Corra Foundation is committed to being the best grant-maker we can be. As part of this commitment, Corra is carrying out a full review of the Henry Duncan Grants (HDG) programme.

The review aims to gather the views from a wide audience of people working across Scotland’s third sector. This includes charities who are current Henry Duncan Grant holders, those who have had a grant through HDG in the past as well as hearing from charities that have not previously applied to HDG and EVOC is hosting a local focus group.

To inform the review of the HDG Programme, Corra with support from Arrivo Consulting will carry out a series of focus groups across Scotland.

The focus group in Edinburgh on Wednesday 5 June at 1.30 – 3.15 in the Board room at EVOC https://www.evoc.org.uk/contact-us/ .

We are looking for 10-12 representatives from different community and voluntary sector organisations to share their experiences and views to inform the future of the Henry Duncan Grants Programme.

Focus groups will last for approximately 1.5 hours. Focus group participants will be able to claim back reasonable travel expenses.

If you would like to attend, please click here, which will take you to an Eventbright page to book your place.

We are recruiting three posts to support an exciting new project to work to develop and deliver Edinburgh Recovery Activities – a programme of support with and for the addiction recovery community in Edinburgh; and to develop the necessary structures to commission this service in the longer term.

Full details and paperwork are on our recruitment page

The official EVOC 150 documentary ‘150 Years of EVOC’ has now been officially launched after a Royal premier at EVOC’s premises on 30th April. 

Coinciding with a visit from HRH The Princess Royal to congradulate EVOC on 150 years of fighting for social justice, the documentary, made by Media Education, was premiered to The Princess and third sector colleagues at a very special event. 

The film focuses on EVOC’s origins and history, from working to relieve the conditions suffered by Edinburgh’s poor Victorians to the many organisations that have used EVOC as a springboard, and that now provide support and services to the city’s communities. 

The film is available to view here: 

150 Years of EVOC (with subtitles) from Media Education on Vimeo.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has payed a visit to EVOC, to officially recognise the organisation’s outstanding contribution to the voluntary sector and the City of Edinburgh, mark its 150th anniversary.

 Greeted by the Lord Provost, Her Royal Highness was treated to the premier of the EVOC 150 documentary film and took the time to speak to charities and voluntary organisations that EVOC has either help to set up, supported or launched over the years.

After greeting staff, The Princess unveiled a plaque to congratulate EVOC on 150 years and to officially open our new premises at 525 Ferry Road

Her Royal Highness was then presented with EVOC’s new 150th anniversary publication, ‘Celebrating 150 years: Reflections on EVOC’s history’ and a bouquet of flowers by our longest serving member of staff.

Ella Simpson, EVOC Chief Executive said: “We were delighted to receive recognition from HRH The Princess Royal for our 150th anniversary and the official opening of our new premises.

“HRH has been involved with charities and the voluntary sector for a substantial amount of time and understands the unique contribution the sector makes to communities.

“We know that this day will go down in our history and serves as a reminder for years to come of the important and tireless work that Edinburgh’s voluntary sector does.”

This Royal visit and last month’s Civic Reception mark the end of the Heritage Lottery Funded programme of EVOC 150 events.

Real Talk is set to host Mind the Craic, a community empowerment research project, at the Scottish Story Telling Centre, where ordinary Edinburgh citizens will perform as storytellers for the night.

The event will take place on Monday 25th March from 7:30pm and will centre on people being given the space to share their experience of issues like social isolation, discrimination and poverty and how charity and voluntary organisations have touched their lives.

 

Lily Asch, Real Talk Founder, said: “We are so excited about our collaboration with EVOC and Mind the Craic. We’ve been working with a group of individuals, including both service users and support workers, to empower them in crafting a 10 minute story about some part of their journey.

“The process has included two storytelling workshops and will culminate in an intimate performance at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

“This will allow all who attend to gain greater insight into to what works and what doesn’t for service provision in Edinburgh, to hear true stories and to join in meaningful conversation on the research findings.”

The event forms part of Mind the Craic research project which was was initiated in June 2018. Since then the voices of over 1000 people from disenfranchised groups including people affected by issues like social isolation, mental health issues and discrimination have been gathered.

Virginia Bjertnes, Mind the Craic Project Worker, said: “After hearing all the different experiences during the research, it felt right to provide a setting for sharing and discussing these experiences.

“The event that will convey people’s voices in a lively way and bring depth to the report, contribute to an understanding of the feelings and lived experiences in a way that is accessible for all.”

It is hoped that findings from the research, which is due to be launched as a report an accompanying documentary will raise awareness around social issues in the city and provide a solid base of evidence for the importance of investment in prevention and early intervention.

The Mind the Craic project is an initiative by EVOC in partnership with Volunteer Edinburgh and Edinburgh’s Third Sector Strategy Group (TSSG). This storytelling event will be held in partnership with Real Talk, a social enterprise dedicated to helping people share their experience of mental ill health and celebrating the authenticity of those experiences.

The event is free, but tickets are required. To book please visit https://realtalkmindthecraic.eventbrite.co.uk.

