Edinburgh’s Community Link Worker Network has been recognised for the work they do to tackle health inequalities in this year’s Scottish Health Awards. The Network has been chosen as one of three finalists for the 2023 Tackling Health Inequalities award, highlighting the impact of the 24 community link workers (CLWs) who are helping improve the lives of people in some of the most deprived areas in the city.
UPDATE: Council Revenue Grants Programme for Children, Young People & Families Opens 4 Oct
UPDATE: The Connected Communities Edinburgh grant process is now open (from 2pm on Wed 4 Oct 2023).
Deadline for applications: 12 noon, Wed 1 Nov 2023
Fair tax changes in Scotland could boost spending on key national priorities…
Campaigners are calling on the First Minister to ‘put Scotland’s money where his mouth is’ by beginning to deliver his commitment to explore “bolder” income and wealth tax reforms and to do so ahead of the next Scottish Budget.
In a new briefing, The case for fair tax reform in Scotland, published today, IPPR Scotland, Oxfam Scotland, the Poverty Alliance, CPAG in Scotland, the Scottish Women’s Budget Group, One Parent Families Scotland and the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland lay out a series of progressive options to reform the Scottish tax system using devolved powers.
The briefing urges the First Minister to use Scotland’s existing tax levers, such as the Scottish Rate of Income Tax, more progressively in the Scottish Budget for 2024-25.
New Project Supporting the Future of 41 Community Centres
We’re leading a new project to help Community Centres across Edinburgh build sustainable plans for the future and increase their capacity to provide activities and services for people in their communities.
Part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the project will work with 41 Community Centres – 34 are run jointly by City of Edinburgh Council and a Management Committee and 7 by a Management Committee alone.
New Staff Appointed to Lead the Gorgie City Farm Site Project
Since it was announced that we were going to lead the drive to find a sustainable community-led future for the Gorgie City Farm site, extensive work has been going on behind the scenes to deliver on that goal.
The Gorgie Farm Site Steering Group have now appointed a Project Manager to help lead this work and look forward to Suzanne Campbell taking up the role from mid-July. Suzanne comes with extensive experience in service management with a particular focus on children, young people and families.
Year 3 of Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund Announced
This week the Scottish Government announced that the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund will fund projects to support mental health and address social isolation and loneliness in adults for a third year.
In years 1 and 2 of just under 220 grants were awarded to group and organisations across Edinburgh, enabling people in the City to access more projects and activities designed to support good mental health and wellbeing, in the communities where they live and work. [Read more…]
£1.28 Million To Help Improve Mental Health in Edinburgh Communities
The second year of the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in Edinburgh has awarded grants to 98 community and voluntary organisations across the city, totalling £1.28 million.
This investment will enable people in Edinburgh to access more projects and activities designed to support good mental health and wellbeing, in the communities where they live and work. It offers continuing support to some of the projects established through the first year of the Fund in 2022, as well as investing in a number of new ones. Programmes being funded include a conversation cafes; canine therapy sessions; 1-to-1 support; group therapy sessions; a community pantry; gardening and woodwork workshops and a range of other outdoor activities.
Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learning Third Sector Fund: Letter to the Minister
As a member of The Third Sector Interface Scotland Network we have joined our colleagues at SCVO and written to Natalie Don MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, to raise concerns about the administration of the Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learning Third Sector Fund (CYPFAL TSF), and its predecessor funds, the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention (CYPFEI) Fund and the Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (ALEC) Fund.
The letter is signed by Anna Fowlie (SCVO), Anthea Coulter (Clacks TSI), Lesley Kelly (Midlothian Voluntary Action), and Bridie Ashrowan (EVOC).
Our Response to Letter to the Scottish Parliament
On Monday (27th March), in a letter to the Scottish Parliament, Neil Gray MSP confirmed the Scottish Government’s intention to close MS Victoria currently docked in Leith as one part of Scotland’s response to housing Ukrainian refugees.
Over the last year EVOC has been engaged with The City of Edinburgh council, and more recently Scottish Government, to plan longer term support for the Ukrainian community. Confirming the closure of MS Victoria, the Scottish Government has committed to supporting all Ukrainian’s housed onboard MS Victoria to source alternative accommodation. In response to the war against Ukraine and response to supporting New Scots, Edinburgh’s community sector has stepped up to provide services directly to clients most in need – a full summary of the support provided can be found on the EVOC website here.
The Scottish Refugee Council have confirmed that their helpline, operational Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm, on 0808 1967 274 can provide support and advice to clients. Additionally, the Scottish Government is encouraging households across Scotland to become a volunteer host to provide accommodation to Ukrainian families seeking refuge in Scotland. Expressions of interest can be submitted here.
The potential impact of this decision by Scottish Government is understandable, particularly to those who have started education or managed to secure work within the City of Edinburgh. MS Victoria has provided a resource to the response in Edinburgh that has allowed us to support Ukrainians to settle and integrate in to communities across Edinburgh. Edinburgh’s partnership of organisations, including City of Edinburgh Council, voluntary sector, and community groups are committed to ensuring the potential disruption to the Ukrainian community caused by the closure is minimised. The City of Edinburgh Council has reiterated their commitment to the Ukrainian community and that Edinburgh will be a home for Ukrainians for as long as they need it to be. Feniks Counselling have established a mental health support service for the Ukrainian community for anyone who requires support, further information about the service can be found here.
EVOC is interested in getting an understanding of the impact of this announcement on voluntary sector services, to inform discussions with local and national government partners, please share any information regarding increased demand on services via email.
Best wishes
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive
A Sustainable Future for the Gorgie City Farm Site
We’re delighted to be leading a new community led project to find a sustainable future for the Gorgie City Farm site.
Following discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council after the closure of the site last month, we will be working with the local community and a range of stakeholders to explore options for a strong plan that allows the site to re-open. EVOC is one of three partners that make up Edinburgh’s TSI (Third Sector Interface), helping to support and develop the city’s community and voluntary sector, with a role to develop robust solutions and approaches that underpin strong organisations.
