In response to the EIJB consultation inviting people and organisations to have a say on the draft Strategic Plan for 2025 – 28, the Third Sector Reference Group is working on a contribution on behalf of our sector. This is another in a series of actions in light of the future funding crisis third sector organisations are facing across the city.
New Chief Executive for EVOC
EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Crawford.
Following a comprehensive recruitment process, led by EVOC’s Board and involving representatives from the Third Sector and Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface partners (Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network and Volunteer Edinburgh), Bruce will take up the CEO position on Monday 9 December 2024.
Bruce brings a breadth of strategic leadership experience to the role, as a CEO, Trustee and Volunteer. As Director of Grange Associates, he has supported charities and social enterprises to develop and succeed, offering advice in a range of areas including governance, strategy, policy, change management, diversity, risk management, business planning and sustainability. As Chief Executive for Scottish Curling, Bruce led successful negotiations that secured £2m funding for covid recovery from the Scottish Government and played a key role in developing strategies and campaigns to ensure that the Olympic profile and success were capitalised to maximum effect. He is also a member of the Sustainability Committee for World Curling and is the chair of the James Gillespie’s Trust.
An Update on Actions Following the EIJB Board Meeting
Following the EIJB Board Meeting on Fri 1 Nov, we are delighted to share an update on behalf of Edinburgh’s third Sector Interface (TSI) – EVOC, Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network, and Volunteer Edinburgh. We plan to share a timeline of key dates next week (w/c 2 Dec) and will continue to keep you updated as things progress.
Diarmaid Lawlor (TSI Chair) has written to the Chair of the EIJB, the leader of the Council, the City of Edinburgh Council Chief Executive, and the NHS Lothian Chief Executive. He has emphasised the need for:
- Resetting investment: there is a need for a whole city conversation on a sustainable financial settlement for the Third Sector
- Reforming ways of working: there needs to be a better approach to commissioning, valuing and supporting The Third Sector through change
- Repairing relationships: recognising and valuing the value of the Third Sector contribution to communities is an important part of relationship development
A ‘Snapshot’ of Voluntary Sector Mental Health Services for Children, Young People and Families
EVOC and LAYC conducted a survey to capture the experiences and journeys of children, young people and families who used voluntary sector mental health and wellbeing services from 2021 to 2024. We asked respondents to tell us what children, young people, parents and carers said about their experiences, and to share staff observations, drawing on data from regular monitoring.
We have produced a report from the survey results, exploring the evidence to identify themes and then summing up with a list of critical issues for consideration:
Adult Protection is Everyone’s Business
Across the city, day in and day out, voluntary organisations are keeping people safe from harm.
The worker at a lunch club who is concerned that an older client is being financially exploited by a neighbour; the volunteer at a community garden who notices another volunteer is out of sorts and has unexplained bruises; the volunteer at a foodbank who is suspicious of the intimidating partner who accompanies a client each week when she collects food but ensures she does not chat with anyone…
EIJB Committee Meeting Decisions: Fri 1 Nov 2024
UPDATED: Wed 6 Nov, 2024
Following the EIJB Committee meeting on Friday and the fantastic deputations from organisations across our sector, we warmly welcome the recognition given to the essential role of the third sector and the new joint recommendations from Councillors, Beal, Pogson, Mumford and Nicolson. This new proposal was voted on by the EIJB and approved by 6 votes to 4.
Notes:
- Since its inception, the EIJB has operated with a massive and unsustainable financial deficit of £32m;
- Third sector partners and their volunteers make an invaluable contribution to our communities and are pivotal in keeping our citizens safe, well and active;
- The proposal for in-year cuts would make a minimal saving in comparison to the overall in-year deficit but would have devastating impact on the residents who rely on these services;
- Proposals around a potential future model for funding the third sector is due to come to the December board meeting for discussion;
- Both the previous strategic plan, and the proposed new strategic plan for the IJB centre prevention, early intervention, community resilience and protecting our most vulnerable;
- Limited engagement has taken place with the third sector to co-produce solutions to the funding shortfall;
Therefore delete all recommendations and replace them with:
- Agrees to retain the grants programme to at least the end of the financial year;
- Agrees to note the report and refer it to CEC and NHSL for their consideration on how we can address the in-year financial deficit while protecting services and third sector organisations;
- Agrees to hold discussions as soon as possible with NHS Lothian, the Council, and third sector organisations to consider alternative proposals for the long-term future of thirdsector funding, mindful of the current financial position across the Scottish public sector and the need to meet EIJB objectives;
- Agrees that budget discussions comply as far as possible with the Audit Scotland recommendation for “clear and open conversations with IJB partners, workforce, people who use services and other stakeholders around the difficult choices required to achieve financial sustainability”.
