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Nightstop West Lothian are urgently looking for volunteer hosts who are able to offer their spare room for few nights to a young person aged 16 to 25 who are in crisis and need somewhere to stay. Providing a safe, secure home and a hot meal for a young person while they receive support to look for more long term accommodation options. The Nightstop service, run by the Rock Trust in West Lothian, provides young people aged 16 to 25 with emergency accommodation in the homes of trained volunteer hosts, giving them a safe place to stay while the Rock Trust team work to get them long-term and permanent accommodation. It prevents young people from sleeping rough, sofa surfing or staying in hostels and boarding houses, where they may be at risk from abuse. The use of spare rooms in a positive environment makes a huge difference to young people in a crisis. Nightstop hosts are given full training and 24 hour support from the Rock Trust team. Hosts are also provided with expenses for each night they host a young person. The young person will be assessed by the Nightstop Worker to ensure they are suitable for this service. If you would like to help a young person in crisis, we would love to hear from you! 
Recently Social Security Scotland opened for new applications for our Best Start Food payment, which replaces the UK Government’s Healthy Start Vouchers in Scotland. Best Start Foods provides low income families on certain benefits with £17.00 every four weeks during pregnancy and for every child under three to spend on a range of healthy foods. This payment increases to £34.00 for children under one.
OSCR are currently advertising for a new Chief Executive. The closing date for applications is 6 September 2019.
Town Centre Fund for 2019/20- West Lothian Fund
Further to the launch of the £1.826 million fund in June covering 23 towns (with populations of over 1,000) across West Lothian we wanted to remind potential applicants that the deadline for applications is 31 August 2019. The application form and additional information can be found at https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/43300/Town-Centre-Fund---Capital-Grant-201920 . Many of you may well have been in touch with Community Regeneration Officers and Town Centre Officers already to discuss potential projects and have indicated a number of project ideas but if you haven’t and have some ideas please get in touch directly and we can advise further. Consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace - proposal to extend Equality Act to Volunteers7/8/2019 Consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace was launched by the UK Government’s Equalities Office on 11 July (closing on 2 October).
The consultation makes it clear that employee protections under equality law is separate to wider employment rights. The consultation asks about 5 distinct areas – 1. The creation of a new equality duty on employers – to take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment of employees; 2. Better clarification of existing Equality Act duty on employers to protect employees from third party harassment; 3. Extend Equality Act protections to include Volunteers and Interns; 4. Employment Tribunal time limits for equality cases; 5. Work to identify workplace interventions that are effective. Calling for details of any other sexual harassment interventions that should be considered by UK Gov. NHS Lothian Health Promotion Service
Capacity Building Programme Review of Community Development & Health training Community development is an approach to working in and with communities which has a long history. For the last 20 years in NHS Lothian we have delivered a course which links community development principles to health. These principles: participation, equity, partnership, empowerment and collective action continue to be highly relevant to the current policy agenda around empowerment, health and community planning. The course stresses the importance of the wider determinants of health and aims to encourage workers in health, local authority and the voluntary sector to use the approach and methods of community development as a way of adapting practice to address inequalities in health. Participants’ evaluations tell us they find the course very useful and enlightening, increasing their knowledge, confidence and skills. There is just under one month left to apply for the 2019 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration, which is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government. The application deadline is 5pm on Monday 2nd September.
The SURF Awards are widely recognised as the most prestigious in the field of Scottish community regeneration. This year, there are five categories of entry. These include;
If you are involved in a project or know of projects who are worthy of recognition then please do make an entry this year. The straightforward application materials are available on the SURF website at the following link: https://www.surf.scot/surf-awards/ If you would like any further information then please do contact Emma - emma@surf.scot or 0141 4406392 Answer House are inviting you to their Annual General Meeting on Monday 2nd September 2019 @ 2:00pm. Please see the message from Robert Cook below for more information. Dear Sir, We cordially invite you to the 19th Annual General Meeting of ANSWER. This will be held on Monday 2ndSeptember 2019 @ 2:00pm in the ‘ANSWER House’ Day Centre, Reveston Lane, Whitburn. Please complete and return the attached tear-off slip to indicate whether or not you can attend, or email us at answerproject@talktalk.net I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Robert Cook, Chair Person / Director 
Home-Start West Lothian has been supporting some of the most vulnerable families living in West Lothian since 2000.
