FOCUS: S COT L A N D
Issue 2: 2013
HAPPY VOLUNTEERS WEEK 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... 10
ONE SCOTLAND MANY CULTURES
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HOW OTHERS SEE US
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INVESTING IN VOLUNTEERS
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NATIONAL FALLS WEEK
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COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANISATIONS
… focus on Glasgow United
… experiences of the Tartan Army abroad
… find our more
… hints and tips to reduce the risk of falls
… news from CHEX
EDITOR Selina Ross DESIGN Ritchie Marshall POLICY EDITOR Martin Docherty PHOTOGRAPHY Daren Borzynski NEWS TEAM Ritchie Marshall Daren Borzynski David Robertson Urvashi Gulati Liz Kelman Drew Davidson
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
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FOCUS ON: MONEY
The Heritage Lottery Fund sets new priorities
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he Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has designated West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and Dumfries and Galloway as priority areas. This means that they want to invest more funding in these particular areas. HLF has recognised that these regions have not submitted as many applications as other areas in Scotland and as such have selected these three places as priority areas in its new strategic framework 20132018. Since it was established, HLF has already given over £588 million to projects which care for and protect Scottish heritage. They are now keen to identify good projects in these regions. Projects do not need to be big or of national importance to receive an HLF grant. Although the organisation has funded large initiatives such as the restoration of Dalmuir Park in West Dunbartonshire, it has a number of programmes designed to support local community heritage. Recently St Joseph’s Primary School in Whitburn, West Lothian, benefitted from a Young Roots award to help them explore their local woodlands. A heritage project can be focused on natural heritage, industrial heritage, archaeology, traditions, museum objects and collections, historic buildings and much more! HLF’s grant programmes can help you run a 4 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
project that will bring benefits to heritage, people and communities. It’s an opportunity to learn more about who we are, and where we come from. Some of these programmes are: Grants Programmes: Sharing Heritage (grants of £3,000 to £10,000) and Our Heritage (grants of £10,000 to £100,000) The Sharing Heritage and Our Heritage programmes are for any type of project related to national, regional or local heritage in the UK. They’re both rolling programmes, meaning you can apply anytime. First World War: Then and Now (grants of £3,000 to £10,000) This new programme (opening May 2013) is for community projects which explore, conserve and share the heritage of the First World War. HLF wants to fund projects which enable communities to understand more about the heritage of the First World War and benefit a wide range of people. In particular, they would like to help young people aged 11-25 to take an active part in the Centenary commemorations. Celebrate (grants of £500- £10,000) This programme is being funded jointly by BIG Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund and
FOCUS ON: MONEY Sport Scotland.
could apply for HLF funding.
Celebrate will fund projects to celebrate the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth. It will support communities to come together to hold arts, heritage, sports and local community celebrations of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as well as allowing communities to celebrate the diversity of the Commonwealth.
HLF would love to hear from anyone who has an idea for a heritage project, large or small. You can contact the HLF team in Edinburgh on 0131 225 9450 or email Scotland@hlf.org.uk, where someone from the Development Team will be happy to talk to you about your project.
Young Roots (grants of £10,000 to £50,000) This programme is for projects that will engage young people (aged 11-25) with heritage. Through this programme HLF wants to see projects bring together heritage and youth groups or organisations to share knowledge and experiences. It’s an opportunity to celebrate heritage and can give young people the opportunity to develop all sorts of great skills.
ORGAN DONATION....TIME TO TALK
HLF has lots of other programmes, aimed at many different types of heritage. You can find details of all programmes at www.hlf.org.uk Case Studies: The Johnstone History Society was awarded a grant of £29,100 to allow them to set up a local History Museum in Johnstone. The History Society has a wealth of knowledge about the local area that they have developed from years of collecting local stories, artefacts and photographs. This project gave the group the opportunity to share this knowledge and collections with their wider community. Individuals also had the opportunity to learn new skills, from IT skills to writing publicity material. The museum is staffed by volunteers, and is in a small unit of the local supermarket. This means that the museum is very accessible, and has lots of passers by. The museum has recently celebrated being open for 5 years, and the History Society is pleased to see that the museum has had lots of visitors and continues to be very popular locally.
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his year we want to encourage more people than ever before to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and to talk to their close family and friends about their donation wishes. Organ donation Facts! • • • • • • •
Montrose Air Station Trust received a grant under the Young Roots programme which allowed them to repair and restore aviation artefacts. By working with young people, and listening to what they wanted to do, this group ran a project that allowed young people to learn new skills. The young people helped to restore some objects and prepare them to be displayed, as well as being involved in the creation of an exhibition at the Air Station. The project was linked to the young peoples Duke of Edinburgh Award, and allowed them to complete sections of the award through this project.
