Focus Scotland - Winter Edition by WDCVS

FOCUS: S COT L A N D

Winter 2015

THE MAGAZINE FOR VOLUNTEERING AND THE THIRD SECTOR IN SCOTLAND

HEALTH & WELLBEING

CITIZENSHIP

Change Lifestyle

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Placement While Studying New Services

Helping Others Getting Recognised Retirement

Give Something Back

Into Employment Career Change

SOCIAL CHANGE

Use Spare Time

Stronger Communities

Peer Support

EMPLOYMENT

Broaden Horizons

VOLUNTEER

New Skills

Bringing Communities Together

Meeting New People Use Your Skills

Change Your Community

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

Volunteer - Choose your destination. Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go....volunteering can get you there. To book your journey call 0141 941 0886, text the word volunteer free on 80800 or visit www.volunteerscotland.org.uk

FOCUS ON: WHATS INSIDE

Inside... 6

CHILDREN IN NEED

… Update from Paul Liddell

BEFRIENDING

EMPLOYER SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERING

… Reducing loneliness and building friendships

… News from Volunteer Scotland

EDITOR Selina Ross DESIGN Ritchie Marshall PHOTOGRAPHY Daren Borzynski NEWS TEAM Ritchie Marshall Daren Borzynski

ASTBURY AWARDS

LIFE CHANGES TRUST

… Success for RNIB

… Support for dementia friendly communities

ADVERTiSING T: 0141 280 0115 E: ritchie@wdcvs.com PRINT

Stephens & George

Focus Scotland is a service of WDCVS Scottish Charity No: SC032003 T: 0141 941 0886 E: media@wdcvs.com W: www.wdcvs.com

FOCUS SCOTLAND | 3

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

legal structure and we became a company/charity in April 2015. We are working with members as a “whole team” to position SCoD as a “recognised intermediary” and strengthen its leadership and strategic influencing roles. I have been working with the new Board to prepare for a stronger organisation and a more influential sector! Data indicates that one in five people in Scotland experience some level of hearing loss and there are significant opportunities to improve their lives - if only we were all more deaf aware. My professional background is psychiatric nursing. I have worked predominantly in addictions, homelessness and mental health, developing management, organisational and intermediary experience along the way. I have also worked in a number of local authority areas learning about the structures, political dynamics, urban v rurality and economic sustainability. I have experienced serious health issues and some hearing loss too. The unique combination of self-development, skills and experience has led me to SCoD at an exciting time of change and opportunity in the deaf sector. Janis McDonald Chief Officer, Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD) Having taken up the leadership post at Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD) in January 2014, I have grasped the opportunity to promote and support deaf issues across a number of themes: GIRFEC; Older Adults; Education and Culture; Health; Justice. There has also been a need to develop a transformation plan for SCoD and the deaf sector as a whole. I hope my unique set of experiences, skills and learning will help steer SCoD to a key role in the development of equality, access and inclusion agendas. Big issues for a country growing in confidence towards further devolution. SCoD is the umbrella membership organisation for deafness in Scotland and members represent third, public and private sector organisations. It was established in 1927 and has undergone several transformations since inception. As a recognised Charity, one of the first tasks for me was to improve the 4 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

We are currently trying to find some new terminology to reflect the “spectrum” of deafness and work to a definition covering “four pillars”: deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing. With such a wide constituency and topic base, there are significant opportunities and challenges facing our future. I hope this approach will help others to better understand the sector and its issues. It is clear that many do not understand the language and access barriers facing deaf people today. The past year has seen my role building on the relationships within the deaf sector, with a focus on building new, wider and influential relationships across the various spheres of government, more particularly, education and lifelong learning, health and social care, transport and criminal justice. There is no such thing as an average day: I do try and maintain regular contact with member organisations and key activists, continue to build relationships with stakeholders and to target new members. My focus has moved from internal improvements and adopting the

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY principles within EFQM to the development of strategy, policy and partnerships.

CALL FOR COMMUNITY IDEAS AS SCOTLAND CONTINUES TO SHOW WAY ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

eople and communities across Scotland are to be asked what more we should all be doing to tackle climate change. Scotland is already three quarters of the way towards achieving its world-leading target of a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Climate Change Minister Aileen McLeod praised progress made so far saying “In just a matter of weeks international leaders will meet in Paris to agree a new, legally binding climate change agreement. It is fair to say that our future, and that of generations to come, depends on a successful outcome. Climate change affects all of us, so there is a responsibility on all of us to act. But Scotland’s world-leading climate change legislation requires even greater reductions by 2050, as well as action to make up for the fixed annual targets we would have met, had it not been for successive increases to the baseline since the targets were established.”

To date the deaf sector and key funding partners have been receptive to a more strategic approach from SCoD. Our sector suffers from a lack of data and we are working to improve data collection, monitoring and evaluation. I hope to leave a legacy of better intelligence gathering, evidence based planning and cost effective, quality services. We must work with other sectors to secure much better access, inclusion and communication! I have been very fortunate to have been involved in several, innovative partnership developments and I am very proud of the network and positive relationships I have managed to maintain over the years, despite some very serious and difficult phases of partnership development. It seems to me that we need to work hard to make sure our own egos, organisational positions and community engagement work are drivers to effect changes that reduce inequalities and improve lives rather than maintain the status quo: we know many things need to be better! I am probably most proud of my two boys and hope they support my ambition to live between Scotland & Mallorca when I get round to retiring!

She added, “The Scottish Government has pledged £1 billion over two years for climate change action and has put in place a comprehensive package of policies and proposals to meet our targets. But reducing emissions can only be achieved through action by all of us, not just the Government. I would like to pay tribute to the action on climate change being taken by individuals, families, communities, businesses and other organisations right across Scotland. But we need to continue to do more and bold action will be needed in future. That is why, in the New Year, as part of the development of further measures to tackle climate change between now and 2032, we will be asking people across Scotland for their views on climate change and what action we can collectively take.” It comes ahead of December’s international climate change talks in Paris which Dr McLeod will attend as part of the UK delegation. She added: “Scotland’s move to a low carbon economy is delivering jobs, investment and economic growth leadership, and our ambition has been called a ‘shining example’ to other countries by the head of the UN’s climate body.” FOCUS SCOTLAND | 5

FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE

ast week I celebrated my first anniversary working as a National Officer at BBC Children in Need. With the milestone fresh in my mind, I thought it a nice opportunity to reflect on my year, and look forward to my time ahead. I’ve had experience working on variety of funding programmes and, if I’m honest, consider working with BBC Children in Need to be a bit of a privilege. As a Charity we’ve the vision that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood, with the chance to reach their full potential, and helping realise this ambition really is important to me. To be part of an organisation that funds such a range of projects is really exciting, as is knowing that you’re making a real difference to change young lives.

so can support young people affected by a full range of issues. They might be affected by domestic abuse, cruelty or neglect. They might live in a deprived area, be disabled, have mental health or emotional issues: we leave it up to you to tell us what that need is. You know the children you work with best, and we’re here to support your work.

