EVOC

Supporting the people and communities of Edinburgh since 1868.

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Bringing Together the Voices of Voluntary Sector Leaders

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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 by Fri 19 Jun so that together we can find an active way to make forward. 

Complete the survey

EVOC’s Annual Survey: Have Your Say

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We would really appreciate all of our members, partners and colleagues taking a few minutes to complete our annual survey by Fri 19 Jun.

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

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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

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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…]

Further 2 Year Extension to IJB Grants Programme

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On Tue 19 Apr Dr Linda Irvine-Fitzpatrick took a paper to the Integration Joint Board (IJB) that agreed a further two year extension to the current IJB Grant Programme (to 31 March 2025). 

Over the course of the next two years EVOC and Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership will be developing the More Good Days Public Social Partnership (PSP) which will enact the great work which has been going on with local organisations through the Edinburgh Wellbeing Pact. This will build upon learning from our ‘Learning by Doing’ Community Commissioning approach used to distribute the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund for Edinburgh as well as a range of other initiatives and opportunities. 

[Read more…]

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

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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

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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:

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

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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

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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…]

Edinburgh Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is now open

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Please note that applications for this fund have now closed [Fri 14 Jan].

Funding Scope Update (17 Dec): Having discussed concerns with Scottish Government about the decision to exclude counselling from this fund, we have received updated feedback that some counselling can in fact be funded. We appreciate that this timing is inconvenient, but given the strength of feedback about the need for counselling during the funding events, we felt it was essential to be transparent about this change.

Get the latest updates and other key info about this fund here. 

Expressions of Interest I Get Involved I Key Documents I Funding Overview

We’ve had a busy November, discussing this funding with as many people as we can.

To try to make it more accessible, instead of long application forms we’re asking you to fill in a few key details setting out what you think your organisation or group can do to meet the needs of communities in Edinburgh. Please also tell us what support you might find helpful.

These expressions of interest will be publicly available for others to see on our website from mid-December, so do check back in a week or two. We hope this open process will stimulate partnerships and ideas.

[Read more…]

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EVOC, 61-63 London Road, Edinburgh, EH7 6AA

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