EVOC News - EVOC

Could you be an EVOC Board Member?

11 June 2021 By Esther Currie Leave a Comment

We are looking for new Board Members to support the development of the organisation at a critical time for both the citizens and communities of Edinburgh and the community and voluntary sector across the City.

Skills & Experience
We are looking for people with a variety of professional skills including HR, marketing and communications, political campaigning and those with experience working in small charities. We are also interested in encouraging enquiries from people who understand the key issues Edinburgh faces coming out of lockdown or with an interest and understanding of key policy drivers such as the Edinburgh Poverty Commission or the setting up of the National Care Service/the Feeley Review.

We would particularly welcome applications from groups currently under-represented on our Board, including people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; younger people and people living with a disability.

What’s Involved?
EVOC Board Members attend quarterly Board Meetings, playing an active role in informing organisational policy decisions as well as working with the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team to develop long-term strategic plans. They provide financial oversight and ensure EVOC adheres to all legal and regulatory responsibilities including employment legislation, ensuring a safe and supported working environment for all staff members.

Interested?
If you’re interested in being an EVOC Board Member then please get in touch with Jan-Bert van den Berg, Chair of the Board by Mon 28 Jun.

Find out more

Open Call For Climate Change Case Studies

8 June 2021 By Esther Currie Leave a Comment

In the run up to COP 26 we’re working to showcase and celebrate the rich tapestry of community action on climate change going on across Edinburgh – from small community run gardens, to award-winning social enterprises in the circular economy.

As part of this we’re putting out an open call for climate change cast studies from across the voluntary and community sector, examples that showcase the power and impact of community action and can inspire others to step up and make a difference.

If your organisation has a case study you’d be willing to share we’d love to hear from you.

SUBMIT A CASE STUDY
Complete the short and simple case study template (feel free to use graphs, graphics and bullet points) and send it to us by Fri 25 Jun at 5pm: comms@evoc.org.uk

THINKSPACE EVENT SERIES
We’re also developing ideas for a series of ThinkSpace events focusing on peer support, funding and collaborative action. If you have an idea/theme/area of interest that you would like to share then please get in touch: comms@evoc.org.uk

Download the case study template I Email your case study

A Community Lottery for Edinburgh

7 June 2021 By Esther Currie

Over 10,000 charities and good causes raise millions each year across the UK via community lotteries and we are hoping to launch a local community lottery to support fundraising across Edinburgh.

We invited organisations from across the City to join us for an Info Seminar on Wed 2 Jun and a big thanks goes out to everyone who came along. It was great to have so many people in the Zoom room and to have such a positive response to the idea.

If you couldn’t make it along you can access the slide presentation here or watch a recording of the presentation here.

What is a Community Lottery?
A community lottery is a free fundraising opportunity for charities across the City and every one that signs up with have access to the following:

Your own dedicated page on the lottery site
Great prizes for your supporters including a top prize of £25,000 (each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance of winning)
50% of tickets sales to your cause, 10% to a fund supporting good causes in the city
Marketing help and resources (FREE)

Moving Forward
There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the idea of a Community Lottery for Edinburgh so we are moving forward with the process – watch this space for more details or feel free to get in touch: communitylottery@evoc.org.uk

Other Community Lotteries in Scotland:

Glasgow Community Lottery I East Lothian Community Lottery

COVID-19 Vaccine Info Seminar

12 May 2021 By Esther Currie

Thanks for everyone who joined us for the COVID-19 Info Seminar / Q&A (Tue 11 May) – a conversation about COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccination programme in Scotland, with a focus on addressing vaccine hesitancy and supporting vulnerable communities to get the vaccine.

The seminar included presentations from Prof. Eleanor Riley, a Professor of Immunology & Infectious Disease at the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Carey Lunan, a GP involved in the in-person delivery of the vaccine programme (NHS Lothian).

If you were unable to attend the event you can access the Seminar Presentation or watch a recording of Eleanor and Carey’s presentations.