One of things I enjoy the most about BBC Children in Need is that we fund projects for various disadvantages,

Another thing that struck me about the Charity is the sheer positivity shared by colleagues. We aren’t here to

6 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

find fault with applications – although I am sure it can feel that way when we ask questions of your project or if you have received a declination letter – and in some ways our role is to identify strong projects with weaker applications. If your request is unsuccessful we’ll always try to advise ways in which it can be improved. Unfortunately, the demand for support always outstrips the funds we have available, so we have to make sure our funding is focused, benefiting young people from a range of backgrounds and across a huge range of locations. You don’t have to look far to see the money in action, and we are proud to fund good work in every local authority in Scotland. Indeed the generosity of people across the UK means that this year we will awards grants of around £5,250,000 to Scottish projects alone. We have a Main Grants programme for amounts over £10,000, but it is our Small Grants programme where we see simple grants making a big impact. This programme covers grants of up to £10,000, active for one calendar year. I really feel that one of the main pleasures of my job is supporting organisations, and seeing how a relatively small amount can make a big difference. If you’ve spoken to me at any Funding Fairs, you’ll know that is the case, and we’re actively seeking these applications to help increase our support across the country. You can apply for up to £10,000 in a year using a short online application form. I hope this has given you an idea of what to expect from BBC Children in Need and that it has got you thinking about organisations or projects that you think could benefit from our funding. Our next application deadlines for Small Grants are 1st September and then 1st December. The next for Main Grants is 15th September, and I look forward to hearing from you. All the main information you need is on our website http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1N4dd mFHns8VPKjyp3PMYwn/apply-for-a-grant, and we are always happy to help if you have any questions so please feel free to give us a call on 0141 422 7893. Paul Liddell, National Officer for BBC Children in Need.

HEALTH INEQUALITIES STATISTICS RELEASED

cotland’s Chief Statistician has announced the publication of the latest Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities: Headline Indicators report. The gap in health outcomes between the most deprived and least deprived areas of Scotland is reported for a variety of indicators in absolute and relative terms, including mental wellbeing, healthy life expectancy and a range of morbidity and mortality indicators relating to alcohol, cancer and coronary heart disease. The main findings include: Health life expectancy There have been no clear changes to inequalities in male or female healthy life expectancy (HLE) since 2009-2010. In 2013-2014, male HLE at birth in the 10% most deprived areas in Scotland was 48.0 years, 24.3 years lower than in the least deprived areas (72.3 years). Female HLE at birth was 50.6 years in the most deprived areas in 2013-2014, 22.5 years lower than in the least deprived areas (73.1 years). Premature mortality The gap in premature mortality (deaths aged < 75) rates between most and least deprived areas has reduced every year since 2002. This is reflected by a reduction in the gap between the most and least deprived areas in coronary heart disease death rates and alcohol-related death rates (ages 45-74) over the same time period, although recent years have seen a widening of the gap in cancer death rates (ages 4574 years). Taking into account falling mortality rates over time, inequalities in premature mortality have widened in relative terms over the long term and have been stable since 2006. Mental wellbeing The gap in prevalence of below average wellbeing between those in the most deprived areas and least deprived areas has widened between 2008/2009 and 2012/2013. In 2012/2013, adults in the most deprived areas were five times more likely to have below average wellbeing than those in the least deprived areas (26% compared to 6%), indicated by a score of 41 or lower on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). FOCUS SCOTLAND | 7

FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING

TRUSTEES WEEK

rustees are the people in charge of a charity. They may be called trustees, directors, board members or committee members, but they are the people with ultimate responsibility for directing the business of charities up and down Scotland. They are often the unsung heroes, playing a vital role, volunteering their time, working together to make the decisions that really matter about the charity’s finances, activities and plans for the future. Trustees’ Week 2013 (2-8 November) is the fourth annual celebration of trusteeship, to highlight the great work that trustees do, and to draw attention to the opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a real difference - no formal qualifications are usually needed, and many charities need more trustees. People often become trustees to ‘give something back’, but there is a two-way benefit; charities benefit from the range of skills and experience that their trustees bring, but trustees can learn and develop new skills that may open up new opportunities for them, as well as meeting people who share their passion. Most people have skills, knowledge or experience which they can bring to a charity and estimates suggest that almost half of all charities have at least one vacancy on their board. 8 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

Here’s a 10 step guide to recruiting and retaining your trustees... 1. Plan ahead – recruiting a trustee is important to the charities work and direction so take time to plan ahead. Check your constitution for information on the number of trustees, the process for nomination, terms of office etc 2. Think about the skills you need – you should regularly review the range of current skills and experience within your board or committee and identify the gaps and how you could fill them 3. Succession planning – if you know there are trustees who will be stepping down or retiring soon, think now about how you will replace them 4. Diversity matters – you should always try to ensure that your trustees are broadly representative of the community, users and members your organisation serves 5. Information is key – develop an information pack to give to potential trustees including a role description, an outline of the

FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING organisation and its priorities and how to apply

ETHNIC MINORITY LAW CENTRE

6. Stand out from the crowd – think about where the people you want to attract are and how best to catch their attention 7. Recruiting trustees – try to think of recruiting trustees in the same way as other recruitment processes...how will you shortlist? Who will interview and how will you choose? Will you have a shadow period? 8. Induct trustees – new trustees should feel welcome and informed. Making sure your new trustee gets to visit the organisation and meet everyone they need to will help them be an effective trustee more quickly. You should think through a full induction programme for the new trustee perhaps over a 3-6 month period, this will help them to settle in without feeling too overwhelmed! A good induction should cover: • • • • • • • • • • • •

your governing documents your latest annual report and accounts frequency/timings of board meetings and committees minutes of previous year’s board meetings list of current trustees organisational structure background history of the organisation the current organisation strategy/operating plans applicable policy documents including expenses policy, conflict of interest declaration, volunteering policy etc summary of funding and projects outline of main relationships with other organisations information about trustee training and development

9. Board review – every board of trustees should review their own performance at least once a year. This will not only help the organisation to function better but will help trustees to feel valued members of the organisation 10. Say thank you – whether its during Volunteers Week in June or Trustees Week in November always remember to recognise the work trustees do.

he Ethnic Minorities Law Centre (EMLC) is a community law centre that was set up in 1991 to cater for the unmet legal needs of black and ethnic minority communities. EMLC is committed to promoting a socially inclusive and culturally sensitive Scotland which affords BME communities equality of access to justice, rights, services and information through the provision of legal services and access to legal remedies. EMLC provides a range of information, legal advice, and representation in its specialist areas of Immigration & Nationality, Asylum, Human Rights, Employment, and Discrimination law. EMLC operates from two offices which are situated in Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively. EMLC has expanded its service activity by running a number of highly successful outreach projects in areas such as the Highlands, Perth & Kinross and Lanarkshire. More recently, EMLC has secured funding from the Big Lottery to increase access to information and advice services for Black and Ethnic Minorities communities across the whole of Scotland. The Project, which has recently been launched, is called Access to Advice and Legal Services (AALS) for Black and Ethnic Minorities Communities. The main aim of the AALS project is to form partnerships and joint working arrangements with other advice and information agencies throughout Scotland so that the needs of the BME communities can be addressed more effectively. This will include providing increased access to advice, information, and representation where necessary. Furthermore, it will include supporting local advice agencies through the provision of on-demand support via telephone advice, and training in our specialist areas.

If you are interested in finding out about how you can become a trustee, contact your local volunteer centre service or check out the available opportunities on volunteerscotland.org.uk FOCUS SCOTLAND | 9

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

SAVE A LIFE SCOTLAND

national campaign which aims to train half a million people to carry out life-saving CPR recently launched to promote Restart a Heart

Day.

