, ranging from helping in charity shops to placements at local nurseries.
Staff at Pinewood school are extremely proud of the class for being the first school in West Lothian to achieve this award. The pupils from the Leaving Year were Connor Brookhouse, Christopher Williamson, Kyah Hopper, Toni Nelson, Craig Hardie, Jack McGroarty, Jennifer Fleming and Jack Mathieson
The success was celebrated at a whole school assembly with certificates being presented by Leader of the Council John McGinty, Jim McGregor and Eric Burton. Pupils then hosted a reception, where admiration for their achievement was expressed by staff and guests alike.
Katie Grant is the first in West Lothian to receive a 500 Hours Saltire Award
Prince’s Trust Team 9 Livingston were presented with 50 Hours Saltire Awards for their voluntary work at the completion of their Team Programme.
They volunteered on the Community Challenge at Tippethill Hospital and in the Team Challenge at the Scottish War Blinded Linburn Centre and with Leonard Cheshire Disability.
Katie Grant, a volunteer team leader with Prince’s Trust, was presented with a 500 Hours Saltire Award by Graeme Morrice MP at Craigsfarm Campus, Livingston. Katie is the first person to receive a 500 Hours Saltire Award in West Lothian. This award recognises her volunteering effort with the Prince’s Trust and others. Katie is now moving into full-time work as an Assistant Coach with Murrayfield Wanderers Rugby Union Football Club.
Pictured are Saltire Award recipients Jade Cherrie, Daniel Kimber, Dylan Mcneil, Matt Russell, Kar Meng Lee, Graeme Morrice MP, Katie Grant, Lisa Stewart and Kirsty Balloch
Other awards are available at http://www.awardsnetwork.org/
Spring Forward Community Consultation
Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian have completed the community consultation called ‘Spring Forward’ with the people of West Lothian. This project has been funded by The Big Lottery ‘Investing in Ideas’ and West Lothian Council with the aim of consulting at least 1,000 local people regarding their well-being and actually surpassed its aim by consulting 1,680 people with 2,447 responses gathered. The consultation team was made up from six local volunteers, four people on Community Jobs Scotland contracts, one Council employee and staff from VSGWL. The Participatory Appraisal method monitors and records those who have taken part by age range, area and employment status as well as their comments and issue codes which will allow robust analysis now that the data collection has been completed. The findings were presented on May 31st at the Regal Theatre.
Read the publication on our News page: http://www.voluntarysectorgateway.org/news-events/
Download the Spring Forward Consultation Document
Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian rewarded for Committing to Excellence
The Gateway is celebrating its recent achievement of “Committed to Excellence” status, having successfully participated in the Big Lottery funded Supporting Voluntary Action (SVA) Quality Matters project. This internationally recognised award, presented by Quality Scotland, marks The Gateway’s commitment to continuous improvement, which they demonstrated by carrying out an in-depth assessment of every aspect of their organisation and identifying and implementing key areas for improvement.
Paul White, Director of Networks at SCVO and Chair of the SVA Management Group commented: This award represents a clear commitment from Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian to strive for excellence and improve the services they provide to front-line voluntary organisations. The commitment made by the staff and management boards of The Gateway should not be underestimated and they should be justly proud of what they have achieved.
The Community Toolkit
This resource has been developed for and with the help of community groups to help improve skills and knowledge and bring benefits to local communities. There are guidelines on a range of topics, including setting up and running a community group, legal requirements and good practice, planning and fundraising for a particular project and where to obtain useful statistical data on the local area. To access, click here West Lothian Community Toolkit
New Service for Members
We can now offer members free professional advice from a specialist HR and Training Consultant. Cameron Riddell will hold a weekly surgery at the Gateway each Friday morning between 9am and 1pm. Linda Riddell can offer confidential advice and guidance on people management and HR issues. In addition, she can provide a range of templates, guidelines and training in employment related issues, basic Health and Safety or charity law, and policies and procedures. It may be possible to see Linda on an ad hoc basis if you drop in to the Gateway but it is recommended that you make an appointment: telephone 01506-650111, speak to James Penman, and quote your membership number.
Please note, for the month of February, Linda Riddell will be in our office on MONDAY mornings instead of Fridays.
First Annual Review
Click the cover for full report ->
West Lothian Council Life Stages
The Life Stages Outcome Planning Programme is a substantial, strategic programme of change led by West Lothian Council working across the Community Planning Partnership (CPP). The overall aim of the programme is to enable the CPP to plan and deliver more effective interventions to tackle social inequalities and build successful communities across West Lothian using a Life Stage approach targeting deprived geographical areas. The Programme recognises that those who are most at risk (and generate the greatest expense in terms of demands on services) often lead complex lives, and hence focuses on redesigning services around the needs of the target group using a partnership approach. Life Stages is about being clear when people most need our support, why they most need our support,which people have the greatest need for our support, and what support they most need from us. There is a toolkit available to assist planning and delivering services that meet the Life Stages outcomes - The making changes happen support guide to implementing Life Stages from the Community Planning web page.
life stages charts final versions,
Training and Meeting Rooms for Hire
For more information download our Room Hire leaflet or contact vsg@vsgwl.org (preferred rates for members).
- One of our meeting rooms
Outreach Volunteer Service (Previously Library Outreach Service)
We require volunteers to deliver books to the homebound,if you have spare time during the week maybe you could help ?
Go to the link Outreach Volunteer Service for more information.
PVG Scheme
In February 2011, the Scottish Government introduced the new PVG membership scheme which replaced and improved upon the prior disclosure arrangements for people who work with vulnerable groups. This mean new application forms, new certificates, new guidance and new criteria against which posts and positions must be assessed before an application can be processed.
Click here for detailed information on the PVG Scheme
Click here for further information relating to the implementation of the PVG Scheme