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Currently 10,000 people in the UK need a transplant 3 people every day die whilst waiting for a transplant 96% of us would take an organ if we needed one 28% are currently on the register Age isn’t a barrier to being an organ and or a tissue donor Only 50% of those who wish to donate organs after their death let their families know Organs which can be donated – kidney, heart, liver, lung, pancreas Tissues which can be donated – corneas, skin, bone, tendon, cartilage, heart valves Over 3,000 people in the UK every year benefit
The NHS Organ Donor Register is a confidential, computerised database that you join if you wish to donate your organs after death. The register has more than 18 million members. It is simple to get involved visit the website organdonationscotland.org
These are just a few examples of what sort of project FOCUS SCOTLAND | 5
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
The clothes I wear are part of my heritage and make me who I am. Isra Mohammed Shahani, Somalia.
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FOCUS ON: SOCIETY in Scotland. For the majority, who have nothing, the charity issues an emergency grant from the Refugee Survival Trust, which pays for a bus ticket to the Home Office in Croydon, where they must make their initial claim. Advice staff also provides a hot meal, advice and advocacy, somewhere to rest until people have to continue their journey and a sympathetic ear. Glasgow is still the only city to accept asylum seekers north of the border. The housing provided is basic, as is the financial support to which they are entitled.
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cottish Refugee Council is the leading Scottish charity dedicated to providing advice and information for people who have fled horrific situations around the world. It aims to provide advice, support and a listening ear to help people seeking protection and trying to rebuild their lives here in Scotland. As an organisation, it believes passionately in a Scotland where people seeking sanctuary from persecution can live in safety and dignity. Services are based in Glasgow, with around 1,000 advice sessions every month from the city centre One Stop advice service and hundreds more from the Scottish Induction Service, based in the north of the city, supporting newly arrived asylum seekers Refugees have sought sanctuary in Scotland for centuries. In living memory Scotland has provided sanctuary for Jews escaping the Nazi Holocaust, Europeans escaping wars in Europe, and more recently people displaced by conflicts, persecution and the denial of human rights from Yugoslavia to Darfur and Rwanda. Under the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution in a safe country. Today refugees come from all over the world; Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Eritrea - wherever conflict is rife, or human rights abuses are common. Over the last year, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people fleeing Syria’s violent civil war. Refugees from Libya also increased as violence there escalated.
Asylum seekers currently (2013) receive only 65 per cent of the income support levels for under 25s, and 51 per cent of levels for over 25s and lone parents. In 2013 this stands at just £71 for over 25s and lone parents, well below the 60 per cent of male median earnings (£119 in 2009) seen as preventing poverty. In addition, they do not have access to many other benefits that others have. For example, if they have a disabled child they do not receive additional assistance. Despite voucher-based systems of support being abandoned by many as stigmatising and unfair, the UK Government continues to support many asylum seekers with the ‘Azure card’. These cards can only be used to buy certain items in specific shops and do not include any cash for bus fares or phone calls. While people are seeking asylum they are not allowed to work. Scottish Refugee Council strongly believes that people should be granted permission to work while their claim is being processed, allowing them to provide for themselves and their families and contribute to society while maintaining their skills at the same time. About a third of those who claim asylum are granted protection either in the form of Refugee Status, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave and are typically granted permission to remain in the UK initially for a five year period.
Most refugees leave behind their homes, many leave friends and family, because their life is in grave danger. They arrive in Scotland with little more than the clothes they stand up in. Many are victims of torture and other forms of extreme violence. The individuals, families and children they see every day are united by just one thing; the need for safety.
Research suggests many more should be allowed to stay. In 2012 Amnesty International examined 50 cases from Syria, Sir Lanka, Iran and Zimbabwe where the UK Government rejected claims for asylum but the courts later decided they should have been granted asylum. In 42 of the cases - all randomly selected - the Judge said the main reason for overturning the Government’s decision was that the case worker had wrongly decided the applicants’ claims were not credible.