Save a Life for Scotland is the public-facing campaign behind Scotland’s new strategy to improve survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The aim is to train a further 500,000 people in CPR and save an additional 1,000 lives over the next five years.

more than double survival rates. Big screens around the marquee showed videos telling the stories of survivors, bystanders and also giving information and news from the relevant charities involved. As part of Save a Life for Scotland there were many opportunities around the country for people to learn CPR. Many fire stations opened their doors to the public to provide training. Ms Watt said:

The campaign launched at an event in central Edinburgh organised by the Resuscitation Research Group at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Attended by Maureen Watt, Minister of Public Health, and representatives of the partners involved in the campaign, include Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, Defence Medical Services, Police Scotland, St Andrew’s First Aid, British Red Cross, British Heart Foundation, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS). Members of the public were invited to learn the basic skills of CPR, and when to use them. It is estimated that improving knowledge of CPR techniques could 10 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

“When a person goes into cardiac arrest it means their heart has stopped completely. The only chance of saving their life is to restart the heart as soon as possible. If they aren’t in hospital the chance of a medical professional being close at hand is slim. “That is why it’s so important that members of the public know how to do CPR and are confident enough to try it. The Scottish Government fully backs Save a Life for Scotland. Training an extra 500,000 people in this life-saving skill could save thousands of lives over the next few years. “CPR is one of the most valuable skills anyone can

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY have. There are many opportunities to learn, just visit savealife.scot or the Facebook page for more details.”

WDCVS OFFER FIRST AID AWARENESS COURSES

The campaign is also being backed by East Lothian father-of-two Gregor Newton, 45, who received CPR from his wife after unexpectedly collapsing at home in April last year. Gregor said: “It was totally out of the blue. I was fit with no health issues and no health concerns and never expected I would have a cardiac arrest. My son, Harry, found me on the floor and immediately called for his mum, Judy, who was able to start CPR. “She continued with other bystanders until a local Community First Responder made it to the scene and took over, using a defibrillator to shock my heart back into rhythm. I’m very lucky to still be here and now know how crucial it was to have this early intervention.“ Jim Ward, Medical Director, Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “Our Ambulance crews play a crucial role in treating out of hospital cardiac arrest. We have strengthened our response to these immediate life threatening emergencies by targeting them with more crews and additional training. As a result of these changes, the number of people that we resuscitate at the scene has increased by 10 per cent in the past year. “We are committed to providing the best quality response across Scotland by extending our world leading 3RU cardiac arrest treatment model and our training efforts remain focussed on developing and improving resuscitation techniques. We continue to develop models of care with communities and responders in remote and rural areas, along with continued support for CPR training programmes and the introduction of public access defibrillators.’’ Stuart Callison, Chief Executive, St Andrew’s First Aid, said: “We all know that prompt bystander CPR intervention can literally mean the difference between life and death in the event of cardiac arrest. It follows then that the more people who are trained in basic life support, the safer our communities will be. St Andrew’s First Aid is delighted to be involved in this important initiative as it mirrors our own mission that no one should die because they needed first aid and didn’t receive it.” For more information visit savealife.scot, or follow facebook.com/savealifeforscotland

here are many occasions when people take ill or have an injury and the nearest person who can help may not be trained as a First Aider to deal with the situation. This is the point when immediate attention could be critical for the injured or unwell person. We at WDCVS have taken this on board and are offering a basic First Aid Awareness course that will help equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to deal with these situations without being a designated First Aider. The course covers what action to take in an emergency; CPR; recovery position and how to deal with someone who is choking. A certificate of attendance of the two and half hour course will be issued to everyone but this awareness session does not meet the requirements of a qualified First Aider at Work. Emergency First at Work courses are also being offered by WDCVS and they meet the legal requirements of life saving skills that are relevant for the workplace. This course is more intense, lasts six hours and the individual is certificated for three years if they successfully pass the assessment. The course covers what action to take in an emergency; responsibilities and reporting; recovery position; CPR; controlling bleeding; choking; minor burns; basic hygiene; seizures and shock. Both of these courses have a cost and are available throughout the year. Contact firstaid@wdcvs.com for more information. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 11

FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING

BEFRIENDING WORKS

At some point in our lives, everyone needs other people to be around…sometimes for help, sometimes for support and sometimes for companionship. Unfortunately, not everyone has someone who can be there for them. For some people who can become isolated because of ill health, disability or social disadvantage, being matched with a befriender often fills a big gap in their lives. Befriending can offer supportive, reliable relationships linking up volunteer befrienders to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. Around the UK there are many different styles of befriending projects which organise effective support for children and young people, families, people with mental ill-health, people with learning disabilities and older people, amongst many others.

The results of befriending can be very significant. Befriending often provides people on both sides of the befriending relationship with a new direction in life, opens up a range of activities and leads to increased self-esteem and self confidence. Befriending can also reduce the burden on other services which people may 12 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

use inappropriately as they seek social contact. The VC Befriend service has been running in West Dunbartonshire for over 6 years and has gone from strength to strength. Focus Scotland chatted to Mary and Elsie, about befriending and them. Grace Killen, has recently turned 83, but that doesn’t stop her from volunteering and making a difference to other people’s lives. Here she tells us a little of her life and volunteering story….

FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING “I am originally from Motherwell in Lanarkshire but I moved to Ardrossan in North Ayrshire when I was a teenager. I was always close to my sister. She was that bit older than me, and I was a bit like her shadow – wherever she went, she pulled me with her. I always seemed to be by her side. Growing up I also worked alongside her doing laundry.’ While living in Ardrossan, Grace met her husband. “When I married my man, we went to live near Eglinton Road in Ardrossan and that’s where we had our son. It wasn’t the easiest of times. My husband worked away a lot of the time up in the Shetlands, and that meant that I spent most of my time bringing up my son alone. It could be difficult there was always so much to do and cope with but luckily I had good neighbours around me and they kept an eye on me and were really helpful. They were very supportive of me. Once my son had grown up a bit, I went back to work. I worked as a housemaid cleaning bedrooms in the hotels along the coast. I must have worked in every hotel in Ardrossan. I worked in the Seamill Hydro too, everywhere up and down the coast. I did it for a long time right up until I left the area.” Deciding to follow her family, Grace moved away from Ardrossan and into West Dunbartonshire, moving into the village of Renton. “I moved to Renton because my sister lived there and then my son had moved there too. When I moved to Renton, I didn’t really know anyone apart from them. It was a big change after living for 60 years in Ardrossan. Everything was new to me. I felt quite lonely even with some family around. I never went anywhere by myself, I didn’t know my way around the place.” Grace lived in Waterside View Housing Complex in Renton where care services are available for residents if they need them. “The staff were all very nice to me and it was a lovely place but I still felt alone. One day I was chatting to Karen, one of the care staff, and I said about not getting out to go shopping and how much that was getting me down. She said to leave it with her and she contacted Frank at the Befriending Service. That’s when things started to get better for me.” Karen referred Grace to the local volunteer befriending service run by Frank Gow from West Dunbartonshire CVS. After a short assessment process, Grace was matched with Mary. “Once I had my befriender Mary, it all changed. Mary would come and meet me once a week, but that made

a big difference to my life. We went out shopping mostly, and we would go for a coffee or tea. It made my life much better; it was great to have Mary to talk to”.

