EVOC News - EVOC

Bringing Together the Voices of Voluntary Sector Leaders

13 May 2022 By Esther Currie Leave a Comment

We want to hear your thoughts on how people from Edinburgh’s voluntary sector could come together to discuss strategic issues and explore options to influence and make change.

This has historically been done through the Third Sector Strategy Group, but we are exploring a new platform/format for leaders from across the voluntary sector – charities, social enterprises and community groups – to have the opportunity to share their knowledge, experiences and ideas.

Please take a few minutes to complete an online survey so that together we can find an active way to make forward.

Complete the survey

EVOC’s Annual Survey: Have Your Say

13 May 2022 By Esther Currie Leave a Comment

We would really appreciate all of our members, partners and colleagues taking a few minutes to complete our annual survey.

It is mostly multiple choice questions, so should only take a few minutes, but your answers are really important.

They will help to inform our plans for the future and measure the impact of the support we have provided in the last year.

Complete the survey

Introducing THRE – Third Sector Human Rights and Equalities

11 May 2022 By Esther Currie Leave a Comment

THRE (Third Sector Human Rights & Equalities) is working with Scotland’s Third Sector Interface organisations (TSIs) to develop resources, training and networks which support third sector organisations towards taking a human rights and equalities first approach to their organisational development and delivery.

The project will also be helping to equip organisations and individuals with the skills to champion human rights and equalities, allowing the sector as a whole to challenge inequality and make a positive difference.

[Read more…]

£15 Million For Year 2 of Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

9 May 2022 By Esther Currie Leave a Comment

EVOC warmly welcomes the Scottish Government’s announcement of £15 million for a second year of investment in mental health and wellbeing investment in communities across Scotland.

Bridie Ashrown, EVOC Chief Executive commented:
‘We are delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised the value of supporting mental health at the heart of Scotland’s local communities by confirming a second year of mental health and wellbeing funding. We look forward to researching the impact of and developing the community commissioning approach created in Edinburgh for the first year of this investment programme (people with lived experience, communities of place and communities of interest) and making sure that even more people get the support they need, when they need it, where they need it… and early enough for it to help them have more ‘better days’ in life.’

[Read more…]

£1.32 Million Invested in Voluntary Sector Mental Health Projects & Services

31 March 2022 By Esther Currie

We are delighted to announce that more than 120 community and voluntary organisations are to benefit from grants totalling £1.32 million from the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in Edinburgh. This investment will support a wide range of projects and enable people across the City to access additional mental health and wellbeing support in their communities. Programmes being funded include activity-based canal boat trips; befriending services; art therapy sessions; community garden growing workshops; 1 to 1 mentoring with childcare; outdoor programmes for families; local pantries and counselling.

A full list of groups and organisations awarded grants is available here.

[Read more…]

Small Digital Device Fund for Community Learning Development Organisations

3 March 2022 By Esther Currie

EVOC, City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Community Learning & Development Partnership are inviting Community Learning Development (CLD) organisations to apply to a small digital device fund, supported by the Scottish Government.

Just over £8,000 is available for the provision of digital devices to CLD Practitioners – this includes items like laptops, Chromebooks, tablets or smart phones. We want to equip staff and volunteers working with people and communities with resources that help them to do a better job.

Who Can Apply:

Youth work organisations
Adult learning organisations
Community centre management committees
Other organisations who support delivery of Edinburgh’s Community Learning Development Plan

Other Rules:

This funding is for constituted not-for-profit, voluntary and community organisations working in Edinburgh, with a bank account in the name of the group
Your annual turnover must be less than £100,000
You can apply for a grant of up to £1,000

Deadline for applications: 12noon, Mon 21 Mar 2022

Download the 1 page application form

Communities to Benefit From 1st Stage of Mental Health Funding

2 March 2022 By Esther Currie

We are delighted to announce the first wave of investment from the Scottish Government Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in Edinburgh.

Fourteen groups and organisations have been awarded small pots of funding, totalling just over £26,000, to deliver grass-roots activities in communities across the City. The rest of the £1.255 million investment will be distributed by Thursday 31 March 2022 with more details to follow.

[Read more…]

Community-based Adult Learning Grants Awarded for 2022

19 January 2022 By Esther Currie

We are excited to announce details of the 29 grants awarded from the Scottish Government Fund to support community-based adult learning opportunities across the City of Edinburgh.

Together with our Third Sector Interface partners – Volunteer Edinburgh and Edinburgh Social Enterprise – and Edinburgh’s Community Learning and Development Partnership Adult Learning Sub Group, we have identified a range of projects and activities that deliver on the agreed objectives for this investment. These focus on digital inclusion; working with black, Asian and minority ethnic communities; increased access to childcare to enable adults to engage and improving mental health and wellbeing for learners.

[Read more…]

Investment For Community-Based Adult Learning in Edinburgh

8 December 2021 By Esther Currie

Please note that applications for the fund have now closed [Wed 22 Dec].

Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface (TSI) – a partnership between EVOC, Volunteer Edinburgh and Edinburgh Social Enterprise – has been awarded £112,000 from the Scottish Government to invest in community-based adult learning opportunities. This is to help address barriers to learning resulting from the impacts of the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Working with the Edinburgh CLD Partnership, we have agreed four priority learning themes and activities – these are linked to the Edinburgh CLD Plan objectives. (see table below)

This investment must be spent and the activities delivered by 31 March 2022.

[Read more…]

Bringing Together the Voices of Voluntary Sector Leaders

EVOC’s Annual Survey: Have Your Say

Introducing THRE – Third Sector Human Rights and Equalities

£15 Million For Year 2 of Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

£1.32 Million Invested in Voluntary Sector Mental Health Projects & Services

Small Digital Device Fund for Community Learning Development Organisations

Communities to Benefit From 1st Stage of Mental Health Funding

Community-based Adult Learning Grants Awarded for 2022

Investment For Community-Based Adult Learning in Edinburgh

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