Friday 11th November
If this e-bulletin was forwarded to you click here to subscribe and get future e-bulletins sent directly to you.
SIAA NEWS
Advocacy
for those with long term neurological conditions. A survey of need
The Towpath Trust has conducted an investigation on the need for advocacy for
those with neurological disability. The results of the survey
demonstrate the need for Independent Advocacy for those with neurological
conditions. Read more.
Do we need a UK Bill of Rights?
Given the impact and reach of the Human Rights Act we do not see any necessity to introduce a new UK Bill of Rights. The SIAA share concerns that changes to existing human rights legislation will both weaken existing rights protections and cause distress and confusion amongst those who are protected by the existing legalisation, including the individuals that Independent Advocates support. Read the SIAA response.
SIAA MEMBERS NEWS
Safeguarding
Prisoners with Learning Disabilities
The Advocacy Project tell us about the time that two clients with learning
disability both became part of the prison system and the importance of the Independent
Advocate’s role in supporting them through all aspects of the process. Read the story.
GENERAL NEWS
Big Society a toxic brand in Scotland
Two third sector leaders have lambasted the UK government's Big Society concept, classing it as "toxic" and claiming it carries "too many negative connotations" for Scots. Read more
Legality of Health Lottery questioned
An investigation into the controversial Health Lottery has been launched after concerns it was doing more harm than good. Read more.
Increased sentences for disability murders
The Ministry of Justice plans to amend the Criminal Justice Act (2003), so that sentences for murders motivated by hatred or hostility towards disabled or transgender victims will start at 30 years. This is the same as murders aggravated by race, religion and sexual orientation. Read more.
Reassurance to MSPs over care homes
Health
secretary Nicola Sturgeon has written to colleagues to address concerns over
the future of a care home company placed in administration. Read more.
NSPCC warns 200,000 babies at risk of abuse
Nearly 200,000 babies
born in the UK are at high risk of abuse, research suggests. Read
more.
Dumfries
patient death concerns tackled
A health board has said concerns over the case of a patient who took her life
after coming off anti-depressants before surgery have been tackled. Read more.
How will the increasing involvement of private equity reshape social care?
An investigation by the Guardian showed private equity firms' growing stake in the nation's care homes. Read more.
Incapacity benefits reform will 'impoverish' households, report finds
Report claims Scotland will be one of the worst hit areas of the UK by proposals to reduce the number on incapacity benefits by almost a million. Read the STV article and the CAS response to the report.
Alcohol
charity aims to keep the focus on minimum pricing
Scotland’s
leading drink awareness charity this week backed a new Scottish bill to set the
first legal minimum price for alcohol within the EU after the first was
defeated earlier in the year. Read more
Improving Scotland’s Health
During the next three years over £200 million is set to be spent by the Scottish Government on preventing the ill health caused in part by alcohol misuse, smoking and obesity. Read more.
Access to Work figures underline worrying downward trend
Government figures have revealed alarming new evidence of a slump in the number of disabled people granted funds to make their workplaces more accessible. Read more.
National
Adoption Week - Adoption: The road ahead
Angela Constance, Minister for Children and Young People on the
Scottish Government's aims for improving the current process. Read more.
EDL supporters are young, male and anti-immigration, says survey
Supporters of the English Defence League are overwhelmingly young men who mistrust others and are deeply pessimistic about the future, according to the first significant study of the UK's most provocative street movement for 30 years. Read more
EVENTS
Employee volunteering scheme Information event
Find out more about the scheme which meets local, national, international needs, costs little & employees love. November 24, Edinburgh, Contact helen@ivsgb.org
Consultation: Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill
ThinkSpace event at EVOC aims to gather views on the Scottish Government’s upcoming Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill. Edinburgh, 16 November
CEC Budget Consultation
To provide a strategic perspective on the financial challenges, City of Edinburgh Council supported by key public sector organisations, has arranged to bring together organisations and interest groups from across the city. Edinburgh, 3 December. Read more.
Previously advertised events
Scottish Drugs Forum AGM and Seminar Event. Glasgow, 29 November.
The Impact Of Recession-Related Policies On Disadvantaged Communities. Govan in Glasgow and the Gallatown community in Kirkcaldy. Glasgow, 16 November.
Glasgow’s Healthier Future Forum. Glasgow, 15 December.
Health Inequalities Impact Assessment: An approach to fair and effective policy making
Edinburgh, 17
November.