By Alea Ibrahim, Communications Intern for EVOC 150 Heritage Programme

Grab your magnifying glasses, deerstalkers and Dr. Watsons. We need you, Edinburgh. EVOC has accumulated an archive of some wonderful Edinburgh protest and campaigning photos. They are not just part of the Edinburgh Third Sector and EVOC’s heritage, but also form a beautiful time capsule of Edinburgh’s past.

It started off as a huge box of old photos, but the Living Memory Association has done a brilliant job of digitising and categorising them for the EVOC150 project to help preserve these snapshot memories. This is where you come in.

Do you recognise your old neighbour in one of the photos? Is that you holding that sign to protest against dampness? Did your grandmother and her friend protest against the closing of the wash houses?

We need your help in identifying the faces and protests in our gallery to find out more about the stories hidden behind them. 

Help us uncover more of Edinburgh’s past and the third sector. If you recognise anyone in the photos, remember one of the protests or even marched along, get in touch with us.

 

#EVOC150

Twitter: @evoc_edinburgh

Facebook: /EVOCEdinburgh

Email: comms@evoc.org

The EVOC 150 project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with thanks to players of the National Lottery.

 

Lucy Ridley, EVOC 150 Programme Manager and Yasmin Duncan, EVOC Communications Officer joined Lewis Mcfarlane on SAM Radio to explain the work of EVOC, the origins of our 150 year history and our aims for the future.

The EVOC 150 project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with thanks to players of the National Lottery.

SAM Radio is a community internet radio station that caters for adults who have been diagnosed with Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome and it is the first of its kind in Scotland.

For more information about the EVOC 150 Programme, including collaborations and events please contact: comms@evoc.org. 

To provide support to organisations affected by the IJB Grants review, we have commissioned a HR specialist lawyer from Law at Work to provide information, advice and training.  This will take place on Wednesday 19^th December and we have tried to structure the day so you can receive advice on processes and legal requirements as well as the opportunity to have 1-2-1 sessions to provide more bespoke support and advice. 

The workshop is repeated to enable your Trustees/committee members to attend either at the beginning or the end of their working day.

9.30am – 12noon

Participative workshop looking at the law around contracts, making changes and redundancy.  HR Focused and solicitor-led.

12.30pm – 1-2-1 slot with HR Solicitor

1.15pm – 1-2-1 slot with HR Solicitor

1.45pm – 1-2-1 slot with HR Solicitor

2.30pm – 1-2-1 slot with HR Solicitor

3.30 – 6.00pm

Participative workshop looking at the law around contracts, making changes and redundancy.  HR Focused and solicitor-led, to be held in the EVOC Boardroom.

Please book place(s) by emailing dianne.morrison@evoc.org.uk. 

EVOC will be providing further support to organisations impacted by the Health and Social Care grants proposals which we will promote w/c 17 Dec. See  https://www.evoc.org.uk/updates/ella-simpson-evoc-statement-on-eibj-grant-programme-results/  

Edinburgh Integration Joint Board Grant Programme 2019 – 2022 Results

As many of you will be intensely aware, the recommended recipients of the fully reviewed IJB grant programme will be published in the Board papers on Friday 7th December. The papers are recommendations to the IJB and the final decision will be made at the meeting on 14th December 2018.   

For some organisations this will mean stability for three years, but inevitably for others the announcement will bring bad news – closure of services and difficult decisions will have to be made. At EVOC we have been planning how we can offer constructive support to organisations through this time.

Like so many organisations the majority of EVOC staff are part time so most of my team won’t be around on Friday 7th to offer immediate advice and support but Denise Horn (0131 555 9117) and I (0131 555 9105) are both happy to lend a listening ear if that helps.

For ongoing support if you complete our referral form and head it up “grants enquiry” we will work out the best person within EVOC to help you, or signpost you to someone else who can. We have scheduled a meeting early next week to review the potential impact on organisations, services users, carers and communities. We will then be able to respond to the enquiries which have come in – so if you don’t hear from us immediately please don’t feel forgotten. But do call and if we can answer immediate questions we will.

We will be running training courses to support you, whether you find yourself needing to make funding applications to ensure to ensure the sustainability of your organisation, need advice and support to close services or review all your options. We have allocated some funds to be able to provide one-to-one support with consultants on relevant issues such as strategic planning, change management and succession planning. These will be free to any organisation impacted by the grants decisions.

In terms of the broader impact on communities, the IJB and the associated work programmes are very aware of the need to take account of the impact of the grants decisions. I would also urge you to participate in EVOC forums and networks so we can work together to discuss the impact, share ideas and gain support from each other.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions about what else would help.
Ella Simpson
Chief Executive, EVOC

EVOC is delighted to present its first ever podcast, which focuses on our Mind the Craic project. 

This podcast explains what the project is, what it aims to do and how you or your organisation can get involved. 

If you have an idea for a podcast or would like to be featured, please contact: comms@evoc.org.uk

Host: Yasmin Duncan, Communications Officer, EVOC

Guests: Ella Simpson, EVOC Chief Executive Officer, Diarmaid Lawlor, Mind the Craic Chair and Virginia Bjertnes, Mind the Craic Project Worker