With the support of West Dunbartonshire CVS and befriender Mary, Grace began to find her way around her new community. “I was so grateful for all the help that I decided that I would like to get out more and do some volunteering myself. I became a volunteer at Ben View Resource Centre, and also at the Dalreoch House Care Home, both in Dumbarton so close by. In Ben View I volunteered at the lunch club, helping out with the lunches and the cleaning up. Then I would go to Dalreoch House to be a befriender myself to the residents there. I mainly spent my time there talking to people and keeping them company.” Thanks to her newfound confidence, Grace made the decisions that it was time to move back home to Ardrossan. “I wanted to give back some of my time as a volunteer down here too. I started with the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) and I volunteer cleaning in the Town Hall. I also help out in the day care service with befriending - talking to people, chatting with them and to helping make sure they are all ok.” Grace was recently awarded a certificate from Ardrossan Lunch Club for her commitment and contribution as a volunteer team member. “I think my volunteering is making a difference to others; they enjoy my humour and the things I come away with. I cannae open my mouth without saying something that makes them laugh.” “Volunteering has made a difference to my life; it has brought me out and made me more confident, and perhaps a little bit cheekier!” FOCUS SCOTLAND | 13

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

he third sector is made up of highly committed staff and volunteers providing vital work in the community and therefore relationships are always happy and constructive with everyone working together towards shared objectives. True? Unfortunately not! As in any group, people do not always agree or get on easily with each other and in charities and voluntary organisations difficult situations can easily arise out of the complex relationships between volunteers, staff, committee members and boards. The very passion, drive and commitment that draws people into the third sector can heighten issues and very quickly escalate disagreements into major disputes. This is not only stressful and unpleasant for everyone involved but can lead to the loss of valuable individuals who choose to walk away from the stress and in some cases can jeopardise the future of the whole organisation. Usually an informal discussion can resolve most issues but not everyone has the skills or confidence to handle potentially sensitive and difficult conversations and sometimes the informal approach just isn’t enough. This is where mediation can help as it involves a skilled, independent mediator who supports both parties in finding a solution to the issues they are facing. The mediator helps people work out and express what their issues are and then explore what options might be available for moving forward. The mediator does not take sides or make judgements but will make sure that everyone gets a chance to tell their version of events, hear the other side, work through the issues that are important to them and make an agreement. The parties to the mediation are in 14 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

control of finding the solution. Mediation is one of the most successful ways of resolving a dispute or disagreement and is particularly effective in “nipping issues in the bud” before they become too disruptive. It is a flexible process and can be used in a wide variety of situations. It is entirely voluntary and is usually much quicker and more effective than traditional dispute resolution methods such as grievance and complaints procedures. Disputes can be very costly not only in terms of the financial impact on the organisation and the time spent trying to resolve the issues but also in the personal stress of those involved and their colleagues. Mediation is an effective way of minimizing these costs but even so the nature of the third sector and its financial limitations means that in many cases costs will be seen as an insurmountable barrier to the use of mediation. To overcome this barrier the Scottish Mediation Network have launched a new service tailored to Third Sector organisations. Anyone in the third sector can phone the Scottish Mediation Network for advice on whether an issue is appropriate for mediation. If it is and both parties are happy to participate, SMN will arrange for a professional, accredited mediator to conduct a mediation at a low cost depending upon the size of the organisation. Organisations with an income of under £50,000 p.a. may be eligible for pro-bono mediation at no cost. For more information or to discuss a specific case contact the Scottish Mediation Helpline on 0131 556 118 and quote “Third Sector”.

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

ARE YOU READY? H eavy rain, strong winds or snow can happen at any time. But taking just an hour to prepare and plan ahead now could save you a lot of trouble later if severe weather strikes. This leaflet will take you through a few easy things you can do around the home and before a journey. Plus ways you could help out in your local community.

check.

If walking in bad conditions take the usual sensible precautions wear appropriate footwear and clothing. • •

Be prepared when you’re out and about. If the weather’s really bad, you should consider whether you need to travel. But if you do; • • • • • • • • • •

Check the weather forecast and road conditions Consider whether you need to travel right now or if you can wait until the weather improves Consider alternative routes Consider alternative modes of transport Allow extra time for your journey Make sure your mobile is fully charged Ensure that your car is ready for a journey in poor weather Consider whether you need to change your driving style to suit the weather or conditions Tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive Consider fitting winter tyres to your car

If cycling, ensure you and your bike are visible to other road users. Consider heavier duty tyres to cope with slippery surfaces and get a routine bike maintenance 16 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

For real time traffic information,visit www. trafficscotland.org For public transport information, visit www. travellinescotland.com

Think about your local community. Some people struggle when the weather’s bad. It’s a good idea to think now about any family members or neighbours who may need a helping hand. If the weather’s bad: • • • • • •

Offer to lend a hand with grocery shopping or other essential task Clear ice or snow from pathways Have phone numbers handy for anyone you think might appreciate your help Get together with other people in your community who want to help out You can find out how communities can work together to prepare for severe weather and other emergencies at www.readyscotland.org You can volunteer to help others during winter by visiting www.volunteersscotland.org

Why not take an hour now to prepare? This could save a lot of trouble later. For more information, visit readyscotland.org

TRAINING PROGRAMME 2015/16

DCVS run a programme of practical courses focused on helping you and your organisations do what you do just a little better. Our training team have years of experience and all of our courses give you practical examples and exercises to make sure you get the maximum from your time with us. All our courses are run at the WDCVS training centre in Clydebank, just five minutes from Clydebank Railway station and Chalmers Street Transport Hub. Course costs include tea, coffee and a sandwich lunch. Courses are run for a maximum of 16 people per session. A minimum of 8 attendees will be required for a session to go ahead. This ensures that everyone gets the maximum benefit from your investment of time. All courses are charged at £30 for a half day session and £50 for a full day course. Organisations sending two representatives to any one session will receive a discounted price of £50 per half day session and £80 for a full day course. A bursary scheme is available for small organisations with a turnover of less than £5,000 per annum. Please contact us for a form to apply.