Equal Marriage
Forums. Edinburgh, 12 November, Inverness, 15
November, Dundee, 16 November, Dumfries, 24 November. Contact Scott@equality-network.org
Information
Officer Support Group, Glasgow 15 November. Contact Shayna.Conn@breastcancercare.org.uk
Mental Welfare Commission Roadshow 2011 Aberdeen, 18 November, Kilmarnock, 25 November.
Children & young people’s mental health indicators: Final event to launch the indicators Glasgow, 25 November.
The British Institute of Human Rights: National Human Rights Tour Glasgow, 30 November and Dundee, 1 December.
Edinburgh: Fatherhood Today. Edinburgh, 15 November.
Institute for Research and Innovation
in Social Services Forum,
Glasgow, 6 December.
CONFERENCES
Previously
advertised conferences
What Future for Social Europe? Beyond
the Current Crisis. Edinburgh, 21 November.
Women in Employment. Glasgow, 19 November. Contact info@scottishwomensconvention.org
TRAINING
Working with refugees, asylum seekers, migrants & EU Nationals
Positive Action in Housing present a one day examining the rights of migrants under UK and European Law including types of barriers faced by different groups and their respective entitlement to services. Glasgow, 30 November. Contact home@paih.org.
Previously
advertised training
UK Disability
Inclusion Training: Coaches & Volunteers. Aberdeen, 20 November. Contact ACraig@sportaberdeen.co.uk.
Managing Aggressive Behaviour. Edinburgh, 18 November. Contact charlotte.lee2@btinternet.com
Motivating
Staff and Overcoming Difficulties. Lochgilphead, 5 December. Contact charlotte.lee2@btinternet.com
Skills for Mentoring, Edinburgh, 22 November.
Moose in the Hoose. Edinburgh, 25 November.
The Adults with Incapacity
Act: What you need to know for compliance, Aberdeen 23
November, Glasgow 9 February.
GCVS training calendar covers September 2011 –
January 2012.
Dealing with conflict. Lochgilphead 10 November, Glasgow 13 December. Telephone 01546 510209 or email charlotte.lee2@btinternet.com
Dealing with self-harm. Edinburgh, 6 December. Telephone 01546 510209 or email charlotte.lee2@btinternet.com.
Mental health
awareness. Lochgilphead,
8 December. Telephone 01546 510209 or email charlotte.lee2@btinternet.com
Assertiveness Skills. Glasgow 24 November. Contact Charlotte Lee on 01546
510209 or at charlotte.lee2@btinternet.com
Personalisation in Practice (Managers/Team Leaders): Glasgow, 22 and 23 November. Contact john.s@scld.co.uk
Communication – really saying something. Kilmarnock, 24 November and Glasgow, 1 February. Contact john.s@scld.co.uk.
Creating easy information Workshop. Kilmarnock, 14 February and Glasgow, 30 November. Contact john.s@scld.co.uk.
Graphic facilitation Workshop. Glasgow, 1 December, Kilmarnock, 15 February Glasgow and 9 February. Contact john.s@scld.co.uk.
PUBLICATIONS
A Life Worth Living
A new report, A life worth living, published by SCVO calls for urgent reform of how we care for older people in Scotland, including calls for more advocacy for older people. You can also find the summary here.
Community Planning Partnerships in the Spotlight
Audit Scotland's new report, 'The role of community planning partnerships (CPPs) in economic development' details recommendations for Community Planning's role in economic development and setting out what the barriers to working effectively across partnerships are when accountability is split between local and national institutions.
Equality for Women At Risk
The Fawcett Society has today published their report, 'A Life Raft for Women's Equality' which accuses the coalition government of 'turning back the clock' on women's equality through the introduction of austerity measures that disproportionately affect women.
Big Noise
Scottish Government evaluation of Big Noise, Sistema Scotland programme: transforming
children's lives through music has been published.
Strengthening Women's Voices in Government
The UK Government Equalities Office publish the findings of the 'Strengthening Women's Voices in Government' public consultation. The Government consulted on a new model of engagement to bring women’s voices into Government. Read more.