Often Scottish Refugee Council is people’s first port of call they arrive in Scotland. But unfortunately, the Home Office does not allow them to claim asylum
Even those whose need for sanctuary is recognised often continue to struggle to access decent housing – most are made homeless due to the need to leave FOCUS SCOTLAND | 7
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY their UK Border Agency funded housing within 28 days of being given status – education and employment. Scottish Refugee Council’s new Big Lottery funded integration team works with them to make that transition easier. But that’s just one side of the story. It’s easy to dwell on the negatives but refugees also bring a whole range of skills, talents and expertise, knowledge and culture with them, which enrich the fabric of our communities here in Scotland. That’s why each year in June, Scottish Refugee Council coordinates Refugee Week Scotland, a unique opportunity to celebrate of the contribution refugees make to Scottish culture. Now in its thirteenth year, the festival reflects the diversity of Scottish society in a wide-ranging programme of arts, cultural and community events. It’s not just about creating a fantastic arts and culture programme, which included comedy, theatre, exhibitions, film, cultural celebrations and even football. It’s also about giving a voice to refugees themselves and raising the profile of the positive difference they are making in Scottish society. This year’s theme is heritage, with as Refugee Week Scotland co-ordinator Suzi Simpson says is relevant to each of us in Scotland today. “It’s about what we inherit from the past; stories, objects, culture and experience, and the way we use this to shape our lives and build our futures,” she explains.
defending their right to freedom of speech in their home country, but equally they could find themselves persecuted simply as a result of their religion, gender or sexuality. “Those who come to the UK, do so to seek one thing – sanctuary. They also come with much to contribute in the way of experience, skills and a real commitment to giving something back to the country that offered them safety. “Refugee Week Scotland is our way of recognising – and celebrating – the fact that their contribution to our society makes it a richer one.”
ASYLUM FACTS •
In 2012 Scotland hosted around 2,000 asylum seekers - a tiny proportion of the world’s refugee population, and around 10 per cent of the total number of asylum seekers making claims in the UK. (Source: UK Government, 2013.)
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Asylum seekers make up less than 0.5 per cent of the population of Glasgow (where the vast majority of asylum seekers in Scotland live).
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Last year, around 20,000 people applied for asylum in the UK. In Scotland, there are currently around 2,000 people receiving support from the Home Office as their claims for protection are processed. The UK is home to less than two per cent of the world’s refugees – out of more than 15 million worldwide.
The organisation sees Refugee Week Scotland as a key part of its annual calendar – a festival which goes a long way towards helping the public understand them importance of the work they do all year round. And with just over 40 staff – and almost as many volunteers who are essential to the running of the organisation in all aspects of its work – there’s plenty of work to do. And often there is not enough funding to go around. This June it is also running the Refugee Assistance Appeal to help fund its work with asylum seekers in crisis. Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council, John Wilkes says: “We are proud to be the leading organisation supporting refugees in Scotland, whether that’s offering practical assistance or campaigning for a more just and humane asylum system. “It’s important to recognise that most refugees are ordinary people and families who find themselves caught up in extraordinary events. They may be 8 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
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If all the refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland gathered at Hampden stadium it would be less than 4 per cent full. Scottish Refugee Council works with and for all refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland. We strive to ensure that everyone who comes here seeking protection is treated fairly and with dignity, throughout the asylum process and beyond.
For more information about Refugee Week Scotland or to download a programme see refugeeweekscotland.com
JACKIE ROSS
Administration Volunteer
STAR APPEAL
Rolling out the red carpet for volunteers throughout Scotland If you would like to be a star in your community visit www.volunteerscotland.org .uk contact us on 0141 941 0886 or text Volunteer to 80800
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
ONE SCOTLAND MANY CULTURES
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nited Glasgow FC founder and Chairperson Alan White recently talked to Focus Scotland magazine about the reasons behind starting a multicultural football team in Glasgow. United Glasgow FC was formed in 2011 to provide a point of access to regular structured football for those who would usually find themselves excluded. Alan currently works for a charity in the higher education sector; his own role sees him take forward a range of quality and diversity work. So how did the football team come about? “I previously worked as a case worker for a charity that supported asylum seekers, called ‘Unity in The Community’. There has always been a nod towards the fact that sport would be useful for asylum seekers, that are not allowed to work and also find it difficult to find volunteering opportunities. Every now and again Unity in The Community would organise a 5-a-side game to give them a bit of exercise, to help with physical and mental health’. This never really took off. When the organiser left the charity, they asked me if I would take over. I wasn’t really that keen on the idea of having 10 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
a 5-a-side game every now and again just between asylum seekers. I decided that I would start a wider team that would bring people from Glasgow, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to play football together. It grew out of that charity and became something much more holistic in the sense that it brought together everyone and the name changed to United Glasgow FC.” Initially most of United Glasgow’s players came from the South Side; this was due to Unity in The Community being based in Govan, Alan explained. “With the way asylum seekers have been housed around Glasgow, quite a lot have been living in the Red Road flats in Springburn. There was quite a mix initially, before we started bringing together local Scottish guys along. We have a real mix from every part of Glasgow, from Milngavie to Shettleston in the East End and East Kilbride. There is a good mix geographically”. Initially people were happy to come along and join in,
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY but the difficulties lay in keeping them coming back. “We originally set it up over one summer and it was a case of training without any real direction or purpose. By joining an existing football league that was set up along the lines of anti racism ten years ago, it gave give a bit of direction to the team. Once people realised that there were games to be played, they would come back a lot more frequently”. Religion also has an effect on the team. “During Ramadan players from a Muslim background didn’t want to train while fasting, we had six players turn up for training. Then all of a sudden we have 35 people turn back up for training’. People have joined United Glasgow FC when players bring friends and if they enjoy themselves they have come back. It must be difficult being an eleven-aside team and to keep all happy, when not everyone can play at the same time. Some people do get a little bit frustrated with lack of game time, but Alan explains they do their best to give people as many opportunities as they can.
