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National Survey Results Published

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To better understand the impact of coronavirus on the Third Sector, the Third Sector Interface (TSI) Scotland Network carried out a national survey over a two-month period with community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.  The survey also detailed the impact of coronavirus on the people and communities the organisations support.

1,184 organisations took part – local neighbourhood and national organisations – from across Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities.  25% self-defined as community groups; 61% as voluntary organisations and 14% as social enterprises.

This report highlights the main survey findings at a national level.  Over the next few weeks we will produce our own local version of the report.

Key Findings:

  • The financial situation of social enterprises as a consequence of Covid-19 is perilous, and without urgent financial support may not recover. 81% of social enterprises are experiencing a reduction in income from trading and 86% expect their financial position to worsen
  • The cessation of the Job Retention Scheme will be a key pinch point in the financial recovery journey for all organisations. 58% of social enterprises and 39% of voluntary organisations (which employ staff) have staff furloughed and support will be required to avoid job losses.
  • All organisations, large and small, are suffering from a reduction of income from fundraising which is further threatening the future of the sector. Half of the third sector is experiencing a reduction in income from fundraising
  • Organisations have been entrepreneurial and adaptive during this crisis period. Half of all organisations have changed what they do, or modified how they deliver support to their community and people.  9% of social enterprises have started online trading.
  • Organisations are seeing first hand the impact of COVID-19 on people’s mental health and are very concerned about the immediate and future effect. 9 out of 10 organisations are concerned about the effect of ongoing social distancing and shielding on mental health.
  • Communities have flourished and risen to the challenge of supporting each other. A significant majority of organisations (84%) report that people are looking out for each other and 50% of organisations believe that there has been improved collaboration within the sector 

Ella Simpson, Chief Executive of EVOC said:

“The Sector were delivering support where it was needed immediately it was clear we were in a deep crisis.  We have never been more needed. COVID-19 shone a spotlight on the issues of deep-rooted inequality and poverty which exists in our society – crisis or no crisis. Our sector has a key role in the long hard recovery and in building a better society.  As always, our mantra at EVOC is People, Place and Partnerships – we must re-double our efforts to work together across all sectors as we move forward.”

The full survey can be downloaded here: National TSI Covid Survey

 

#SideBySideEdin – campaign now live!

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A campaign devised by EVOC’s CYPF Network is now live, featuring videos of the experiences of several organisations across Edinburgh. 

You can see all information and videos at the dedicated web page for the campaign here, or on our social media. 

Please share your own experiences and spread this message of support and solidarity with Edinburgh’s charities and the work that they do for children, young people and families across the City. 

Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service 2019

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In September, three Edinburgh-based charities were awarded Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service 2019. These three organisations were: PF Counselling, It’s Good 2 Give and Kids Love Clothes. 

[Read more…]

Community Link Worker Commissioning

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We are pleased to be able to invite you to our upcoming briefings detailing the process for applying to host Primary Care Community Link Workers:

North East: Thursday 3 Oct, 9.30 – 11am @ Hibs FC (Clubhouse), 12 Albion Pl, EH7 5QG

South West: Monday 7 Oct, 9.30 – 11am @ WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove, EH14 2SA

South East: Thursday 10 Oct, 9.30 – 11am @ Gilmerton Society Hall, 27 Drum St, EH17 8RQ

North West: Monday 14 Oct, 9.30 – 11am @ EVOC Offices, 525 Ferry Road, EH5 2FF

Please click on the date for the link to book – we will then send you a pack with the documents and we can plan for teas/coffees.

All of the events are the same, so please choose only one. You do not have to attend the event closest to you if that is not a convenient date.

There are seven documents to download to apply to host a Community Link Worker – the events will provide further info and an opportunity to ask questions.

More information: ian.brooke@evoc.org.uk or Anne.Crandles@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Active not Reactive – A Preventative Approach to Children’s Services

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We recently held a thinkSpace event that brought together third sector organisations in Scotland, as well as representatives from The City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian to develop ideas around system change to improve the lives of children and young people in Edinburgh. 

We were joined by Kevin Miller from Glasgow City Council and Andrew Murray from Safe Families for Children Scotland who presented their model for system change from the North-East Together consortium. A group of third sector organisations in North-East Glasgow have been working with Glasgow City Council over the last two years to expand the capacity of third sector work with more families who don’t require long term statutory intervention.

Analysis

Analysis of the data has shown that the system is at breaking point: approximately 1 in 10 children in the most deprived localities of Glasgow are known to social work, £94.9 million is spent on care placements each year and children received into care have over 60% chance of being accommodated out with Glasgow.

A new approach has started to be developed for families who are not in need of a social worker to prevent situations worsening and statutory intervention becoming a necessity. Change ideas highlighted include: improved partnership working, reallocation of resources and joint assessment procedures, enabling third sector organisations to support vulnerable families to thrive and stay together, reducing the need for statutory services.

Having been inspired by the above concept, we considered how we could shift resources into early action for children’s services within Edinburgh, focusing on the following questions:

·         What does change look like?

·         How do local systems work?

·         What are the barriers to change? 
 