Training Courses

(all courses run 10am - 2pm unless otherwise shown)

3rd Nov

Report writing

10th Nov

Committee Skills

17th Nov

Supporting and Supervising Volunteers

24th Nov

Time Management

1st Dec

Motivating and Retaining Vols

8th Dec

Customer Care

12th Jan

Exits and Endings

19th Jan

PVG Awareness

26th Jan

Dealing with Difficult People

2nd Feb

Working Safely

23rd Feb

Volunteer Policy

1st Mar

Managing Change

To book a course: Call Gordon on 0141 941 0886 or email inspire@wdcvs.com Can’t find what you need? West Dunbartonshire CVS can provide a broad range of training courses covering charity management and organisation effectiveness. We would be happy to discuss your individual requirements with you. Please contact Gordon on 0141 941 0886 for more details. Timing of the courses doesn’t suit? We can provide courses at alternative times if there is sufficient demand. Please contact Gordon for more information. Terms and Conditions Payment In order to maintain our low prices, we have to insist on payment in advance of the course. If payment has not been received by the course start date, we may not be able to allow you to join the course. When booking, you will be sent an invoice – to avoid any disappointment please pay promptly. All cheques should be made payable to West Dunbartonshire CVS. Transferring or cancelling courses If for some reason you cannot attend a course, you may transfer your place to a substitute delegate free of charge. In the event that you need to cancel or change course dates, the following charges will apply in all instances: • • •

Cancellation 14+ days before the course – free of charge 7-13 days before the course – 50% of fees payable Cancellation 0-6 days before the course – 100% of fees payable

FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING

EMPLOYER SUPPORTED

Do you engage corporate volunteers or employer supported volunteers in your organisation? Volunteer Scotland would like to learn from you about your experiences, what the challenges are and what success you’ve had. Employer supported volunteering (ESV) varies from team building activities to skilled mentoring and board volunteering, as well as individuals taking time out of work for volunteering that’s unrelated to their day job. Employers are increasingly offering the opportunity for staff to take part in volunteering, which is great for increasing participation here in Scotland. Whatever form it takes, ESV provides real benefits to employers, volunteers and the community groups they support: for many volunteers, an ESV programme enables them to participate when they wouldn’t otherwise be able to; for organisations, it’s a key part of corporate social responsibility programmes and workforce development; and for the voluntary organisation and its beneficiaries, the additional support through volunteering means that more can be achieved. Of course, there are also challenges to delivering ESV. For example, voluntary organisations are not always equipped to provide a team building day or might receive last minute requests from employers. We’d like to learn from you about the challenges you face and

how we can support you and employers to make sure the ESV experience is positive for all involved. Volunteer Scotland is looking for examples of how voluntary organisations are working with employers and volunteers to meet the objectives of all groups. We’ll also share learning with voluntary organisations which are new to ESV – perhaps you want to know how to get started, so if you have specific questions, we’d like to hear from you too. If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Adrian.Murtagh@volunteerscotland.org.uk or Jessica.Lightfoot@volunteerscotland.org.uk or call on 01786479593. Volunteer Scotland is part of the Employee Volunteer European Network (EVEN) coordinated by the European Volunteer Centre (CEV). The aim of EVEN is to ‘increase the numbers of employers and volunteer involving organisations with the capacity and willingness to implement good quality employee volunteering.’ As part of this network, we’ll be working with employers and voluntary organisations across Scotland to support effective management of ESV. Let us know if you’d like to take part! FOCUS SCOTLAND | 21

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

2015 ASTBURY AWARDS

he winners of the 2015 Astbury Awards were recently announced. Now in their second year, the awards, named for former VISION 2020 UK Chair and inaugural recipient Nick Astbury, were set up to recognise excellence in collaboration and cooperation within the eye health and sight loss sectors. Highly Commended certificates were awarded to Guide Dogs and Microsoft for the Cities unlocked project ; Henshaws and Guide Dogs for Wheelchair and Guide Dogs training; and RNIB Scotland Dementia in West Dunbartonshire and RNIB learning disabilities specialist training (VILD). RNIB Scotland Dementia in West Dunbartonshire Kerry Garrigan RNIB Scotland and West Dunbartonshire The West Dunbartonshire CHCP Sensory Impairment Team have established a successful partnership to provide a Community Vision Support Service within West Dunbartonshire for people with a diagnosis of dementia. The commendation, for collaborative working between RNIB Scotland and West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, recognised that a significant number of people with 22 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

dementia were experiencing difficulties accessing community eye care and understanding how vision difficulties impact on everyday living. This led to both organisations working together to provide a Community Vision Support Service, delivered by Vision Support Officer, Kerry Garrigan, helping ensure that local residents with a diagnosis of dementia can access appropriate eye care within their own community. Wendy Jack, Strategy and Policy Manager, West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership said “Working closely and creatively in partnership with RNIB Scotland we have created and ensured connectivity between specialist and mainstream services with a RNIB Vision Support Officer Complex Needs. This post has been an integral part of our delivery model; supporting practitioners within other services including learning disability and dementia by providing useful, relevant information; as well as providing user friendly and easy to read information on different conditions and their impact for individuals and their families.” RNIB Scotland’s learning disabilities Specialist training

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY (VILD) RNIB Scotland’s Visual Impairment, Learning Disability and Complex Needs Services (VILD) and UK Practice Development Team (UKPDT) were commended for their support of people with learning disabilities/ complex needs for 20 years and a number of specialist services and training opportunities have been developed. The innovative training developed/ delivered by (UKPDT) is based in direct experience and practice. This commendation for the UK Practice and Development Team acknowledged how the team consult and advocate on key issues affecting people with complex needs to ensure planning and delivery of services at a local and national level includes sight loss. This unique knowledge and training aims to underpin practice and strategy at a number of levels. UKPDT has worked and developed specialist training with a wide range of health, social care and academic partners involved with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Stroke and Dementia. By developing and delivering specialist training which identifies sight loss and offers strategies and tools, this project aims to eliminate avoidable sight loss, deliver excellent, appropriate and timely support to those with a sight problem and equip the Health and Social Care workforce to improve the eye health of the people of the UK. In turn this helps identify hidden

sight loss, enhance the inclusion, participation, and independence of blind and partially sighted people, in particular those who have complex needs. VISION 2020 UK CEO, Mercy Jeyasingham, commented, “We are very aware of how often collaboration goes unnoticed. Important collaborative work goes on behind the scenes in the various VISION 2020 UK Special Interest Committees and elsewhere which produces excellent outcomes but receive little acknowledgement. The Astbury award was created to celebrate this work and to allow us to show how effective and powerful collaboration can be.” Anne McMillan UKPDT Manager with RNIB added, “To be highly commended in the 2015 Astbury Awards is a wonderful achievement. It recognises our ethos on collaborative working and highlights the need to share specialist knowledge, working in partnership, to enhance the quality of services received by people with dementia and sight loss .” To contact the Vision Support Officer, Kerry Garrigan call 0141 952 8030

CELEBRITIES JOIN FIRST CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY ON DECEMBER 18, TO MARK THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE CAMPAIGN. People across the UK are being invited to take part in the age-old tradition of wearing a kitsch Christmas jumper on the day in exchange for a £1 donation, helping to ‘make the world better with a sweater.’ All money raised will help save the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. In the world’s poorest countries, more than 7 million children die every year from easily preventable causes like diarrhoea and malnutrition. Simple solutions, like vaccines and mosquito nets save lives – so by getting friends and colleagues to take part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper day on 18 December, you can help make a real difference. For more information visit www.savethechildren.org.uk/ jumpers and/or www.facebook.com/xmasjumperday and follow on @savechildrenuk #xmasjumperday FOCUS SCOTLAND | 23

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

Resource Efficiency Pledge

– the ideal initiative for cost saving and sustainability in the third sector

usinesses and organisations across all sectors are increasingly seeing the importance of sustainability, both to their bottom line and to meeting customers’ expectations. Resources, such as energy, water and raw materials, are becoming more valuable, so it’s more important than ever that we make the most of them. However it can often be difficult to know where to start or how to measure success, which is where the Resource Efficiency Pledge comes in. A free initiative from Resource Efficient Scotland, a programme of Scottish Government-funded Zero Waste Scotland, the Resource Efficiency Pledge aims to help Scottish organisations to benefit from an estimated £2.9 billion worth of savings by using resources more efficiently. Businesses and organisations making a pledge are asked to commit to completing a minimum of three actions which will help them use resources more 24 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

efficiently. Actions can range from simple low or no cost measures, to more complex changes, depending on how far along the environmental journey the organisation is. Organisations can choose from ready-made actions or customise their own – many organisations are already actively encouraging resource efficiency and the pledge simply gives them a way to be recognised by others and show leadership in this area. Resource

