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You are here: Home » Archives for Future Thinking

Bringing Together the Voices of Voluntary Sector Leaders

13 May 2022 By Esther Currie

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

Filed under: Future Thinking, Updates

Filed Under: Future Thinking, Updates

EVOC’s Annual Survey: Have Your Say

13 May 2022 By Esther Currie

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

Filed under: Future Thinking, Updates

Filed Under: Future Thinking, Updates

Introducing THRE – Third Sector Human Rights and Equalities

11 May 2022 By Esther Currie

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…]

Filed under: Future Thinking, Updates

Filed Under: Future Thinking, Updates

Responding to the National Care Service Consultation

29 September 2021 By Esther Currie

PLEASE NOTE: This event has now passed. 

The commissioning for funding and services for health and social care services in the Voluntary Sector is going to change significantly over the next 3 years.

It’s therefore essential that we come together to share knowledge and experiences and offer our Sector’s perspective on the Scottish Government’s consultation on a National Care Service.

The Independent Review of Adult Social Care recommended a National Care Service, with Scottish Ministers accountable for adult social care support. However, the Government has ambitions to go beyond that, creating a community health and social care service that supports people of all ages. This is a big cultural and system change that will need to be supported by primary legislation. Read more about the Scottish Government’s consultation on a National Care Service for Scotland. 

ADD YOUR VOICE TO A SECTOR RESPONSE

To inform a voluntary sector response to the National Care Service consultation we hope you’ll be able join us for an event on Wed 27 Oct (9.30am – 12noon) when we’ll be focusing on 5 different themes linked to the consultation: 

  • Community Commissioning
  • Structural Change
  • Health Inequalities and Prevention
  • Widening the Scope of Adult Care to include Children and Families and Drug and Alcohol Services
  • Fair Work

PANELISTS:

Sebastian Fischer (Chief Executive, VOCAL)
Sebastian has been the Chief Executive at VOCAL since 1994.
He is also an executive board member of the Coalition of Carers in Scotland. 

Maureen Martin (Chief Executive, Edinburgh Development Group – EDG)
Hello, my name is Maureen Martin. I am CEO of Edinburgh Development Group (EDG for short) we established in 1991 to develop services for people with learning disabilities and their parents and carers. EDG works with other organisations to make Scotland more inclusive and supportive communities. Recent developments, Self-managing Co-operatives, Belong Network, and Keys to the Door. EDG is a partner in the newly formed Parent Carewell Partnership

 

Kimberley Swan (CEO, FAIR)
Kimberley has worked and managed in the third sector for nearly 20 years. Her current role for over ten years is as CEO at FAIR (Family Advice Information Resource) an information and advice charity for people with learning disabilities and their carers. Kimberley is the Chair of the Edinburgh Disability Forum with EVOC, which is an information and networking group for managers from the third sector who support disabled people. She is the Co- Chair of the Edinburgh Learning Disability Advisory Group which is a co-production group for people with learning disabilities to engage with the HSCP. She is Co-Convenor of the Coalition of Carers a National Carer Organisation. Kimberley is also a parent carer to her son Frankie who has complex neurological and physical care needs.

Rod Finan (Professional Social Work Advisor, Scottish Government)

Register now & find out more 

 

Filed under: Future Thinking

Filed Under: Future Thinking

Thriving Local Event Series

3 August 2021 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!

Filed under: Future Thinking, Updates

Filed Under: Future Thinking, Updates

Thriving Local Event Series

1 July 2021 By Esther Currie

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. 

Register for the event

 

Filed under: Future Thinking, Updates

Filed Under: Future Thinking, Updates

Open Call For Climate Change Case Studies

8 June 2021 By Esther Currie

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


Download the case study template I Email your case study

Filed under: Future Thinking, thinkSpace

Filed Under: Future Thinking, thinkSpace

Thriving Local & 2021 Election Candidates

19 April 2021 By Esther Currie

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:

  • An Enhanced Role for the Community and Voluntary Sector
    EVOC has a strategic partnership with Volunteer Edinburgh and Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network and this makes up the ‘TSI’ in Edinburgh. In our national manifesto created with the 31 other TSI across Scotland we ask for an enhanced role for the third sector – community and voluntary organisations and implementation of place-based approaches.
  • A structural change in the further integration of Health and Social Care
    EVOC fully endorses the recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care including the formation of a National Care service.
  • An Accelerated Pace in Systems Change
    There is a clear and coherent need to empower communities further to mitigate the ongoing impact of the pandemic. However, this can only be achieved with the right support and resources: ‘If not now, When’, Social Renewal Advisory Board Report Jan 2021
  • A National Plan for Universal Family Support
    We call for a transformation of Scotland’s investment in children and families, shifting spending from dealing with the consequences of failure and inequality to preventing these and enabling children & families to thrive, and an emphasis on wellbeing: Children in Scotland Family Support Campaign & Manifesto 202

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.  