Alan and United Glasgow FC are continually trying to create more opportunities and improve the lives and families of all involved. We have tried a lot of stuff, we do actively try and get people to socialise and see each other off the pitch as well. In the first year or so it didn’t really work, it was almost the same people that was running the club that was going to events. Now we seem to be pulling a lot more people in at fundraisers and concerts, we have been learning from the limited success we had the first year. When we previously played in a 5-a-side tournament during refugee week last year, we had no problems to fill it with male teams. There was a woman’s tournament, so we thought we would enter a woman’s team. Of course, we don’t have any contacts with woman teams or know anyone that does, so it fell flat on its face. This year as part of the community project, we have engaged more widely with other organisations who already work in that area, so we are learning as we go.
A growing team has the problem of finding volunteers to take up the roles of coaching staff and board members. “It’s not been hugely difficult. It’s grown organically in the sense, people that were already involved as players have moved into coaching roles. Thomas Maguranyanga joined us a player and after a couple of months it was identified that he wanted to coach and this has been great experience for him. We have also actively put people through coaching badges, as they can’t afford to do it themselves’. ‘We know it will benefit them and the team as a whole”. Since the SFA set up their Football Equity Partnership with Black Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS) they have been very supportive of United Glasgow FC. BEMIS have equality officers in every area of Scotland, and the officers based in Glasgow have been helping put people through Coach Education. The league they play in isn’t affiliated with the SFA, so they have had a limited engagement with them in the past. With this active movement towards embracing equality and trying to get more people from Black and Ethnic Minority(BME) communities engaged, they see teams like United Glasgow FC as a really good opportunity to do that and they try and support them to improve on what they are doing and keep it up. It hasn’t been perfect, but they have certainly helped them a lot in the last year.
As part of the community project in partnership with North Glasgow College and the Hampden Sports Clinic, United Glasgow FC has recently started a youth project. They have received funding from Big Lottery’s Young Start to run a programme for young people aged 18-24 with disadvantaged backgrounds. This involves putting FOCUS SCOTLAND | 11
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Its not just about bringing people together who are Scottish or not, it’s about bringing people together from different parts of the city.
people through qualifications such as Sports First Aid and some access college courses. Alongside that they have been working with the SFA to put them through coaching education courses, with the justification that United Glasgow FC will give them the experience they need if they give back to the club in terms of coaching. “This has been as case of providing opportunities to people from disadvantaged backgrounds, whether that will be from migrant or settled Scottish backgrounds. We will give them opportunities to gain qualifications in education that they mind not have previously had, and also the chance to meet people from different backgrounds that they normally wouldn’t socialise with. It’s not just about bringing people together who are Scottish or not, it’s about bringing people together from different parts of the city. As Glasgow has a really chequered history of football dividing the city, we are really keen to bring people together regardless of what team they support, regardless of neighbourhood or educational background they have. There is divisions throughout Glasgow based on numerous issues and the more we can do to tackle that the better it is. Traditional Anti-Racism or BME football teams, not just in Glasgow, but the whole country have traditionally focused on bringing together people 12 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
from one particular BME group, with teams of entirely African player or entirely South East Asian players. That’s great for a focal point in the community but it doesn’t tackle racism, making a team of black guys play a team of white guys is hardly a great way of forwarding integration in our view. We have been very keen to mix people as much as we can; we don’t sit and plan how to do it, as I said earlier it has come together organically. Guys from very different backgrounds will bring their friends along. From when we started it off and not having enough players for a seven-a-side team to now having 20-30 people turn up every week for training. Others sometimes drift in and out depending on their circumstances; it’s that nature of the groups we work with. We have had players disappear for six weeks and we think they have left the team only to turn up, apologising that they had been put in an immigration detention centre. As Refugee week runs between 17th - 23rd June 2013, do the team have anything planned? “We will be playing in an anti racism football tournament that week, that has been organised by another group in Glasgow. We have other things planned for this summer and possibly a trip to Belfast for the AntiRacism World Cup”.