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY Efficient Scotland is on hand to provide free advice and support to help organisations to make and complete their pledge, as well as providing a certificate, logo and other marketing materials to showcase their green credentials. The Resource Efficiency Pledge is also supported by a range of ambassadors including 2020 Climate Group and EventScotland – industry leaders who embody efficiency and who can advocate and support the programme. Making a Resource Efficiency Pledge can help organisations to focus their attention and form collective goals for the whole workforce to aim for, making targets more achievable. And the progressive nature of the Pledge means that there’s always motivation to take further action and set new goals. Network Rail, which owns and operates Britain’s rail infrastructure, including Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central train stations, involved their staff in working towards achieving the pledge targets. Keira McLusky from Network Rail said, “We wanted to improve our recycling rates and decided to sign up to the Pledge to benefit from Resource Efficient Scotland’s support and add a bit of pressure to achieve our goals. It is early days and there is still a long way to go, but we are starting to see waste volumes decrease and recycling rates increase. Our staff are encouraged by this progress, and we hope to achieve our targets and be in a position to raise the bar next year.” Getting staff involved is a really effective way to increase impact, and completing Resource Efficient Scotland’s free online training course, Green Champions, is a great action to take as part of the Pledge. The course has been designed to give employees new skills and tools to help improve the environmental performance of their organisation. The training can be completed online or at one of our bi-annual workshops. The Pledge is a great way to show corporate commitment to staff to improve pride and wellbeing in the organisation, in turn leading to staff having a more positive view of the work they do and who they work for. The pledge is also a great way for organisations to enhance their environmental credentials and make a public demonstration of their commitment to resource efficiency at the same time. Customers are increasingly expecting organisations to be green, and the pledge gives them something tangible to shout about their achievements. Organisations such as the Byres Road Traders Association have taken the pledge

a step further and made it their mission to encourage their members to sign up, with restaurant Ubiquitous Chip and tea lounge Cup amongst the first to take up this offer. This ensures that their environmental responsibility extends beyond the organisation itself. Crucially for organisations in the third sector, making a pledge and reducing resource use can help to reduce costs and save money. In fact, one of the actions businesses can take is to complete Resource Efficient Scotland’s online Savings Finder, a free planning tool to help target the best savings opportunities. Simple to use, the Savings Finder produces a report highlighting the energy, water and raw material savings that can be made in an organisation, as well as an action plan detailing step-by-step actions and signposting the latest free tools, resources and funding opportunities. Over 150 organisations are already realising the benefits of making a pledge, including third sector organisations East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action, Cornerstone Community Care, Falkirk Community Trust, and Govan Fair Association. RoWAN (Ross-shire Waste Action Network) RoWAN works with communities in Ross-shire and Inverness-shire on waste awareness and waste prevention activities. They encourage and support householders, schools and businesses to reduce the amount of waste created and sent to landfill. Russell Deacon, RoWAN said: “RoWAN signed up to the Resource Efficiency Pledge to show our commitment to reducing our environmental impact as an organisation and encouraging staff to get on board. “Since making the pledge, we’ve made lots of changes to the way we work, including repairing printers instead of buying new and using less paper. We’ve also been encouraging staff to integrate some of these ideas into their own lives – some of us have even moved to taking four minute showers! “Resource efficiency isn’t just important for the environment, but for a third sector organisation like ourselves, it’s also crucial to ensuring running costs are minimised as much as possible, and I would encourage other organisations to make a Resource Efficiency Pledge.” For more information about the Resource Efficiency Pledge visit http://pledge.resourceefficientscotland.com/ FOCUS SCOTLAND | 25

FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE

STEPS TO COMPLETING YOUR ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS AND OSCR RETURN Are you one of the 1377 charities who submit your OSCR return late? Are you a new Trustee Treasurer and not sure where to start? Are you a new Charity? If you don’t know where to start our quick guide below will help you plan ahead to make sure that you get the return completed and filed on time. Step 1 - Time to Talk You need to find an independent examiner who will agree to examine your year-end accounts? No need to panic...you have 3 options • a. Use the previous year’s Independent Examiner (I.E.)/ •

•

accountant b. If you are a new charity or changing your examiner you can contact your local Third Sector Interface T.S.I they may be able to do the job for you. If not, they will be able to sign post you to an I.E. in your area. Alternatively, you could go directly to the Association of Charity Independent Examiner (ACIE) website www.acie. org.uk and check out their registered members near you. c. If you’re not eligible for an I.E. then you will need to contact a local accountant who will assist with an audit.

Ask for recommendations from other organisations where possible. If you are unsure contact what option is right for you, contact your local TSI for further 26 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

information Step 2 - Picking the Paperwork The Treasurer and anyone else involved in the financial management need to get together. You will need to organise the paperwork for the year end accounts… generally you will need to collate the following: • • • • • • • • •

Bank statements for the last 12 months (and the first month of the new financial year) Record of income for the year (cashbook, ledgers, monthly sheets) Evidence of income you have received - funders letter, membership books etc Record of expenditure for the year (cashbooks, ledgers, monthly sheets) Evidence of expenditure - invoices, receipts etc Petty cash book/sheets Petty cash vouchers and receipts Copy of your constitution List of trustees/committee members

FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE Step 3 - Writing the Trustee Annual Report (TAR) Every charity is required to write a Trustee Annual Report. This should detail your main activities in the year past – your successes, new projects, outcomes achieved etc. The Trustees need to be working on this at the same time as the accounts are being examined so it’s always best to have a plan. If you are unsure of the format of the report, the Office of Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR) has some samples on their web-site. You can also contact your local TSI or Independent Examiner for guidance. They will include the report in your independent examination.

Step 4 Deliver accounts It’s important that you drop off everything with the examiner at the same time. Any missing paperwork could make the process run late and get you into trouble with OSCR. When you drop off the accounts, always leave the contact details of the person who has done the majority of the preparation work and who can answer any questions that might crop up. Remember to ask how long it will be until the report is ready – that way you can ensure that the person signing the accounts is available to sign and approve the accounts on behalf of the group.

Step 5 Information Needed Often examiners will contact you looking for more information – it may be a quick question or require you to find some additional information. Sometimes providing an email address with your contact details can quicken the process – especially if you are out and about a lot or work during usual office hours.

Step 6 Signing Off Once you receive the draft report from the examiner, you will need to make sure that the accounts are approved by the Trustees. It’s always best to pencil in a date for this as early as you can, making sure those needed to sign off the accounts are present. The examiner may also give you some recommendations for your future bookkeeping practices. These should be discussed too. Step 7 OSCR paperwork If your gross income is under £25,000 you will have to complete a general annual return - these will have been sent to the contact on the OSCR register within weeks of the year end date. Annual returns can now be done online. You can register for this by visiting the OSCR website. If your gross income is over £25,000 you will also have to complete a Supplementary Monitoring form. Guidance for completion can be down loaded from the OSCR website or you can ask your examiner for advice. Step 8 Pop it in the Post /Email Nearly there! Pop your paperwork in the post or upload the documents and complete your return at OSCR online (password required for this service). You will need to include: • •

• an Annual Return a Supplementary Monitoring Return (for charities with a gross income of £25,000 or more) a signed copy of annual accounts.