Filed under: Future Thinking, Updates

Filed Under: Future Thinking, Updates

Towards a Thriving Local Community and Voluntary Sector

26 March 2021 By Esther Currie

Days after the 1 year mark of lockdown, we can be sure that the community and voluntary organisations, and social enterprises across Edinburgh have been at the heart of the response to COVID-19 in 2020/21. In the City and across Scotland, you have been active in your communities, keeping people’s physical and mental well-being in tact, so much so, you and I know, it has saved lives and the evidence is there in many reports now being produced.

In coming in to EVOC, I have deliberately wanted to take a listening approach to understand better the state of the sector now, and to capture what we and others learn can for the future. The things that have been important in this crisis have also got incredible value for early intervention and future challenges, whether that be other pandemics or the consequences of climate change.

As part of that, we want to launch a listening exercise 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? What are the conditions for individual citizens to thrive, and be resilient, from the older person to the young, the person from our BAME families or a person with a disability, a carer or a long-term condition?

EVOC had the opportunity to take a paper to the Edinburgh Partnership and also the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board this week. There is excellent work going on at City Council level (New Business Plan) and EIJB work on the Edinburgh Pact which will help bring a great focus and opportunities for communities and individuals. There is in both a discussion of community anchors – both organisations and networks – and we need to work in a way that means there is no wrong door.

EVOC Paper

As part of EVOC’s advocacy and leadership role, being committed to doing the right thing rather than the easy thing, it is important to invert the pyramid and for major anchor institutions like NHS, Council, Universities to be at the service of Edinburgh’s communities. We also hope to do more with our partners, Volunteer Edinburgh and Edinburgh Enterprise Network, and others, whose folk have like you, been at the heart of this… for decades.

In April we will launch a number of initiatives, on-line and off-line, to start a conversation about this and hear from you on what does it mean for our sector to thrive? Above all, what does it mean for the citizens of this city to thrive?

In the meantime my door, and those of the EVOC team, are open to start that conversation.

Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive

Filed under: Future Thinking

Filed Under: Future Thinking

A Message From Bridie

11 March 2021 By Esther Currie

Black and white photo of Bridie Ashrowan, new Chief Executive at EVOC At a historic time for the city of Edinburgh and country, and as we still live with the pandemic that started one year ago, our community and voluntary sector has responded with great agility and inspiring compassion, enabling people to stay out of crisis and cope better. Many reports have now evidenced that.

In coming into this role, I want to say that it is one where I take seriously a deep commitment to listen to you, to our members, our sector and our partners.  This is what will inform what I aim to do, to provide a passionate and informed leadership that will result in greater recognition of your work. My goal is to champion it, and with the EVOC team and board, to enable you to do it well, and help remove barriers for the on-going success of this sector.

Your work – the people of the community organisations, social enterprises and wider voluntary sector – staff, volunteers, boards and partners, has been of great human value at the time of this pandemic. Equally, you are frequently at the cutting edge of prevention, which as we recover from Covid, is essential.

The right support is the place we live and work diagram from the Poverty Commission reportThe publication in late 2020, of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission recommendations, the first after the start of the pandemic in the UK, and the journey committed to now by the Edinburgh Partnership* and City of Edinburgh Council, to ending poverty in Edinburgh in the next 10 years, is highly ambitious. Where do we already play a major part in that and how can we do more now?

We would like to suggest that the systemic changes that are suggested in the recommendations also help us look at what we can do to improve this together, across all groups, from those with dementia, or those disabilities, to the young folk whom this time has cruelly affected.

The current work of the Edinburgh Climate Commission is hugely interesting for the city too – we believe that a nature friendly city is a people friendly city, and are committed to playing our part in that.

I would like to thank Ella Simpson for her work, invisible and visible, and I hope you’ll join in the thanks for her. We are planning a celebration later in the year when we can gather together for a proper celebration on Fri 24 Sep (more details will follow). 

Finally, I am interested in radical kindness, from policy making to championing the work that you do which exemplifies that in every corner of the city, and when it is allowed, I hope to get out to those corners.

Bridie Ashrowan (Chief Executive)

* The Edinburgh Partnership is the community planning partnership for the city. It brings together public agencies, third and private sectors with local communities to improve the city, its services and the lives of people who live and work here.

 

Filed under: Future Thinking

Filed Under: Future Thinking

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