News

A new, free to access e-learning course on hepatitis B in Scotland and a “Living with hepatitis B” booklet have been launched by Hepatitis Scotland. The e-learning course has been developed to increase participants’ understanding and awareness of the illness, defining hepatitis B and describes those who may be at risk of infection. It aims to help participants identify the symptoms of acute and chronic hepatitis B, and who should get tested.  The new booklet is designed to assist those who have been diagnosed with hepatitis B and can be used in a variety of settings. 

The University of Stirling is offering hundreds of free places to anyone living in Scotland on a wide range of short courses designed to help boost their career. The courses are entirely online and are funded by the Scottish Funding Council, and are designed to provide participants with specialist knowledge from leading academics to make their CV stand out.

Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) has launched its report on their vaccine inclusion research: “Vaccine Inclusion – Reducing Inequalities One Vaccine at a Time”. The report seeks to explore the key barriers and enablers to accessing the COVID-19 vaccine and how the vaccine delivery model can be improved to reduce inequalities and provide holistic support to those who need it most.

Befriending Networks is delivering a range of online networking events and training opportunities in the coming months, including: Stress Awareness Month Wellbeing event on Wednesday 21st April; Monitoring and Evaluation in a Changing World on Wednesday 28th April; Safeguarding in Befriending training; Dementia and Befriending training.

The deadline for applications to Therapy Train Stirling CIC’s COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills is approaching, on Friday 16th April. The advanced communication course aims to teach empathetic listening, and will be delivered online weekly from Saturday 24th April until mid-December 2021. There are four modules at £365 each, totaling 120 hours.

Volunteer Expo will hold their annual national event for volunteers online this year, on Friday 7th May – Saturday 8th May. The free event aims to connect volunteers, organisations and the third sector to harness the power of volunteering. Speakers this year will include Ben Fogle, Katie Thistleton, Matt Hyde, and Frank Bruno. Volunteer Expo Online is suitable for for all ages, including those looking to make their first steps into volunteering, or for those already actively volunteering.

The Creative Breaks funding programme is now open for applications, with a total of £600,000 available to fund short breaks projects for carers and the people they care for. The programme provides 12 month grants to third sector groups and organisations to develop and deliver short breaks projects and services for carers of adults, young carers, and the people that they care for. Applicants do not have to be a registered charity, but must have a constitution. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday 20th May.

The Falkirk Community Justice Annual Report 2019/2020 has been published and is available to view or download as a pdf. The report summarises the progress made towards achieving community justice outcomes in Falkirk, from April 2019 – March 2020, with a focus on the Falkirk Community Justice Partnership.

The Still Going Project is looking for research participants across Scotland. The project uses the Living Well Falkirk app to help people keep active and healthy in later life, based on research which says there is a set order where people lose the ability to do everyday activities as they age.

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) Scotland would like to hear from organisations supporting people with disabilities, so they can learn more about the barriers that exist to people with disabilities when accessing the outdoors. They have created an online survey to gather this information.