You-olo is inviting 16 – 24 year olds with an enterprise idea (can be social enterprise or private business) to showcase their idea at the You-ola parliamentary reception on Tuesday 21st May.

Invitation

High Speed Broadband – Doing it for ourselves

Cross Keys Hotel, Kelso

Wednesday 8th May 2013

Full Programme 

Community Broadband Scotland web site:

“Commercial providers will not provide next generation broadband services to everyone.  At a UK level it is estimated that the major telecommunication companies will provide a service to about 60% of the population.  Public subsidy is therefore required to extend the reach of these services into areas of broadband market failure; often referred to as ‘the final third’.

In Scotland broadband deployment is particularly challenging.  The two mainstream rollout programmes should get superfast broadband to about 85-90% of homes and businesses. Communities in the 10-15% ‘harder to reach’ areas are being encouraged to close this gap by developing their own broadband projects.

This is a free event aimed at rural businesses and communities.

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Mens Health in the Scottish Borders

Information event to support your service in delivering advice to improve men’s health in the Scottish Borders, Tweed Horizons on Wednesday 5th June 2013 from 3pm until 4.30pm.

Scones, Fruit and Coffee/Tea on arrival

Please share this flyer with your networks

The Just Enterprise Marketing & Market Research workshops are offered FREE of charge to members/employees of third sector/social economy organisations however delegate places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Marketing –  9.30am – 12.30pm

Only 10% of social enterprises have dedicated marketing personnel. That is why it is important than non-marketing managers learn how to practically and effectively market the organisation – in what little time they have available. This workshop will focus on practical skills to market your organisation. As a result your organisation could gain a higher profile, communicate more effectively and gain a better understanding of  what customers think of you.

The workshop will cover:

• Introduction to the principles and practice of Marketing
• How to connect with customers
• Communication: one simple tool to give your communication impact

Market Research:  A Beginner’s Guide – 1.30pm -4.30pm

Aimed at individuals in social enterprises who are non-research practitioners but who may need to undertake basic market research within their role, this could be in relation to business planning and management, funding applications or assessing the demand for new products and services. The workshop will provide an introduction to market research including:

• What is market research and why do we do it?
• Different approaches and tools
• Tips and techniques
• Working with external researchers

Venue: Tweed Horizons, Newtown St Boswells

Date: Tuesday 7th May 2013

Time: Marketing 09:30 – 12:30/ Market Research 13:30 – 16:30

As part of Scottish Government’s vision for strengthening Scotland’s communities, a consultation (summer 2012) was brought forward that explored the possible content of a Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill (CERB).  This consultation specifically sought views on whether, and how, current allotments legislation may need to be changed.

A separate consultation is now being taken forward that is seeking to explore further the ways in which the legislation relating to allotments may be amended.  This consultation builds on the responses received to the CERB last summer.

The consultation was launched on 15th April and will run for a six week period, closing on Friday 24^th May.  The relevant documents and response form can be found here

A number of engagement events have been arranged to allow people to find out more about the consultation and how this exercise fits into the wider work being taken forward on the CERB.

Engagements events will be held on:

•  Friday 3^rd May at Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NW at 11:00h-13:00h;
• Tuesday 7^th May at Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow G2 8LU at 14:00h-16:00h; and
• Thursday 16^th May at Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD at 14:00h-16:00h.

Should you wish to attend any of these events please email ( allotmentconsultation2013@scotland.gov.gsi.uk ) at least 72 hours before the event to allow the necessary security arrangements to be made.

 Acosvo in partnership with the Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber and Borders Voluntary Community Care Forum invite you to our Networking Lunch being held at Old Gala House on 14th May 2013 from noon until 4pm.

We aim to gather Leaders of Third Sector organisations in the Borders together in a forum that will share good practice, offer peer support and discuss topical issues and challenges facing the sector with the aim of creating a Borders Regional Network.
We hope you will welcome this opportunity to discuss this and other topics during lunch. We are confident that this event will be a stimulating and convivial occasion and do hope you will be able to attend.
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Information Flyer

Online Booking Form

The GYP Borders Chance 4 Change project is hosting an employability event for young people aged 16 to 25 in the Scottish Borders at the Volunteer Hall in Galashiels on June 19th.

Chance 4 Change believes that accurate and clear signposting to opportunities and services can inspire young people to make positive choices about their lives and employment prospects.

This event aims to do that by bringing together employers, employability support and youth support services.

For more details, see Flyer or contact GYP Borders on 01896 754613.

 15 – 20 April 2013

Scottish Borders Council is holding a roadshow about electric vehicles in towns across the Borders between the 15th and 20th of April. The roadshow will allow local people to speak to council staff and vehicle manufacturers to find out more about how the vehicles are charged both at home and across Scotland and whether such a vehicle would be beneficial for them.

A selection of electric vehicles from Vauxhall, Renault and Citreon will be available to test drive, a full driving licence will be required and a member of staff will accompany the driver.

The roadshow will run from 10am until 3pm each day;

Monday 15th April                    Peebles, Eastgate car park

Tuesday 16th April                    Galashiels, Asda car park

Wednesday 17th April             Hawick, Commonhaugh large car park

Thursday 18th April                 Jedburgh, car park at Tourist Information Centre

Friday 19th April                       Kelso, The Town Hall

Saturday 20th April                 Duns, Jim Clark Room

The Energy Savings Trust will also be at the roadshows on the Monday in Peebles, the Wednesday in Hawick and the Friday in Kelso.

For more information please contact:

John Martin    01835 825119

Bruce Moffat   01835 825213

Third sector engagement with health and social care – where next?

Wednesday 27th February, Glasgow SECC at The SCVO Gathering, 1pm – 4.30pm

Voluntary Health Scotland is working with the Scottish Government, Health Boards, VAS and other national intermediaries to develop an engagement framework designed to improve how health and the third sector work together.

The events programme is part of this initiative. As policy makers and health boards wrestle with how to improve Scotland’s health and address the vast gap in health inequalities, what needs to happen to engage the third sector more effectively in preventative approaches? What opportunities and challenges does the proposed integration of adult health and social care offer our sector? Challenges include how to reduce demand for acute services, how to support people to take control of their own health and social care outcomes, how to ensure people and communities are involved in the design and delivery of services.

Gathering Invite