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Finance guide for community run facilities

Scottish Business in the Community have developed a Finance Guide aimed at those running community facilities, the guide can be accessed here but do visit the Scottish Business in the Community website to view additional resources.

Finance Guide for Community Facilities

Wanted: good ideas for play from Scottish Charities

Deadline announced for capacity building fund to help turn great ideas about play into a reality announced.

Charities have until the 1^st March 2013 to apply to the Go2Play capacity building fund for up to 18 months of tailored capacity building support.

In addition to a small amount of financial support, successful applicants could benefit from a unique package of help including business development support, marketing and networking with other organisations.

Earlier rounds of funding have seen support being put in place for projects ranging from the development of play services through a Women’s Aid organisation to an innovative approach to encouraging out of school clubs to play outside!

Speaking about the capacity building fund, Andrew Muirhead, Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive, said:

“This capacity building fund is about finding ideas which have the potential to make a big difference to the lives of Scotland’s children and ensuring Scottish charities have the support and skills to make them a reality.”

The fund will not be able to support applications for core funding or service delivery. Play environments which might be considered for support include, but are not limited to the following;

· Play supporting the curriculum for excellence

· Active play helping children into sport and healthy lives

· Therapeutic play tailored for children with additional support needs

· Play encouraging parental and community involvement

If you’ve got an idea and would like support to turn it from a concept into a reality download the criteria document from Inspiring Scotland’s website and phone Inspiring Scotland to discuss your idea with a member of staff by phoning 0131 442 8760. The first deadline date announced for 2013 is, 1^st March 2013.

This investment is part of Go2Play being delivered by Inspiring Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government.

Volunteering in Scottish Charities Survey

Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) has published its findings from a new and interesting survey: Volunteering in Scottish Charities

The survey, the first of its kind in Scotland, was carried out by VDS to better understand volunteering in local charities and the challenges they face in involving and managing volunteers. The results show that volunteers make a significant contribution in sustaining and driving local charitable activity, with 55% of all local charities being run and supported entirely by volunteers. But more volunteers are needed. Sixty-one percent of local charities said they would like to involve more volunteers in their work.

You can access the report and associated documents on the Volunteering in Scotland website.

SCVO Welfare Reform Survey

The SCVO is working on a mapping exercise for Scotland which will help Third Sector organisations deal with the impact of the Welfare reforms and mitigate the impact on people and communities throughout Scotland. As part of this, they are seeking the views of our sector, please make your voice heard and take part in the survey which can be accessed here.

Generations Working Together – New Website

Generations Working Together is very excited to announce the launch of our newly designed website; and the opening of the booking lines for our annual conference in March. You can browse our site at www.generationsworkingtogether.org

The new site offers the usual features including news, events & training, networks and resources. However there are now easier links to get around; a search bar for finding case studies and resources, and a new funky video page. An exciting new development to the site is the individual sections for each local network, which can be further developed by network coordinators. Each network now contains relevant & useful information for members such as local news, events, training/meetings/events and case studies, all relevant to the local area.

CPP/SOA Guidance

Guidance Document

Smarter purchasing for the 3rd Sector

Is your enterprise feeling the pinch?

Do you need to save money without reducing your services?

The Social Enterprise Chamber has been looking into how the Third Sector can access and benefit from the Government Procurement Frameworks.

Both the UK and Scottish Government’s have set up their Framework to allow Social Enterprises and other Third Sector organisations to buy goods and services at the same price as Local Authorities and Government Departments.

Organisations can start to make savings immediately through the framework with goods such as office supplies, photocopiers, white goods, utilities, paper, computers, IT equipment, mobile phones and connections available.

We have put together a short power point which gives you an overview of the framework and links to the Government procurement websites, should you need more information please contact the Chamber.

National Framework Presentation