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We’ve launched our Independent Age Grants Fund to help smaller organisations across the UK support older people most affected by COVID-19. I would be very grateful if this information could be shared in your regular newsletters, or funding-specific newsletter if you have one. Our Aim is simple, through our collaborative efforts we want to reach more people, particularly those who are:
We will be releasing £2 million across four sperate funding rounds. In each round we will be making £500,000 available where organisations can apply to receive up to £15,000 each. Go to our website to find out more. You will also be able to also find further information on our eligibility criteria, guidance on how to apply and links to download an application form. We won’t be able to respond to queries by phone so please get in contact with us by emailing: GrantsFund@independentage.org Funding dates and application deadlines:
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Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL) is pleased to launch a £52,000 emergency small grants fund to provide financial assistance to local grassroots organisations and groups. The grant will help groups directly supporting West Lothian residents who are facing additional barriers or have increased requirements as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. Awards will be made between £600 and £2,400. Successful organisations will need to undertake all activities by 30th of September 2020. Closing date for applications is Friday 5th June at 5pm.
See one page application form and guidance note for further information. VSGWL were successful in our application to the National Lottery to disburse grants from their Community Fund. West Lothian Social Enterprise Network (WLSEN) is also partnering with us to help distribute these grants. Please share this message with widely within your networks. Alan McCloskey CEO VSGWL Community Regeneration Newsletter focusing on mental health and well-being.  Please see information below regarding assistance that New Directions West Lothian can provide during this pandemic.
Volunteers’ Week is usually a ‘time to celebrate’ and thank all the volunteers in the UK for the support and services they provide throughout the year.
There has been an amazing volunteer response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), The Voluntary Sector Gateway have therefore decided that this year more than ever for Volunteers’ Week we should focus our thanks, gratitude, and recognition on all West Lothian Volunteers. The Voluntary Sector Gateway are so proud to recognise the efforts of West Lothian’s volunteers and want you to join us in thanking them. We would therefore ask for your support. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video’s worth at least 1.8 Million! Stats are clear-video rules the internet-in fact 75% of internet traffic is now streaming video content. Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it (vs. only 10% when they read it) We would love if you could send us a short video that we can publish over the week-of your own organisation giving thanks to your volunteers for all their hard work over this last year, don’t forget Board Members are volunteers also. Although in unusual times at present, please be as creative as you can-it can be as short as reading a thank you message out to your volunteers, to a full-on dance routine (remembering social distancing!!) Try to keep to approx. 2 minutes of footage, and add subtitles if possible to keep your message accessible to all prospects. We would really appreciate if you could send your Video clips to us by Wednesday 27th May at the latest. The contact to send the videos to is david.jamieson@vsgwl.org. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year's theme is #kindness. Starting tomorrow, we will be sharing ideas surrounding the Five Ways to Wellbeing To learn more about how you can get involved, click here #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #KindnessMatters #WestLothian 
 Scottish Learning Disability Week is just around the corner and is taking place from Monday 18th – Sunday 24th May – the Scottish Commission for People with a Learning Disability (SCLD) would be delighted if you could join them in raising awareness of the lives and experiences of people with learning/intellectual disabilities in Scotland. To comply with physical distancing guidelines from Scottish Government, the Week will take place online. It will be as action-packed and fun-filled as ever, with a host of virtual events, such as our ‘Make & Take’ Communi-Tea parties, plus activities that you can do in your own home, like making a bird feeder out of recycled materials. You can find details of their resources, events and activities for Scottish Learning Disability Week on the SCLD website here. You can share any plans you have for celebrating Scottish Learning Disability Week with them here.
Things that seemed important just a few months ago, now seem to have faded into the background amid the new and urgent demands that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has placed upon all of our time and resources. In their latest blog, SCLD’s Engagement & Influencing Manager, Kenneth Fleming, writes about how this collective experience of crisis teaches us that it is now, more so than ever, that we must share and champion the voices and stories of people with learning disabilities. Read the blog. We do hope you will be able to join in the Scottish Learning Disability Week, and that you will help to spread the word. You can keep up to date with the latest information on the Week by following SCLD on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and by using the hashtag #LDWeekScot2020. If you have any questions about the Week, please don’t hesitate to contact SCLD via email or by phone on 0141 248 3733. Following successful lobbying regarding the Small Business Support Fund and access for charities with premises, the guidance has now been updated to explicitly include organisations that receive Charitable Rate Relief: https://bit.ly/2WUC8kX
Dear colleague
VSGWL is a member of a network of Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) covering every local authority area in Scotland. As the coronavirus pandemic continues it is important that we have a strong understanding of its impact on community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, as well as the people and communities you support. All TSIs are asking Third Sector Organisations about the impact of coronavirus on them and local communities. We are asking you to help by completing this short survey. We know this is a really busy time, but good quality information will help us provide better support to you and enable us to make the right asks of government and funders. Please note:
You can complete the survey by clicking here - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/tsicovid The survey will be open until 29 May. Thank you in anticipation Alan Mccloskey CEO |