We facilitate a person-led, strength-based approach with families to engender community connectivity and a sense of hope. The parents we work with draw on our support to identify the issues having the greatest impact on their family, and work alongside our volunteers, who provide them with practical and emotional support, to address these issues. This genuinely co-produced approach enables the families to; The closing date for applications is Wednesday 28th August 2019.
The Workplace Equality Fund (WEF) works with employers to address long standing barriers particular groups face in entering and progressing in the labour market so that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that the economy is representative of society, and focus on delivering inclusive economic growth. Impact Funding Partners have managed this fund over the past two years, with funded projects engaging in work which helps to reduce employment inequalities, discrimination and barriers across a range of industries including the arts, tourism, construction and communication and STEM. £800,000 has been made available by The Scottish Government for projects which can complete by 31st August 2020. Applicants can apply for a grant of up to £50,000. For information on the fund visit the website here: https://www.impactfundingpartners.com/our-funds/workplace-equality-fund  High street chain Timpson is offering free dry cleaning to the unemployed – if you need an outfit for a job interview.
You don’t need a voucher for this, just ask at the counter to get the deal. Timpson confirmed you can get any number of clothing items dry cleaned for free as long as it’s for an interview. Find your nearest Timpson store here. VSGWL Organisational Printing Service
· Colour and B & W photocopying (up to A3) · Posters · Flyers, Brochures and Leaflets · Business cards · Tickets · Laminating · Newsletters Colour photocopies from 14p per copy. Black and white copies from 5p per copy. Please contact us for a free quote. Broxburn Family Centre are offering SQA certified First Aid Training. The course dates are:
Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th September - 6:30pm - 9:30pm - (2 nights) or Saturday 7th September - 9:30am - 4:00pm Click here for more information The Department of Work and Pensions are contacting clients to advise that the contract they have in place with the Post Office is ending. They will be asking clients to tell them which account they should pay their money into instead and we will also use these new account details.
Social Security Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions currently share arrangements for ensuring all clients are able to access their payments even where they do not have access to traditional banking services. We will be working together to ensure clients can continue to receive their benefits. For further information or if you, or your clients have any questions you can contact the Department of Work and Pensions on 0800 085 7133 (textphone 0800 085 7146). Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) are providing support to small charities and community interest companies who currently support veterans with health and wellbeing to access grants from the Armed Forces Covenant via the Positive Pathways Programme. The fund can provide grants of £35k (1year) or £70k (2 years) to eligible group activities. DMWS has been successful in gaining funds from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund as a result has been tasked by the covenant to assist eligible organisations with their application and will mentor them should they be successful in their application. 
Click here for more information and to access the full Childcare Training Programme.
West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust
Inspiring Volunteers- Development Worker (Part time) 0.4 or 0.5FTE (depending on candidate). Fixed term contract for 8 months (with the potential for extension). £24,000 pro-rata The Trust wishes to appoint a part-time volunteer coordinator/project development worker on a fixed term contract for eight months (with the potential for extension). The purpose of role is to further develop and implement our volunteer recruitment, support and activity plans based primarily around our In-Bloom growing project. Applications should be sent to cdt@westcalder.org by 5pm on the 31st Aug 2019. Job Description Application Form Senior Service Coordinator, OPAL
£24,446 – £26,857 37 hours per week Cyrenians OPAL (Older People, Active Lives) Service provides support to people typically over 60 living in the West Lothian area who are suffering from or at risk of loneliness and isolation. The OPAL service offers a combination of: One to one support, Group activities, Telephone support and Volunteer Drivers. We are looking for a dynamic individual to join our team, to be responsible for coordinating the tracking and evaluation of the One to One element of the service. The post holder will also provide line management to staff, as well as building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. You will be highly organised, have project management experience, and be able to manage a diverse workload to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines. You should have previous experience of all aspects of volunteer (or staff) management; and also be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and database systems. Working within the OPAL Service provides an opportunity to support people who may otherwise be lonely and isolated. This role plays a crucial part in ensuring that we continue to provide high quality services. Previous experience of working within the voluntary sector or with older people is essential. You should also have an understanding of dementia, and the ability to demonstrate Cyrenians values of Compassion, Respect, Integrity and Innovation in the work that you do. Application details: For full details and an application pack please visit cyrenians.scot, call 0131 475 2354 (during working hours), or e-mail: recruitment@cyrenians.scot CVs will not be accepted. Closing date: Monday 5th August: Noon Interviews will be held in Bathgate on: Monday the 12th and Tuesday the 13th August. Job Description Recruitment Information Application Form |
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