SIAA E-Bulletin - Friday 13th November
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) weekly e-bulletin
This week’s bulletin contains SIAA news, SIAA training, general news, events, publications and consultations.
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SIAA NEWS
SIAA Board Office Bearers
The Board of the SIAA have elected the following members as office bearers –
Chair - Gordon Thomson (Ceartas)
Vice-Chair - Will Massaro-Mallinson (EARS Advocacy)
Treasurer - Moira Nicholson (The Advocacy Project)
A full list of all current Board members can be found here
***Advocacy Map***
Over the next few days a letter with a request for information for the 2008-2009 year needed to update the Advocacy Map will be sent out to all advocacy organisations. The Map shows the demand for advocacy and the local and national spend on advocacy, it also gives a picture of local and national advocacy provision and gaps. Although it is inevitable, when gathering such information, that it is out of date as soon as it is published nevertheless it is important to have this information. When the 2008-2009 figures are published, it will be possible to show comparisons between the situation regarding funding for and availability of advocacy between the 2007/08 and 2008/09 years.
We would be grateful if, when you receive this request, the form could be completed and returned as soon as possible. If you do not receive the letter before 25th November or if you would like an electronic version of the form please contact Muriel on 0131 260 5380 or mmowat@siaa.org.uk
SIAA Training
Misuse of
anti-psychotic medication ***LIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES
LEFT***
A free workshop for advocates working with older people, exploring issues
around the misuse of anti-psychotic medication. This one day event will be
facilitated by an expert in the field on Thursday 26th November in Glasgow. To book a place please e-mail enquiry@siaa.org.uk or download
a booking form from our website at www.siaa.org.uk
GENERAL NEWS
Measuring What Matters
Earlier this year the Community Development Alliance Scotland held a conference on ‘Measuring What Matter’. A report has been produced based on the discussions and recommendations of the conference. The CDAS hopes that this report can help to start a debate about how to base policies on what really affects the quality of life in communities and strengthens them, and how to involve people in deciding what outcomes matter to them. They hope to hold further discussions about the possibilities. For a copy of the report click here.
Make a Will - Make a Difference
Will Aid is offering you the opportunity to have a basic Will professionally drawn up by a solicitor free of charge. In return for this service, the solicitors expect that you will choose to donate to the Will Aid charities the fee they would normally charge. This is a fantastic way to get your affairs in order and at the same time help many thousands of people in need. For more information please see their website.
Caring and Consent
‘Caring and consent: your right to be involved in decisions about the health care of the adult you care for’ is a new resource aimed at carers of all ages. It explains the rights of people who are unable to consent to medical treatment, the rights of their carers to be involved in decisions about their healthcare and the rights of a legal proxy. For more information or to download a copy please see the Health Rights Information Scotland website.
Disability Information Resource Updates – Scottish Accessible Information Forum/UPDATE
The updated version of the Scottish Accessible Information Forums (SAIF) ‘Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision in Scotland’ stresses the importance of making information readily available in whatever format or language the recipient asks for. The Scottish Formats Resource is a useful contribution to this aspect of accessible information containing details of transcription, translation and interpretation services available in Scotland. For more information please see the UPDATE website and the SAIF website.
Charter of Rights for people with dementia
Scotland’s 69,000 people who have dementia, many of whom have been ‘disadvantaged, disenfranchised and disowned”, could have their rights better recognised with the launch of a new rights charter. For more information on the charter please see their website.
EVENTS
Access to Justice – Improving justice for disabled people
The Justice Disability Steering Group (JDSG) would like to invite you to take part in the Access to Justice Conference. Representatives of the disabled people who have taken part in the initial involvement events, representatives for the JDSG and practitioners within the justice sector will have the opportunity to discuss the findings from the involvement events, consider common barrier to justice and make recommendations for the future. The conference will be held on Monday 16th November 09 at the Hilton Edinburgh Airport Hotel. For more information please contact Michaela.crosthwaite@capability-scotland.org.uk, telephone 0131 347 1055 or see their website.
SCVO Lecture Series: 'Making Human Rights Matter'
Professor Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, will discuss 'Making Human Rights Matter' in the fourth of SCVO's evening lecture series. The lecture will take place on Wednesday 25th November, from 5.30pm, Glasgow City Chambers. For more information please see their website.
PUBLICATIONS
Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) free book download
Improvement Team, Scottish Government is funding 400 free PDF download copies of the DSDC book ‘using electronic assistive technology to support people with dementia’. This is only available to people living or working in Scotland. To claim your free copy please click here.
CONSULTATION
Public Sector Equality Duty Specific Duties
There are moves to streamline equality legislation and to introduce a new single equality duty in the UK Government Equality Bill. This consultation provides an opportunity to consider and develop a set of strong but proportionate and flexible specific duties in Scotland. The closing date for the consultation is 15th January 2010 and for more information please see their website or contact Graeme Bryce on 0131 244 2531 or e-mail him on Graeme.bryce@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
Protection of Vulnerable Groups
A new scheme that will better safeguard vulnerable groups and end the need for people to complete detailed application forms every time a disclosure check is required was announced by the Scottish Government. There are nine separate consultations out this week on the implementation of the new PVG legislation. Please see the Scottish Governments website for more information.
CONTACT US
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, Melrose House, 69a George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2JG. Telephone: 0131 260 5380. Fax: 0131 260 5381. Email: enquiry@siaa.org.uk Website: www.siaa.org.uk
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