These documents must be sent to us within 9 months of the charity’s financial year end date. For example Year end 31 March 31 December Step 9 – Check the OSCR website Check the OSCR website 2 weeks or so after you submit your accounts just to verify that your annual report and return have been received For more information on anything relating to charity management, contact us on 0141 941 0886. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 27

FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING

t the beginning of December, events will be taking place around the globe to mark World AIDS Day.

Although still a fitting name internationally, here in Scotland it could be argued that the day should now be called World HIV Day as, thanks to developments in medication, very few people are diagnosed with AIDS in the UK. More than three decades have passed since the first diagnoses of HIV and in that time, our understanding of the virus (that, if left untreated, can lead to AIDS) has improved dramatically. Once considered a death sentence, HIV is now a manageable long-term condition and a person diagnosed and on treatment today can expect to live a long, healthy life. Waverley Care is Scotland’s HIV and Hepatitis C charity. Running for over 26 years, our services extend across Scotland. We are an independent charity but also work closely with the Scottish Government, social 28 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

care departments of local councils and health boards including NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. In everything that we do we are focused on making a positive difference to the lives of people affected by HIV or Hepatitis C. The way in which we work with people is very important to the success of our work and we strive to make sure that every person we meet feels respected and encouraged. While we offer dozens of services, it’s always about people. In broader terms, our work is focused on prevention, education, testing and support. Throughout Scotland we’re reducing new HIV and Hepatitis C infections, getting people diagnosed and supporting those affected in whatever ways they need. We’re also busy challenging the discrimination and stigma that many people we work with face. One aspect of our work that is particularly prevalent at

FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING this time of year is encouraging people who may be at risk of HIV or Hepatitis C to get tested – providing peace of mind and, if a diagnosis is made, the opportunity to take control of their health.

COLIN: A TESTING CASE STUDY

To promote our testing work, ahead of World AIDS Day, we will once again be taking part in European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week which takes place from 2027 November. Now in its third year, European Testing Week aims to make people more aware of their HIV and/or Hepatitis status and to reduce late diagnosis by highlighting the benefits of testing. The scale of this challenge is significant. Of the 36,700 people estimated to be living with Hepatitis C in Scotland, over 40% are undiagnosed. Similarly, of the estimated 6,600 people living with HIV, around 1,600 don’t know they are infected. Late diagnosis is a real issue – with individuals likely to be putting their own long-term health at risk and unnecessarily shortening their life expectancy. At the same time, being undiagnosed means that people are at increased risk of unknowingly passing the viruses on to others. As well as encouraging people to access testing at their GP or sexual health clinic, Waverley Care offer our own free, discreet, non-judgemental and confidential testing service for HIV, Hepatitis C and B. The main type of test we use is a Dry Blood Spot test. The test is very simple and involves taking a few small spots of blood from a finger prick that are then placed on a card. The card is sent off to a laboratory and the result comes back in around two weeks. In some parts of the country, we are rolling out rapid HIV testing which returns results in just 20 minutes. A recent development has seen the emergence of HIV home testing kits. Although not without their critics, home testing kits are another route for people to get diagnosed and we are working to ensure that people who receive a positive result have easy access to information about support services. If a person takes a test with us at Waverley Care and the results are negative, we’ll help them to understand how to avoid being at risk from infection in the future. If test results show a reactive result, which may mean a positive diagnosis, we’ll advise them about the next steps they should take and provide practical and emotional support. If someone is thinking about getting tested, they can give us a call and we’ll be happy to talk to them in more detail about how it works, as well as answer any questions or concerns they might have. To find out more, visit www.waverleycare.org.

olin was worried after having unprotected sex and was anxious to test for HIV. He first contacted the Waverley Care team through our profile on a website. Colin was interested in our testing service and the fact that it was informal and anonymous, so wouldn’t be recorded on his medical records. After speaking on the phone with our Prevention and Support Worker about the test, he made an appointment for the following day. At the appointment, Colin explained that he’d had unprotected sexual intercourse twice in the last three months, and he did not know the HIV status of either male partner. Our staff discussed with Colin how the test would work and the options available to him depending on the result of the test. The test was performed and the result was non-reactive, so negative for HIV. Colin was very relieved and accepted the offer of speaking further with our Prevention and Support Worker after the test. He was also given the contact details of other services, where he could get further STI tests. Since coming in for the test, Colin continues to access support and safe sex advice from Waverley Care, both in person and online. Colin now has more awareness of HIV and safer sexual behaviour and feels more confident about looking after his sexual health in future.

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FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

fter an open call for applications for dementia friendly community initiatives, Life Changes Trust were able to fund 14 strong and diverse projects. Focus Scotland will be taking a look over the next few issues on some of the projects benefitting from this funding. Amongst the succesul applicants were two dementia friendly initiatives in West Dunbartonshire who were given funding boosts totalling ÂŁ193,000. The first is a dementia friendly allotment in Dumbarton, set up by Alzheimer Scotland in partnership with local people with dementia and families. The plot is available for people with dementia and their carers either to work in the garden or just to spend time there. The allotment project won Best Dementia Friendly Community Initiative at the 2014 Scottish Dementia Awards, and has been awarded funding of ÂŁ53,000 to allow more members of the community to make use of and enjoy it, as well as to upgrade the allotment to make it safer and more dementia friendly. Produce 30 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

grown there will also be passed on to the community through sales at coffee mornings and carer and friendship groups. Jean Armitage from Alzheimer Scotland said,

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY ‘Alzheimer Scotland West Dunbartonshire Services and Dumbarton Café & Allotment Group are delighted with this award. This money will allow us to upgrade our current allotment and will also employ a community activities organiser who will co-ordinate the existing work and engage the wider community to grow our cafés across West Dunbartonshire and further develop the initiative. The steering group is driven by people with dementia and carers who have organised tea dances, carers who have organised coffee mornings and families who participate in awareness raising and fund raising events. We will continue this policy of inclusion at all stages of the project. Alzheimer Scotland’s role is to support and facilitate with a view to progressing the group and the initiative towards selfmanagement and self-sustainability.’ Frances Watt, a carer, said ‘I am sure I can speak for the other members of the group when I say that we are delighted that Life Changes Trust are supporting us with taking this project forward, as it will make an enormous difference to families like ourselves’. The second project is a dementia friendly community project encompassing 22 separate neighbourhoods across West Dunbartonshire. With £140,000 funding, they will show local businesses, GP’s, health care professionals and service providers across the region how to become more dementia friendly. They will also address the social needs of people with dementia and their carers to make sure their quality of life and activities are not reduced and they can continue to do the things that matter most to them. The initiative is a result of a partnership involving West Dunbartonshire CVS, West Dunbartonshire Community Health and Care Partnership, Scottish Care, West Dunbartonshire Council and RNIB. Selina Ross, Chief Executive of the West Dunbartonshire CVS said “The funding will assist us to develop localised dementia friendly communities throughout our area, helping to create a more Dementia Friendly West Dunbartonshire. Dementia affects everyone in the community and we believe it takes the input of the community to support someone to live to their potential. Our initiative focuses on capturing the desires and aspirations of our residents living with dementia and helping support the community infrastructure around them at the most local level. A strong partnership approach is important. We will provide awareness raising activities spanning the community as a whole, all aiming to ensure that our citizens are

