By Craig Mundie
We’ve had another great event with our guest speakers from the NHS! Along with an update on the vaccine programme, we learned a lot about Covid testing and had a Q&A section which made for some very interesting discussions.
In case you didn’t get a chance to sign up or weren’t able to attend live, here’s the recording of the main discussion:
By Craig Mundie
We’ve had a great start to our Thriving Local Event Series with the first of that series last week. Professor Duncan MacLennan and Bridie Ashrowan (our Chief Executive) were in conversation about ‘A Scotland of Better Places’. They discussed the actions in the report, which engaged with more than 4,500 people from across Scotland, and the role that Scotland’s places can play in our recovery from the pandemic.
In case you didn’t get a chance to join the event live, here is the recording:
If you found this interesting, please register to see our next Thriving Local event – ‘The Power of Communities’ – with guest speaker Professor Donna Hall!
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 – this is part of our commitment to Scotland’s Equality Action Pledge.
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.
How has your organisation supported people with COVID testing and vaccination?
We are keen to hear from community and voluntary sector organisations in Edinburgh who are supporting local people in relation to COVID testing and vaccinations so have pulled together a short survey.
We want to understand:
Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey
As part of our commitment to working towards a thriving community and voluntary sector, we’re pleased to announce a new event series – ‘Thriving Local’. Our aim for this series is to share learning and ideas that can help us build a resilient sector, empowered to support our citizens and communities.
A SCOTLAND OF BETTER PLACES: Professor Duncan MacLennan in conversation with Bridie Ashrowan
Thu 29 Jul, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Our first event will feature Professor Duncan MacLennan – Professor of Public Policy at the University of Glasgow and author of the new report ‘A Scotland of Better Places‘ in conversation with Bridie our Chief Executive. They’ll discuss the actions in the report, which engaged with more than 4,500 people from across Scotland, and the role that Scotland’s places can play in our recovery from the pandemic.
We plan to add more events to the ‘Thriving Local’ series in the coming weeks, covering a range of key topics and featuring an array of guest speakers.
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 case 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: comms@evoc.org.uk
THRIVING LOCAL EVENT SERIES
We’re also developing ideas for a series of Thriving Local 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
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:
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:
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.
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/testing 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 and will be considered on a first come first served basis.
If you had previously applied to this fund to support vaccinations, you can now reapply in order to support testing.
Submit completed applications and get more information by emailing us: funding@evoc.org.uk
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:
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.