This event is the start of a conversation between third sector organisations working with children, young people and the statutory sector to improve the lives of children and their families in Edinburgh.

Our next event will be held on June 19th in partnership with colleagues from Children and Families Social Work at The City of Edinburgh Council- we look forward to the prevention strategies around models of systems change we can develop at this event.

Active not Reactive – A Preventative Approach to Children’s Services

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Last August a working group of EVOC’s Children, Young People and Families Network met to discuss co-producing ideas for system change within children’s services. The group identified family support as a priority area for investigation.

Join us for a thinkSpace event that will bring together third sector organisations in Scotland, as well as representatives from City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian, to develop ideas around system change to improve the lives of Children and Young People in Edinburgh. 

The purpose of this meeting is to build shared understanding- of change, systems, barriers and solutions- so that we can move on to a more in-depth conversation with The Children’s Partnership in Edinburgh. 

The outcomes of this event will be to:

  • Build stronger strategic collaboration between relevant third sector organisations on partnership and prevention in family support.
  • Find two or three test of change ideas that focus on prevention to take forward in partnership with the public sector.
  • Mobilize relevant third sector organisations to continue to build on partnership and prevention strategies with the public sector over the term of the Children’s Services Plan.

Eddie Kane from Barnardo’s Scotland and Andrew Murray from Safe Families for Children Scotland will be presenting their learnings from the consortium North-East Together. The consortium is made up of third sector organisations in North-East Glasgow, who have been working together to expand the capacity of the third sector to take on more families who don’t require long-term statutory intervention. Analysis of data has shown that a sizable proportion of referrals involve low-level crisis intervention, poverty and/or social isolation. Many of these referrals could be taken on by third sector organisations through improved partnership working and support.  

A wide range of members from the Children, Young People and Families Network in Edinburgh will also be presenting their learned experience and test of change ideas.

The outcomes, ideas and discussions generated at this event will inform dialogue between all partners that provide Children’s Services in Edinburgh about improving early support for families.

A joint event involving EVOC and Children’s Services is scheduled for June 19th 2018 to further investigate system change.

Register your place

Accessing Adulthood – a thinkSpace event

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Making the transition from education and children’s services to adult life is both a daunting and exciting prospect for young people and their families.

The Seven Principles of Good Transitions 3 details the importance of working in a person centred way, highlighting the importance of planning, information and support co-ordinated across all services. 

With locality working, reorganisation within Children and Families and integrated Adult Services, how do we ensure that these principles will continue to be met for all young disabled people and their carers in Edinburgh?

This free event is an opportunity to raise action points for how we address the above question, and will bring together people with lived experience, colleagues in the statutory and third sectors working in planning, support and provision of services.

The event will be chaired by Andy Jeffries, Head of Children’s Services, City of Edinburgh Council, and we will hear from:

  • Young people and parents/ carers with lived experience of transitions 
  • Scott Read, Scottish Transitions Forum
  • City of Edinburgh Council

This will be followed by workshops where we will be exploring what is working well within transitions and what could be improved. We will focus on identifying priorities for improving transitions for young people and their families. 

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE

 

Update on CEC Children & Families Grants Programme

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On Thursday 11th February, there was a special meeting of the Education, Children and Families Committee to consider the recommendations outlined in the new report on Children & Families Revenue Grants to Third Parties 2016/19.

The meeting papers are available here and you can watch a recording of the Committee Meeting here.

EVOC made a deputation at the Committee Meeting based on this briefing paper. We recommended that the Committee establish a Checkpoint Group to review the impact of the grants decisions on all organisations involved and to put together a report on the ‘lessons learnt’ from this process.

We will keep the sector updated on any progress.

Strategic Outcome 6 – Our children’s and young people’s outcomes are not undermined by poverty and inequality

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Kate Kasprowicz from EVOC leads on SO6, but joined the group after much of the work on the action plans had been carried out. As a result there is a disproportionate focus on the contribution of the public sector.

Kate would like to redress the balance and ensure the work of the Sector is included when the plan is refreshed next year. She is looking for voluntary sector representatives to get involved in the work of SO6 and help highlight the excellent work of organisations committed to tackling the impact of poverty and inequality on children and young people.

Further information can be found in the documents below:

If you are interested, passionate and enthusiastic – please contact Kate Kasprowicz.

Integrated Plan for Children & Young People published.

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The Edinburgh Children’s Partnership have published the Integrated Plan for Children & Young People 2015 – 2018.

The Edinburgh Children’s Partnership directs the strategic planning, development and delivery of children and young people’s services on behalf of the Edinburgh Partnership. 

The Partnership’s vision is that all children and young people in the city enjoy their childhood and fulfil their potential whatever their circumstances. To achieve this we place children, young people and families at the heart of all our services and provide support when it is needed throughout childhood and the transition to adulthood. The Edinburgh Children’s Partnership comprises representatives from City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), Voluntary Sector (through EVOC), NHS Lothian (NHS), Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), Police Scotland and Edinburgh College

Read the Integrated Plan for Children and Young People 2015-2018.

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EVOC
525 Ferry Road
Edinburgh, EH5 2FF

T: 0131 555 9100
F: 0131 555 9101
E: info@evoc.org.uk

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