Grants to Combat Vaccine Inequality & Hesitancy

21 April 2021 By Esther Currie

Thanks to Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation we’re offering micro-grants of up to £500 to community organisations based across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

The funding is to support groups working with people who may be experiencing vaccine inequality – carers; black, Asian and minority ethnic communities; homeless people; people with mental health conditions; SIMD areas (amongst other groups of people, this is not an exhaustive list). It can also be used to help reduce vaccine hesitancy. You can apply for funds for a range of activities and ideas, some of these are detailed on the application form, but we are open to hear about your ideas too!

Applications are now open (from Mon 26 Apr) and will be considered on a first come first served basis.

Download an application form

Submit completed applications and get more information by emailing us: funding@evoc.org.uk

Thriving Local & 2021 Election Candidates

19 April 2021 By Esther Currie

As we countdown to the Scottish Election on Thu 6 May 2021 Bridie (our Chief Executive) has reached out to all of the candidates standing in Edinburgh and the Lothians looking for a response to vital themes and issues for our Sector and citizens and communities across the City. As we hear from individual candidates we will share their responses here and on our Twitter and Facebook channels.

Response from Karina Faccenda, Scottish Labour, Edinburgh Northern & Leith Constituency

Dear Candidate,

We wish you all the very best in your campaign for a seat at the Scottish Parliament in 2021. The election comes just over a year after the start of the pandemic. I am certain that you will agree with me, that citizens of the City, social enterprises, community and voluntary organisations of Edinburgh, have been outstanding in their role at the heart of the response to COVID-19.

From looking out for their neighbour, to volunteering to get food to people in need, to making sure that older people in localities were not left isolated and alone – this is what drove the response that energised communities. From established local organisations to many local groups, the people who led this are visible in our wider research, Mind the Craic and the evidence from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission.

There are vital themes (below) that we would like to hear your response to and more importantly share with our members and the wider sector. We would be delighted to receive your response by video or in writing so that we can share across our digital communications channels*.

We would therefore like to draw your attention to key policy areas:

An Enhanced Role for the Community and Voluntary Sector
EVOC has a strategic partnership with Volunteer Edinburgh and Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network and this makes up the ‘TSI’ in Edinburgh. In our national manifesto created with the 31 other TSI across Scotland we ask for an enhanced role for the third sector – community and voluntary organisations and implementation of place-based approaches.
A structural change in the further integration of Health and Social Care
EVOC fully endorses the recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care including the formation of a National Care service.
An Accelerated Pace in Systems Change
There is a clear and coherent need to empower communities further to mitigate the ongoing impact of the pandemic. However, this can only be achieved with the right support and resources: ‘If not now, When’, Social Renewal Advisory Board Report Jan 2021
A National Plan for Universal Family Support
We call for a transformation of Scotland’s investment in children and families, shifting spending from dealing with the consequences of failure and inequality to preventing these and enabling children & families to thrive, and an emphasis on wellbeing: Children in Scotland Family Support Campaign & Manifesto 202

Finally, in coming to EVOC I have deliberately wanted to take a listening approach, to understand better the state of the community and voluntary sector now. In particular I am focused on what it means to have a thriving local community and voluntary sector in the city – what are the conditions for communities to be resilient and more than that, to thrive – and have launched a Thriving Local campaign to support this.

I would be very interested in your response and to start a conversation on this and the four key policy areas identified above.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Bridie Ashrowan, EVOC Chief Executive

^{* We will share your responses through our social media channels, website and a range of e-communications.}

Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Funding Awards

1 April 2021 By Ian Brooke

We are delighted to be able share the final report on the distribution of over £329,000 of grants to children, young people & families organisations in Edinburgh to support and improve mental health and emotional wellbeing in our communities: Mental Health & Wellbeing Funding Report 2021

This investment of Scottish Government money through City of Edinburgh Council is fully detailed, providing a guide to funded additional services in the city during 2021.

