News

Applications to the 2027 Scotland programmes close at 12pm on Wednesday 24th March. The programme offers participants the chance to complete a full-time, paid, 12 month placement in a trust or foundation while receiving extensive professional development from the 2027 team. This year for the first time, they are running recruitment for a Scotland-specific programme stream, with up to 10 placements for individuals based in Scotland.

Social Enterprise Academy and Just Enterprise are offering a series of short online programmes which are designed to help sustain, develop and grow social enterprises in Scotland: “Leading Remotely”, “Rebuilding Income Streams”, “Managing Change”, and “Leading Growth for Aspiring Leaders”. Each programme will involve self-directed online learning and facilitator-led learning on Zoom.

Project Scotland will hold online training sessions next week on the new Youth Volunteering Guidelines, on Monday 22nd March, 10 am – 11:45 am, and Tuesday 23rd March, 10am – 12pm. The Guidelines aim to encourage organisations to explore how they currently recruit, retain and develop youth volunteers, or how they might do so in future.

The Adapt and Thrive programme is open to applications to help third sector organisations and groups adapt to and recover from lockdown. Organisations can apply for grants of £5,000 – £25,000 (£75,000 for a partnership) to allow a range of activities, including reviewing current operations and services in light of COVID-19. The fund is open only until the end of June 2021.

The Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) is offering a new e-learning course, “What is Happening on the Streets with Benzos?”, on the use of benzodiazepines in Scotland. The course is free to access and aims to increase understanding of the escalation of benzodiazepine use, and the associated harms, in Scotland, helping participants identify and understand the physical and psychological effects of the drug.

Friends of Inchyra Park are currently working to bring the Falkirk district’s first outdoor gym to Grangemouth. They have already secured funding to bring 3 heritage trails to the park, which will all start and finish where the gym will be located. This will offer a natural, one-way system in the park, in line with COVID-19 protocols and recovery. In addition, they are working to regenerate the inner swing park.

The Scottish Union of Supported Employment (SUSE) is the lead partner in the Disability Employment Gap Public Social Partnership (PSP). The PSP aims to increase employers’ confidence, awareness, and capacity to recruit and retain disabled employees. They will provide free, online introductory support and training sessions throughout March on topics related to fair and equal recruitment and employment practices. The PSP will also deliver 5 pilot projects over the next 12 – 14 months, and invite employers to note their interest in being involved with these projects now.

Falkirk Council has set up a free online ordering service to allow anyone who needs period products to request them. People can request products that suit their needs best from a range of items, which will be delivered by the supplier straight to the individual. This aims to reduce the risk of people being unable to attend work or education due to lack of access to period products.

Historic Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland are holding “Reimagined Scottish Folklore”, a free online event on Saturday 20th March, 11:30am – 12:30pm. Part of their World Storytelling Day celebrations and hosted by award winning Scottish-Kenyan storyteller Mara Menzies (who will also tell her own story), the event will feature reimagined Scottish folktales, stories and myths, a 21st Century look at some of Scotland’s oldest stories with guests Kirsty Logan, Niall Moorjani, and Sunnah Khan.