SIAA E-Bulletin - Friday 22nd January
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) weekly e-bulletin
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SIAA NEWS
The SIAA launch event for the updated ‘Guide for Commissioners’ and the new ‘Evaluation Framework’.
The event will take place 3rd February 2010 at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, 10.00am to 2pm. This is a free event and everyone involved in the commissioning, funding, delivery, receiving and evaluation of independent advocacy is invited. It will be your opportunity to hear about the Government’s commitment to independent advocacy and influence the implementation of these much anticipated documents. If you would like to attend e-mail enquiry@siaa.org.uk to request an invitation and booking form. Places are limited so make sure you book now. We look forward to seeing you there.
GENERAL NEWS
Energy Assistance Package
Ten thousand more families are to get help to save around £900 a year on fuel bills through the Scottish Government's Energy Assistance Package. Central heating systems, home insulation, thermostats and green energy devices will be on offer to low-income families with children under 16.
Homelessness Steering Group
A progress update has been issued by the joint Scottish Government/COSLA steering group. The group's remit includes assessing, informing and influencing progress towards the 2012 homelessness target. For more details go to the Scottish Government website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built Environment/Housing/access/homeless/2012Target
Pilotlight: a registered charity that helps other charities and social enterprises to tackle social disadvantage in the UK.
Pilotlight work with charities to enable them to raise more money, reach more people and operate more effectively. They currently have the resource to take on additional charities and social enterprises in Scotland, across the Central Belt and beyond, including Aberdeen, Fife, Tayside and Perth & Kinross. If you are interested in finding out more, you can either phone the Project Management Team on 0131 243 2768 or email scotland@pilotlight.org.uk or view their website at: http://www.pilotlight.org.uk/index.php
EVENTS
11th February 2010: National LGBT Forum; Race, Religion and Belief
This meeting of the forum, in Perth, will look at the topic of race, religion and belief. As well as a panel of speakers from ethnic minority, religious and LGBT communities, part of the forum will be a roundtable discussion on the topic. They are looking for your ideas and suggestions on what areas you would like to see on the table for discussion. See: http://www.scottishlgbt.org/Events/Details.aspx?id=445 for more information
18th February 2010: It wisnae us! The second of the Glasgow in the Making season.
Find out about the scurrilous connections between Glasgow’s Eighteenth century tobacco lords and the triangular trade – goods, slaves, tobacco and sugar. Presented by author and researcher Stephen Mullen, this talk focuses on the buildings in the Merchant City and highlights Glasgow’s tangible links with slavery is the second of the Glasgow in the Making season. Thursday, 18th February 7pm to 8pm at The Albany Learning and Conference Centre
44 Ashley Street, Glasgow, G3 6DS. Places are free, demand is high. Don’t delay, book today. Email rogan.boon@gcvs.org.uk or call 0141 332 2444
18 & 19th February 2010: The Gathering: SCVO event
This year at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, The Gathering is the largest voluntary sector event in the UK, so make sure you and your organisation are part of it! Thousands of people will attend over the two days – there is something for everyone. You'll have a chance to hear cutting edge debate, meet the sector's movers and shakers and find out what's going on in Scotland's vibrant voluntary sector at the popular exhibition. The SIAA will have a stall and hopefully we’ll see you there too. For more information and to book a place, see The Gathering’s website: http://www.gatherscotland.org.uk/Home/Home.aspx
24th February 2010: Spreading and Embedding Best Practice: Mental Health Nurses Working with Older People in Scotland Conference
This conference, at the Stirling Management Centre, will provide mental health nurses working with older people in Scotland an opportunity to network and share knowledge, ideas and thoughts across the spectrum of care. Workshops will focus on projects and initiatives that contribute to high quality care for older people with mental health problems; legal and ethical issues; and end of life care. It is aimed at mental health nurses working with older people across NHS Scotland. The programme and registration form are available at: www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/mentalhealth
19 – 21st March: Sport Relief
Sport Relief is back! The whole of the UK will come together to get active, raise cash and change lives. All the money raised by the public is spent by Comic Relief to help transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people, both at home and across the world’s poorest countries. So be a part of it… Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief! It all kicks off on Friday 19th March with a day of fundraising fun at home, at work and at school, before a night of special Sport Relief telly on BBC One, packed full of celebrity performances and moving documentary films. For more information see: http://www.sportrelief.com/ and remember, you can “wear it like Beckham” by buying a Sport Relief T-shirt from their website!
TRAINING
29 – 31st January: Speak Out Highlands and Islands
The Equality Network has developed a training course for LGBT community members and allies which will help individuals develop skills as a leader on LGBT equality and inclusion. The course is residential and free to attend.
See: www.equality-network.org/speakout for more information.
CONSULTATION
The Housing (Scotland) Bill, published last week, will end the right to buy on new social housing and for new tenants in social housing. The Bill will also modernise how social housing is regulated by introducing a Scottish Social Housing Charter and creating an independent Scottish Housing Regulator to safeguard and promote the interests of tenants, homeless people and other service users. The Charter will set the outcomes that social landlords should be delivering for tenants. The Regulator will assess and report on landlords' performance against the Charter. For more details see the website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/16342/safeguarding
Scottish Household Survey
Do you use the Scottish Household Survey? Now is your chance to comment on its use and effectiveness. The survey collects information about household income and finances and is a useful source for those working in areas around poverty. It is currently undergoing a review of it’s content and structure and you can participate in a web survey to share your views on how SHS data is used, how useful it is and how it could be improved in the future. Please see: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16002 and respond by 29th January
RECRUITMENT
EARS Advocacy Service – West Lothian
EARS Advocacy Service – West Lothian are recruiting for two New Posts – funded, initially, to March 2011. It is essential that candidates have a health/care/social work qualification (or an equivalent) and/or experience of working with people with a physical disability.
Advocate - Older People in Assisted Living in the community (17.5-hour post). Salary: £23,080 (pro-rata). Responsible for the development/provision of a new independent service to older people in, community ‘assisted living’ settings.
Advocate - Adults with a Physical Disability (35-hour post). Salary: £23,080. Responsible for the development/provision of a new independent advocacy service to adults with a physical disability.
For an application/information pack, contact: EARS, Forecort Business Centre, Ashley Place, Edinburgh EH6 5PX. Tel: 0845 60 70 129. Closing date for applications (both posts) is Tuesday 16 February at 12 noon. See http://www.ears-advocacy.org.uk/
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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