News

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has become vital for all organisations since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, St Andrew’s First Aid stocks a wide supply of respiratory equipment, gloves, hand and surface sanitiser (amongst others) to help ensure your staff, volunteers and members are safe and protected.

Training is available through the Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention Framework, supported by NHS Forth Valley. The Framework offers knowledge and skills at different levels, from helping people to be “informed” (Stage 1) to a more in-depth programme focusing on supporting people in crisis (Stage 2: “Living Works Start”). Participants must have completed Stage 1 before accessing more the in-depth programme at Stage 2.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is involved in the Evacuation of People with Disabilities from High Rises research group, and is looking for participants who have experience of high rise living.

Two new dates are now available for Falkirk District Association for Mental Health’s (FDAMH) Essential Listening Skills course, on Tuesday 27th July and Wednesday 28th July.  Both dates are fully funded and will be delivered free to community organisations and volunteers. The one day course, delivered via Zoom, aims to give volunteers working in the community a range of skills and resources to help them tackle challenging conversations.

Following on from the success of their recent “Storytelling” and “Musical Memories” Zoom sessions, Strathcarron Hospice has announced further dates for both, along with a new session on Local History. The sessions are designed to be very relaxed and informal, and are open to everyone; you do not need to have a connection to the Hospice to attend. The sessions all begin at 2pm via Zoom, with the next taking place: Local History Stories and Events: Tuesday 13th July; Storytelling: Tuesday 27th July; Musical Memories: Thursday 12th August.

Roots in Bonnybridge has launched their summer programme, and are looking for volunteers to help out. Volunteers will help set up and clean up for each day, as well as monitoring the children during activities, which take place at Duncan Stewart Park, Bonnybridge and Hollandbush Park, Banknock, on various days in July, and at Herbertshire Castle Park, Denny, in August. The summer programme will run 11am – 2pm each day, though volunteers will be needed outside those times.

Applications are now open for Social Investment Scotland’s (SIS) Ambitions programme, which is specifically designed for those social enterprise leaders with the ambition to scale their impact and build their sustainability. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday 22nd July.

Social Enterprise Scotland is holding an online “Meet the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)” event, on Wednesday 14th July, 11:30am – 12:30pm. The event allows social enterprises (many of whom are also registered charities or SCIOs who report to OSCR) to meet with the OSCR team and hear about their current work programmes and regulations. They will also have the opportunity to put their questions to the regulator. The event is free, though booking is essential.

Earl Gate Energy Centre Limited (EGECL) has launched their new Community Fund, in order to help as many third sector organisations in the local communities as possible. The Community Fund is open to organisations in 5 specific Falkirk Council wards (Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst; Grangemouth; Falkirk North; Lower Braes; Bo’ness and Blackness), and aims to help organisations build stronger communities, reduce social isolation amongst vulnerable people, and strengthen community partnerships and local facilities. Organisations can apply for up to £1,500. The deadline for applications to the first round of funding is 5pm on Saturday 31st July

Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) is inviting third sector groups and organisations to submit digital posters (as pdfs) which tell their story helping the health of those who most need it. The poster theme is “Reaching and serving those who are missing, marginalised or overlooked in health.” Selected finalists will have their poster shown online at the VHS conference in October. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 30th July.