Family Food Pantry - affordable, accessible food for families with at least one child aged 5 years and under and expectant families. Currently running during Tier 4 restrictions daily from Kidzeco Bathgate. Families can sign up for annual memberships here and find up to date days and times via our facebook page.

KidzStart - this service is for families with a child under one. Families can be referred to this project to receive a 'gift' of baby clothes, toiletries and other essentials. The referral criteria is outlined on the attached form.  We are also able to offer baby essentials such as baths, moses baskets, sterilisers etc. should the family be financially disadvantaged.  

Wean the Weanz - we have recently launched an app to support the weaning journey. The Wean the Weanz app offers many tasty recipes as well as hints and tips to get started on introducing baby to solid foods. There is a shopping list facility which is helpful when making the weaning shopping run. This facility can be of use when supporting families with financial difficulties as they can be referred to our Family Pantry and send over their shopping list for the weaning ingredients via the share function. These can be packaged and either given to the families at a minimal cost or free; supplying free goods would be a one off request and any further need would require further communication from referrer.

This app complements our Weaning Resource Packs which contain a selection of practical items to help start the weaning journey. These packs will be accessible via our referral form and are available to parents/carers who fall into the same categories as our KidzStart packs. Referrals can also be made for practical weaning classes as well as one-off weaning discussion sessions which will be offered as restrictions permit and like the app is open to all.

Kidz Knashers - information and advice promoting positive oral health practices to families with children 5 years and under consisting of fun activities through our Knashers Challenge and Tommy Knashers check up sessions. Families can join our toothbrush exchange programme too!

There will be other health initiatives to look out over the coming months from Kidz Eco/Kidz N Kin including baby massage, baby wearing support and Kitchin Kin Adult Cooking sessions.  

Should you require any further information on any of our services please get in touch with Toni Martin, Kidz n Kin Manager (toni.martin@kidzeco.net) or Tracy Murdoch (tracy.murdoch@kidzeco.net)

This Christmas Asda are donating 1 million meals to help combat holiday hunger. Food grants of up to £1000 are available to community groups through the Asda Foundation, contact your local store for more information.

Live in Blackburn and want to have you say on how public funding in is spent locally?
 
Community Choices is a process that enables local communities to decide how public funding is spent. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families in Blackburn and is a pilot project as part of the wider development of Participatory Budgeting (PB) in West Lothian.  It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families in Blackburn and is a pilot project as part of the wider development of Participatory Budgeting (PB) in West Lothian.​

In partnership with Foundation Scotland, VSGWL is pleased to launch a £9k small grants fund to help community organisations respond to the challenges associated with accessing food, shelter or basic amenities. Grants of between £500 - £1000 are available from monies provided from the Resilience element of the Response, Recovery and Resilience (RRR) Fund. 
 
All grants will need to respond to the following priority: ‘Living with poor, interrupted or impaired access to food, shelter, and necessary amenities (e.g. sanitation, heat)’.
 
Please see one page application form and guidance for further information.

Application process
1. Closing date for applications is 4 December 2020.
2. Organisations will be informed of the outcome on 9 December 2020.
3. Activity between 1 January and 31 March 2021.

Alan McCloskey
CEO
VSGWL

Pensions are difficult, right?

Or maybe you know your ‘annuity’ from your ‘flexible drawdown’?

If you do, you could help people to know their pension options. Citizens Advice Bureau West Lothian is currently recruiting for a Pension Wise Guidance Specialist. Pension Wise is the free and impartial HM Government backed service that provides guidance to those considering how to access their defined contribution pension pot(s).
 
Working as part of our team, you will provide quality information & guidance to people over the telephone and face to face. You will have a proven knowledge of pension law, practice and products gained in a technical role as well as an understanding of the wider issues for those facing retirement. Strong communication skills and numerical ability are essential.
 
Due to current restrictions the vast majority of this work will be carried out remotely.
 
For further details and information on how to apply, please email: 
enquiries@cabwestlothian.casonline.org.uk

Closing Date: Friday 4th December  
Interview dates: Thursday 10th December (via zoom) 

​This week’s A2E Vacancy Bulletin, as well as being packed full of current, local vacancies, features information on the Digital Start Fund, an SDS training grant targeting those aged 25+ who are either unemployed and in receipt of UC or are facing redundancy.  This is a great opportunity for individuals to reskill, enabling them to access sustainable employment in the growing digital media sector.  We also highlight support available from the Council’s Advice Shop during Talk Money Week, as well as information on the new Scottish Child Payment benefit, launched this week and available from Social Security Scotland.

​“To support disadvantaged children and their respective families in West Lothian and the wider community.  River Kids will achieve this by providing those disadvantaged children with opportunities to reach their full potential.  This will be through educational, financial and emotional support.”
 
River Kids also runs the West Lothian Toy Appeal, which is now an all-year-round event (previously only being a Christmas event). We will now provide a gift on a child’s birthday as well as providing eggs at Easter time.
 
What we do

• Provide employment opportunities - we will provide children with volunteering and employment opportunities to ensure they have the best start in life.

 

• Provide financial support via grants - we will provide children with financial support (grants) to ensure they are not excluded from extra-curricular event.

 

• Deliver the West Lothian Toy Appeal - we will provide toys throughout the year to children to ensure they do not go without on their birthday or at Christmas…

 

• Provide a safe place for those in need - we will provide those who need it a safe place to come and get the support that they may need.

 
With an office in Livingston and a storage unit in Broxburn we currently have 3 full time staff, and the majority of our activities revolve around redistributing highly quality second-hand clothes and toys that have been donated by the public. These clothes and toys will then be passed on to those families referred to us from agencies such as social work, DASAT and the homeless unit.