Over £1million of applications were received from 65 organisations, with 24 grants being awarded by the funding panel based on the Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Support and Services Framework.

Grants were awarded to the following organisations and partnerships:

Big Hearts Community Trust
Canongate Youth
Citadel Youth Centre
Collaborative Partnership: City of Edinburgh Council, LAYC, NHS
Cyrenians
Deaf Action
Firsthand Lothian
Granton Youth
Multi-Cultural Family Base
NHS Lothian Psychology Adding Value: Epilepsy Screening (PAVES)
NHS Lothian Training in Psychological Skills-Early Intervention for Children (TIPS-EIC)
One Parent Families Scotland / Family Journeys
Richmond’s Hope
Safe Families
SCOREscotland
Space & the Broomhouse Centre
Stepping Stones / Circle
Tailor Ed Foundation
The Junction North East
The Speech Language Communication Company
The Yard
Wester Hailes Youth Agency
With Kids
YMCA / Pilmeny Development Project

Towards a Thriving Local Community and Voluntary Sector

26 March 2021 By Esther Currie

Days after the 1 year mark of lockdown, we can be sure that the community and voluntary organisations, and social enterprises across Edinburgh have been at the heart of the response to COVID-19 in 2020/21. In the City and across Scotland, you have been active in your communities, keeping people’s physical and mental well-being in tact, so much so, you and I know, it has saved lives and the evidence is there in many reports now being produced.

In coming in to EVOC, I have deliberately wanted to take a listening approach to understand better the state of the sector now, and to capture what we and others learn can for the future. The things that have been important in this crisis have also got incredible value for early intervention and future challenges, whether that be other pandemics or the consequences of climate change.

As part of that, we want to launch a listening exercise on what it means to have a thriving local community and voluntary sector in the city: what are the conditions for communities to be resilient and more than that to thrive? What are the conditions for individual citizens to thrive, and be resilient, from the older person to the young, the person from our BAME families or a person with a disability, a carer or a long-term condition?

EVOC had the opportunity to take a paper to the Edinburgh Partnership and also the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board this week. There is excellent work going on at City Council level (New Business Plan) and EIJB work on the Edinburgh Pact which will help bring a great focus and opportunities for communities and individuals. There is in both a discussion of community anchors – both organisations and networks – and we need to work in a way that means there is no wrong door.

EVOC Paper

As part of EVOC’s advocacy and leadership role, being committed to doing the right thing rather than the easy thing, it is important to invert the pyramid and for major anchor institutions like NHS, Council, Universities to be at the service of Edinburgh’s communities. We also hope to do more with our partners, Volunteer Edinburgh and Edinburgh Enterprise Network, and others, whose folk have like you, been at the heart of this… for decades.

In April we will launch a number of initiatives, on-line and off-line, to start a conversation about this and hear from you on what does it mean for our sector to thrive? Above all, what does it mean for the citizens of this city to thrive?

In the meantime my door, and those of the EVOC team, are open to start that conversation.

Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive

A Message From Bridie

11 March 2021 By Esther Currie

Black and white photo of Bridie Ashrowan, new Chief Executive at EVOC At a historic time for the city of Edinburgh and country, and as we still live with the pandemic that started one year ago, our community and voluntary sector has responded with great agility and inspiring compassion, enabling people to stay out of crisis and cope better. Many reports have now evidenced that.

In coming into this role, I want to say that it is one where I take seriously a deep commitment to listen to you, to our members, our sector and our partners. This is what will inform what I aim to do, to provide a passionate and informed leadership that will result in greater recognition of your work. My goal is to champion it, and with the EVOC team and board, to enable you to do it well, and help remove barriers for the on-going success of this sector.

Your work – the people of the community organisations, social enterprises and wider voluntary sector – staff, volunteers, boards and partners, has been of great human value at the time of this pandemic. Equally, you are frequently at the cutting edge of prevention, which as we recover from Covid, is essential.