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PLAYER/COACH THOMAS MAGURANYANGA Thomas Maguranyanga arrived in England after leaving Zimbabwe in 2001; it wasn’t until 2009 that he moved up to Scotland. “In my country, things were very, very tough. My brother was here, so I decided let me follow my brother. I liked it here and ended up having a family and I’m still here today.” Even after eight years in England, Thomas still has some problems with English language; especially our accents. “Yeah, when I came to Scotland, and even today in the team, some of the guys I don’t understand when they talk. So I have to listen very carefully and also at college, there are some people I don’t really understand . I am getting used to it, but it was tough at the time I arrived.” Thomas is a fulltime student at college, studying Sports Coaching and Development of Sport. He is also a playing and coaching football with United Glasgow FC. “It is a volunteering position, and it’s also very good experience coaching these guys. I received my level one coaching badge just last year, and this is a good stepping stone for me”.
“I started having the idea of coaching when I was still living in England, and I was already studying before I came to this team.. Alan and Head Coach Euan McLeod, asked me and I thought that this was a great opportunity for me, so I jumped for it”. This isn’t the only opportunity Thomas has taken to gain experience; Thomas also helps coach with other national organisations to offer support “I also volunteer at Hampden with the SFA, coaching children. Euan and I go twice a month to help the SFA coaches there. They have kids from many countries; some of them have difficulties understanding the language and we support the SFA to coach them. Finally, what did Thomas think of Scotland and the Scottish people?
Thomas had an interest in coaching before he moved to Scotland, but it wasn’t until he started playing with United Glasgow FC that he was giving the chance to show his potential.
“They are lovely and good people. I remember when I was still in England, I thought I would never step my foot in Scotland. ‘’m here today, I’m enjoying myself and I love it at college here, they help me so much. You can see I have a smile on my face.” FOCUS SCOTLAND | 13
FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE
First Minister Unveils Glasgow 2014 Legacy Training Scheme
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thousand new training and volunteering places are to be made available to young unemployed Scots to help them gain valuable employment skills and work experience as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games Legacy programme. Scotland’s Best – backed by £2.4 million from the Scottish Government’s Legacy 2014 Young Person’s Fund – will see 1,000 jobless Scots, aged 16-24, offered a place on a part-time employability programme. Many of the volunteering opportunities will be at sporting and cultural events such as the World Pipe Band Championship, the Gymnastics World Cup and Celtic Connections. First Minister Alex Salmond launched the programme during a Scottish Apprenticeship Week visit to the Glasgow Emirates Arena just days after official statistics revealed Scotland had seen the largest quarterly rise in employment on record, with 54,000 more people in work in this country in the three month period to March 2013 and a 7,000 drop in unemployment. The Scotland’s Best programme, which will give participants a qualification at SCQF level 4, will be administered by Skills Development Scotland and delivered by five training providers: Barnardo’s, Action for Children, the Princes Trust, Volunteer Development Scotland and Jobs and Business Glasgow. 14 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
The First Minister said: “The Scotland’s Best programme is a terrific opportunity, which will see one thousand unemployed young people up and down the country given the chance to gain valuable skills, experience and qualifications as part of this country’s 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy. Scotland’s Best will build on the extremely encouraging progress we are making on youth unemployment, with official statistics released last week demonstrating that the number of jobless young people in Scotland is continuing to fall and the number entering employment is rising. The Scottish Government is working hard to get our young people into work and initiatives such as this will help them gain the valuable skills that employers want to see. “ Skills Development Scotland’s operations director Danny Logue said: “Scotland’s Best is a great way to combine training and volunteering to help young people get the skills and experience they need for the workplace. Working to similar principles as our other employability programmes, it makes sense to maximise the many volunteering opportunities coming up in Scotland over the next two years to help young people get their foot on the career ladder.”