CONSULTATIONS
If you would like to contribute to the SIAA response to any of the
consultations below, please contact Erin Townhill at etownhill@siaa.org.uk or phone
0131 260 5380
Independent Advocacy and Welfare Reform
The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee is looking for evidence on Welfare Reform by the 22nd November. The SIAA believe that is important that the knowledge and experience of Independent Advocates is included in this evidence. We are therefore interested in hearing about YOUR experience of welfare reform:
Have changes or the potential changes to welfare and benefits had an impact on your organisation? Are advocacy partners raising concerns about changes to their benefits? Do you have any case studies or statistics that demonstrate the potential impact of welfare reforms?
If you do, please send them to Erin Townhill, Policy and Parliamentary Officer, at etownhill@siaa.org.uk or for more information ring us on 0131 260 5380.
Previously advertised consultations
Consultation Note: The Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011: Various pieces of secondary legislation to support implementation of the 2011 Act. Closes 27 January.
Consultation Note: The Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011: Procedural Rules. Closes 27 January.
General Medical Council update
standards for good medical practice.
Closes 3 February.
The Equality Act 2010: Auxiliary Aids
And Services Consultation On Commencement And Secondary Legislation -
Consultation Paper.
Closes 2 January.
Equality and Human Rights Commission launch consultation on strategic plan for 2012-15. Closes 12 December.
OSCR launches its first Public Focus Strategy. Closes 23 December.
Consultation on Rights of Children and Young People Bill Closes 1 December.
Public Sector Equality Duty Revised Draft Regulations. Closes 18 November.
SURVEYS
The impact of the economic downturn on local support providers
Big Lottery survey aims to provide insight into how the challenging economic environment is affecting those organisations that deliver vital support services to frontline voluntary and community groups.
Previously
advertised surveys
Self-stigma survey in Dundee and
Invergordon
Do carers get the short breaks they need?
Out To Access and your organisation's training priorities
Disabled peoples access to MPs
Fill in a survey on the impact of technology on immigrant lives
Fife acute
psychiatric inpatient care survey. Take the Service
User Survey or the Carer
Survey.
FUNDING
Innovation Fund Programme: applications now open
The Innovation Fund is for work which provides support for older people, enabling them to live independently in their own homes. Find out more.
BIG Announces New Funding Programme
BIG has announced a new £10m UK-wide lottery fund for up to 5 projects. The Millennium Now programme was developed in conjunction with Channel 4's 'Big Decision' which asked members of the public what the £10m should be spent on.
Celtic Charity Fund
For charities in support of children's needs, community action on drugs and projects that develop and promote religious and ethnic harmony. Grants between £1,000 and £3,000. Deadline 31 December. Find out more.
North Lanarkshire Council Tender
North Lanarkshire Council has launched a tender for advocacy services across the Council area. Further detail can be obtained by accessing the Public Contracts Scotland website. Deadline 28 November, 12 noon.
Previously advertised funding
SoLoCo: Crowdfunding
RECRUITMENT
Freelance Advocate, Edinburgh. Partners in Advocacy. Send your CV, availability and your area of expertise (either Children aged 8 and under or Adults with Learning Disabilities) marked ‘Confidential’ to Julie Hogg: julie@partnersinadvocacy.org.uk. Closing date, 21November.
Advocate, Partners in Advocacy, Edinburgh. Full Time (35 hours per week). Around £21,000 pa. To get an application pack, contact elaine@partnersinadvocacy.org.uk. Closing date, 21November.
Self-Advocacy Co-Ordinator for Trinity House, Lockerbie, Part time – 15 hours per week. Starting salary £23232 (pro rata). Dundee Independent Advocacy Support (DIAS). The post is initially funded until November of 2014. Contact office@diasdundee.org for an application pack. Closing date is noon, 25 November
Edinburgh Advocacy Manager: Learning Disabilities, 16+ Adults with Physical Disabilities and Older People Services. Partners in Advocacy. Full time, Salary £28-£30,000 per annum, An application pack can be obtained from edinburgh@partnersinadvocacy.org.uk Any queries should be directed to julie@partnersinadvocacy.org.uk. Closing date: 16 November.
CONTRIBUTIONS
If you would like something included in the e-bulletin please e-mail it to: enquiry@siaa.org.uk by 5pm on Wednesday.
Follow
us on Twitter and YouTube.
Please note that the SIAA is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, Melrose House, 69a George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2JG. Tel: 0131 260 5380. Fax: 0131 260 5381.
Email: enquiry@siaa.org.uk Website: www.siaa.org.uk
Scottish Charity No. SCO33576 Company No. 236526