The right support is the place we live and work diagram from the Poverty Commission report The publication in late 2020, of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission recommendations, the first after the start of the pandemic in the UK, and the journey committed to now by the Edinburgh Partnership* and City of Edinburgh Council, to ending poverty in Edinburgh in the next 10 years, is highly ambitious. Where do we already play a major part in that and how can we do more now?

We would like to suggest that the systemic changes that are suggested in the recommendations also help us look at what we can do to improve this together, across all groups, from those with dementia, or those disabilities, to the young folk whom this time has cruelly affected.

The current work of the Edinburgh Climate Commission is hugely interesting for the city too – we believe that a nature friendly city is a people friendly city, and are committed to playing our part in that.

I would like to thank Ella Simpson for her work, invisible and visible, and I hope you’ll join in the thanks for her. We are planning a celebration later in the year when we can gather together for a proper celebration on Fri 24 Sep (more details will follow).

Finally, I am interested in radical kindness, from policy making to championing the work that you do which exemplifies that in every corner of the city, and when it is allowed, I hope to get out to those corners.

Bridie Ashrowan (Chief Executive)

^{* The Edinburgh Partnership is the community planning partnership for the city. It brings together public agencies, third and private sectors with local communities to improve the city, its services and the lives of people who live and work here.}

Supporting People in Crisis

6 January 2021 By Esther Currie

We are working with the City of Edinburgh Council, Caring in Craigmillar, Cyrenians, Pilton Equalities Project and Space to deliver food to those who need it. The City of Edinburgh Council is following a cash first principle in terms of supporting those in crisis, and this has currently kept demand very low. We are aware that this could change very quickly given a new lockdown and the programme will evolve according to need. (You can read an overview of this approach from the City of Edinburgh Council below.)

If you are aware of people in crisis please encourage them to call 0131 200 2388, or apply online.

This short term crisis work does not replace plans to bring organisations together across Edinburgh to develop a partnership approach to addressing food insecurity in the longer term, particularly in light of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission’s call to action.

“City of Edinburgh Council, EVOC and local organisations must continue to fund, co-ordinate and operate services to provide quality fresh food to citizens who experience food insecurity, avoiding a return to reliance on food banks. Our call to improve income security is key to replacing the need for food provision, combined with action to develop place-based approaches to bring together healthy eating, sustainability and community development.”

You can also read our most recent blog by Roisin Hurst (Development Worker) which reflects on 2020 and COVID-19 Food Fund Project.

City of Edinburgh Council and EVOC Partnership Approach: Support for Citizens
As a result of Scottish Government funding the City of Edinburgh Council has recommenced a range of activities to support people facing financial hardship over the winter months. The Scottish Government has again emphasised the principles of choice and a cash-first approach, and this approach is endorsed by the Council.

Similar to earlier initiatives, requests for support will be coordinated through the Council’s Contact Centre (0131 200 2388) to establish whether direct financial support is available e.g. Isolation Grant, Crisis Grant, compensatory payments for the loss of Free School Meals etc. Citizens will also be signposted to alternative areas of support to address additional issues they may be experiencing to offer a holistic and tailored solution to service users.

Where direct financial support is not available, or not required, arrangements have been put in place to support a network of food deliveries across the city. The Council worked successfully with EVOC, supported by local partners, throughout the first months of the pandemic to deliver food packages across the city. Building on this experience, a targeted food delivery service has now restarted for those in need of support.

Given direct financial support is available the predicted level of food deliveries is expected to be lower than at the start of the pandemic. As a result, the system has been streamlined, and the Council will be working with EVOC and key hub organisations. Food deliveries will be made for up to 2 weeks, and citizens will be asked to make contact again if further support is required. These are challenging times and there are many changes ahead, including Brexit, and while there is no broader funding for food provision across the city at this time, the funding allocation will be kept under review.

Any individual identified as in need of support due to hardship, should be referred to the Council’s Vulnerable Support Line on 0131 200 2388 or the Scottish Welfare Fund on 0131 529 5299.