supported to sustain the activities and experiences that matter most to them throughout their lives.” Anna Buchanan, Director of the Life Changes Trust dementia programme said, ‘Both of these initiatives will really help people living with dementia, and carers, because they provide environments that include – rather than exclude – people whose daily lives are affected by dementia. We look forward to seeing the results of these projects and finding out how others in Scotland can learn from them. Although one is large and one is small, each puts the needs and voices of people affected by dementia first, so they feel safe, valued and part of their own communities.’ Funding has come from the Life Changes Trust, an independent charity set up with a Big Lottery Fund endowment of £50 million to improve the lives of two key groups in Scotland: people affected by dementia and care experienced young people. The Trust will be investing £3million in 14 different dementia friendly communities over the next three years. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 31

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY

Country Roads Campaign

powerful new campaign from the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland (part of Transport Scotland), urges drivers to watch their speed on country roads and help reduce the number of fatalities. Country roads account for the largest number of fatal accidents on Scotland’s roads - over half (55%)1. Last year alone 755 people were killed or seriously injured whilst driving on country roads2 and three out of four of those were men3. Loss of control is the biggest cause of deaths on country roads, frequently associated with driving too fast for the conditions and leaving too little time to react to unpredictable road conditions and hazards. The new ad follows a fictional character losing control of his car on a country road with devastating consequences. The emotional campaign is particularly targeted at young male drivers aged 22-40 who have a higher risk of being involved in a crash, and focuses on what they would miss if they weren’t around, with the strapline: “Don’t miss what’s round the corner. Watch 32 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

your speed on country roads.” Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay said: “We are committed to achieving safer road travel in Scotland for everyone and clearly we are heading in the right direction. However we still have a long way to go, particularly with younger male drivers. This campaign encourages motorists in Scotland to drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions, particularly on country roads as there is a higher proportion of fatalities in rural areas. “We know the risks are associated with inappropriate and excessive speeds, which is why Scotland’s Road

FOCUS ON: SOCIETY Safety Framework to 2020 has speed as one of its priorities and includes a variety of measures to tackle the problem.

POPPY SCOTLAND

We have been making good progress, but there is still more to be done to help reduce fatalities on our roads.” Superintendent Fraser Candlish of Police Scotland said: “We are urging drivers to take extra care on country roads, as you never know what hazards are waiting round the corner or when something unexpected might happen. “It’s important to drive according to the road conditions as driving even slightly too fast can turn avoidable incidents into serious and ultimately fatal crashes. We hope this new campaign will contribute to a reduction of deaths on Scotland’s roads.”

Scotland and Glasgow rugby player, Stuart Hogg, tragically lost his best friend, Richard Wilkinson, in a crash on a country road in 2009 and is supporting the campaign. Stuart said: “Losing my best mate Richard will live with me forever and was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through. It could have easily been me and I think about him every day and all of the things he’s missed out on. “I’m supporting the new campaign to encourage people to take extra care on country roads and I hope I’m doing Richard and his family proud.” The campaign is running throughout Scotland across multiple channels including TV, cinema, outdoor, radio, digital advertising, PR and field and partnership. For more information log onto dontriskit.info or check out the Road Safety Scotland Facebook and Twitter (@ roadsafetyscot) pages. The new ad is available to view at https://youtu.be/yJtTgTWUtQY.

he annual Scottish Poppy Appeal has been launched to raise money for veterans and their families. Poppyscotland, the charity behind the appeal, give “life-changing” support to members of the armed forces community in Scotland. The appeal raises more than £2m every year to provide advice and specialist support to veterans. The Poppyscotland appeal for 2015 has a theme of “donate like you mean it”. Colin Flinn, head of fundraising at Poppyscotland, said he wanted to raise money to make sure that “those in the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged and can live full lives”. He said: “The poppy means different things to different people so this year we’re asking people to tell us what the poppy means to them and then, importantly, donate like they mean it. “We can’t achieve this without the public so we are urging them to get behind us and support the appeal once again.” This year’s appeal was launched by Sanjeev Kohli, the actor best known for his role as Navid in the sitcom Still Game, at Glasgow Queen Street station. Mr Kohli shared what the poppy means to him in a selfie booth - one of six booths coming to Scottish train stations over six days. He said: “I’m proud to be launching the 2015 Scottish Poppy Appeal and my poppy means thank you. Thank you to the brave servicemen and women who lay their lives on the line so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today, and thank you to Poppyscotland who look after those who’ve looked after us. “I hope the public will join me in sharing what the poppy means to them and then donate like they mean it so that Poppyscotland can carry on its life-changing work.” FOCUS SCOTLAND | 33

FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GROUP AWARDS

ix local grassroots organisations are to benefit from support from the Community Investment Group (CIG) of HM Naval Base Clyde.

The group has raised over £1800 in the last few months and have worked closely with West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and West Dunbartonshire Community and Volunteering Services (CVS) to help ensure that the donations made their way to small groups where the money would make a real difference. The six groups which each received a cheque for £300 were: Food for Thought - A community led food collection and distribution group for families living in the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven areas. It helps to support families in need during the school holiday period. Helensburgh Contact Centre - Although based in Helensburgh, the centre is also used by separated and divorced families in Dumbarton and Vale of Leven to support ongoing child access. The money will be used to support the purchase of new toys. Bowling Village Hall - The group has taken over running the local community hall and the funding will help support new activities for all ages. Cancer Support Group - The group focuses on activities for people undergoing post-cancer treatment and helps them to re-gain confidence through socialising and support. The donation will help support those 34 | FOCUS SCOTLAND

activities. Clydebank Recorded Music Club - This group of older people get together on a monthly basis to reminisce and reduce their isolation through sharing music. The donation will help the group with hall hire costs. Double L Centre - This community led meeting place is very popular with a range of groups and services. It is always looking to expand their activities and keep its resources up to date – this donation will help the group to do this. Speaking at the event, a CIG spokesperson said: “The Community Investment Group’s relationship with West Dunbartonshire HSCP and West Dunbartonshire CVS is well established allowing the naval base community to support groups that are active in the areas where a lot of us live. Working with HSCP and CVS since 2013 we have donated a total of £7000. We sincerely hope that these latest donations can make a difference over the summer months.” Head of Strategy Planning and Health Improvement with West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Soumen Sengupta added: “The Health and Social Care Partnership are delighted to continue to work in partnership with Babcock’s Community Investment Group to distribute much needed funds to a wide and diverse range of community groups working across the whole of West Dunbartonshire.”

my boss

believedin me when I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

For someone with a mental health problem, what you do makes a difference. Be there. Be yourself. People with mental health problems can sometimes be treated unfairly at work. By being supportive of colleagues with mental health problems, you can help change this. You can make a real difference.

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STOP THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILL HEALTH

www.seemescotland.org

BE INSPIRED BY TIME ...volunteer time is free, but it’s priceless. you can’t own it, but you can use it! #BeInspiredByTime