News

This week’s Funding Insight Bulletin is now live! The insight bulletin is generated by the Grantsonline Funding Portal, the UK’s most comprehensive and up to date UK grant funding information service. Features include a range of funding opportunities and sources groups and organisations in Falkirk can apply for. Some are open to any type of group, whereas others may feature certain restrictions.

The Wise Group has released its September services and opportunities update. Amongst their other services, the Wise Group is involved in supporting Home Energy Scotland and its advice centres, which are currently offering Get Ready for Winter support. Additionally, energy suppliers have begun to open their Warm Home Discount Schemes, where eligible clients could receive £140 off their winter electricity bill. Home Energy Scotland can offer support around this by phone: 0808 808 2282, or email: adviceteam@sc.homeenergyscotland.org

Strathcarron Hospice has announced that their Compassionate Communities Team can offer befriending opportunities for those who have been shielding. The team can help people reconnect with their community after lockdown, offering support for those who have been shielding and need some help to build their confidence in returning to pre-COVID-19 activities and routines.

Glasgow Council for Voluntary Services (GCVS) are holding a series of online conversations titled, “Our World Reimagined (OWR): Big Ideas for a Better Future”. The first conversation, on the topic of “Collective Leadership”, will take place online on Friday 18th  September, 11am – 12pm, via Zoom. This conversation will be led by Janet Whitley, head of Scottish Government’s Collective Leadership Team.

The Massive Get Together is an online fundraising event aiming to raise £500,000 for 10 UK charities through event ticket sales. On Thursday 17th September at 8pm, viewers can enjoy an evening of entertainment, including performances of pop hits, classical music and comedy. Tickets are £10 each.

The Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) is holding a myth-busting Zoom webinar exploring the employment barriers faced by people with learning disabilities, and how employers can help to overcome these. The webinar takes place on Wednesday 16th September, 10am – 11am, and is aimed at (amongst others) people with learning disabilities looking to start work, employers, and staff supporting people with learning disabilities in the workplace. Attendees will hear about how employers can help people with learning disabilities to use their skills and talents to secure and sustain employment.

Places are now available for PATH (Scotland)’s Developing Management and Leadership Skills (DMLS) for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities programme, which starts in October. This year’s programme will be delivered online via Zoom.  The half-day sessions will be held fortnightly October 2020 – May 2021.  The DMLS programme will examine power inequalities, the impact of racism on our culture, and enable participants to recognise and further develop their skills and abilities as managers and leaders. The programme is free to attend, and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

For Scotland’s Climate Week (taking place Monday 14th September – Sunday 20th September), the Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC) has organised a series of online upcycling and climate conversation workshops. The workshops aim to encourage people to tackle climate change, with the full schedule below: Monday 14th September: Fabric Upcycling – Flip t-shirts into tops; Tuesday 15th September: Chair upcycling, including reupholstering; Wednesday 16th September: Chat and Sew; Thursday 17th September: Climate Café – Getting to Net Zero. All workshops take place 3pm – 4pm via Zoom.

Each year, 10th September is marked as World Suicide Prevention Day, where organisations and communities raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide. For 2020, Public Health Scotland has launched a new campaign: United to Prevent Suicide. United to Prevent Suicide is a social movement of people from across Scotland, united in a shared belief that everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide. They have released a new website, and a free stakeholder guide and media images. Individuals and organisations can sign up to the movement via the website home page.

Camelon Juniors Football Club has shared update on the recent fire deliberately set on their grounds. The club thanked Police Scotland and the local communities and businesses for their support during this time. The GoFundMe page set up on the club’s behalf has also surpassed its target of £2,000; however, the fundraiser is still open for anyone who wishes to donate.