Full proposals paper can be found here.
Original Recommendations:
1. Bring forward the scheduled end date of the existing grants programme by two months by directing the Council to issue a 90 day notice of cancellation to all grant recipients to support a reduction in the EIJB’s in-year deficit.
2. Do not provide an EIJB grants programme in 25/26.
3. Adopt a more focused and evidence-based approach to prevention and early intervention.
4. Implement a new public-social partnership model whereby third sector representatives are integrated into EIJB’s planning, evaluation and decision-making processes to achieve the best outcomes possible within the resources available.
2. Do not provide an EIJB grants programme in 25/26.
3. Adopt a more focused and evidence-based approach to prevention and early intervention.
4. Implement a new public-social partnership model whereby third sector representatives are integrated into EIJB’s planning, evaluation and decision-making processes to achieve the best outcomes possible within the resources available.
A Response to the EIJB Funding Cuts in Edinburgh
We understand this is an incredibly worrying time for many groups and organisations in our sector.
We are here to help, so please feel free to contact Suzanne Campbell or Charlie Wright.
THU 31 OCT 2024
EVOC’s priority is to contribute to an evidence-based case for the essential role of the third sector in delivering health & social care services for people in Edinburgh.
Alongside other organisations, we are delivering a deputation to the EIJB Committee on Fri 1 Nov.
You can see the full list of deputations here.
MON 28 OCT 2024
We are devastated to see the depth of the cuts proposed to the Third Sector in the EIJB Agenda Papers here.
Our sector has an essential role to play in delivering key health and social care services for some of the most vulnerable people in Edinburgh as well as contributing to the four priorities of the EHSCP ‘More Good Days Strategy’.
Our Board and staff are meeting key colleagues and partners to move quickly on a strategic response and will share more details in the coming days.
A Message from Claire Ritchie, Our Interim Chief Executive
Edinburgh’s Third Sector is vital to the wellbeing of our city and communities. However, sustainability is significantly challenged by funding cuts, rising demands and increasing operating costs. Across the Sector, organisations and groups are making painful choices to survive and thrive. As a partner in Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface, EVOC is here to help you manage these challenges.
Since we announced that EVOC was undertaking a strategic review in June 2024, we have been working hard to secure the long-term future of the organisation. Like other groups and organisations in our sector, we’ve had to make some really difficult decisions to rapidly reduce EVOC’s running costs. We’ve also recognised the need to adapt our strategic approach in response to the needs of the sector in Edinburgh.
We’ve taken the time to get this right. Our focus has been to ensure EVOC can remain relevant and resilient to meet Sector needs. It has been a complicated and humbling process. We have found it difficult. We have also learned a lot about managing challenging change. We are happy to learn more from you and share learning as we take our next steps.
Expressions of Interest Open for the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in Edinburgh
Expressions of interest (EOIs) for the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund are now open (as of Wed 11 Sep 2024).
Groups and organisations in Edinburgh are invited to submit EOIs for projects that support the mental health and wellbeing of people (aged 16+) at a grassroots, community level. These projects should run for 12 to 18 months from April 2025.
A Response to the Fire at the Gorgie City Farm Site
Following a fire at the Gorgie Farm site on the evening of 24 July, we have issued a joint statement with the City of Edinburgh Council
Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker and EVOC’s Convenor, Diarmaid Lawlor:
“We’d like to sincerely thank the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for attending the fire at the Gorgie Farm site yesterday evening and making the area safe. This must have been a distressing incident for local residents. We’re glad that no injuries have been reported and that the fire crews were able to contain the fire to the stable block.
We’ll now assess the damage at the site and work to determine the best way forward for this much loved community farm.”
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 7
- Next Page »