To c
10 yelebrat of W ears e Trou ron g the sers Da y c on make’s , e!
Wear your favourite Wrong Trousers and celebrate our 10th birthday helping sick children across the UK
www.wrongtrousersday.org HOT LINE 0845 600 1924 Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Foundation supports children’s healthcare throughout the UK. Registered Charity Number 1096483 © Aardman/Wallace & Gromit Limited 2013
Supported by
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Recycle Week
RECYCLE WEEK 17-23 JUNE 2013- RECYCLING HOME AND AWAY Recycle at home and away this summer, urges Recycle Week. Recycle Week is a celebration of everything about recycling – the how’s, why’s and where’s? Now in its third year in Scotland, it is organised by Zero Waste Scotland under the Recycle for Scotland brand and is delivered to the public by a range of partners across the country. These partners include local authorities, retailers, brands, schools, businesses and community groups. It aims to encourage people to recycle more things by showing what more can be done e.g. explaining the importance of recycling good quality materials and reducing contamination. For Recycle Week this year, there will be a focus on a 16 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
different material each day to raise awareness of the importance of recycling key materials. Recycling is important because: • Scottish households already help save councils over £20 million a year by putting items to be recycled in their kerbside recycling collection, rather than the residual bin to be landfilled. • We can all recycle lots more things than we could 10 years ago and in Scotland “household” recycling rates rose from 10% to 40% between 2003/04 and 2011. • Well done – we have made great strides in recycling, more and more Scottish councils are introducing food waste collections for households; by 2015, 80% of households should
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have a collection. Let’s do more! We already recycle hundreds of millions of cans and glass bottles and jars each year, but we can do much more; that’s around half our glass bottles and jars, and a quarter of our cans. If every adult in Scotland recycled one extra can each week this would equate to 228 million extra cans and if everyone recycled one more can a month, over a year we would save over 8,000tCO2e, which is the same as making over 115 million cups of tea. Old cans can become a new can in just six weeks and uses 20 times less energy to produce. Recycled plastic bottles can become new bottles, fleece jackets or even park benches and making them from recycled plastic instead of new materials is much better for our environment.
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IKEA (Edinburgh and Glasgow stores) Whitmuir The Organic Place (Lamancha, Borders) University of Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian University Heriot Watt University North Ayrshire Council (Ardrossan, Garnock and Largs Academies) South Ayrshire Council (Troon Recycling Centre, Marr College) Hebridean Celtic Festival (Isle of Lewis)
Zero Waste Scotland staff will also be joining in the Recycle Week activities.
Food waste sent to landfill releases methane, a greenhouse gas much more powerful than carbon dioxide. However, food waste sent to a modern Anaerobic Digestion Plant can be used to generate electricity and make fertiliser. In Scotland we throw away around 566,000 tonnes of food every year, one tonne of food waste can generate enough electricity to power an average house for almost a month. Recycle Week is a great time for us all to join together and celebrate how far Scotland has come over the last ten years and promote all the good work we have been doing to support recycling too. Scotland has saved nearly 4MtCO2e by recycling between 2001 and 2011 – the equivalent of the carbon footprint of Iceland. Recycling on the Go It’s never been easier to recycle out and about! Zero Waste Scotland has recently funded ‘Recycle on the Go’ units amounting to 2,700 new recycling bins in over 250 sites across the country! Thanks also to new trials from Zero Waste Scotland, ‘Recycle and Reward’ machines can be found across Scotland where you can get incentives like money back, or discount vouchers for returning empty bottles and cans, safe in the knowledge that all items collected will be sent for recycling. Each location collects different items and offers a different reward, so why not pop along and see what your local Recycle and Reward machine has to offer at one of these locations:
For recycle week, we will be having a drive on paper, as it’s one of our biggest waste streams. This will involve measuring our paper usage and promoting a staff awareness campaign to ensure paper waste is not created unnecessarily and disposed of correctly when it is. Anyone can join in the Recycle Week Activities - from Businesses, Retailers, Community Groups, Charities, Schools or Local Authorities so why not register for the free downloadable resources today? To access the free resources, you will need to register your interest, by visiting www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/recycleforscotland Once registered a resource link will be sent to you to access a wide range of materials that you can use free of charge and adapt as required. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 17
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How others see us.. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE TARTAN ARMY ABROAD Gareth Finn
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he Tartan Army is one of Scotland’s greatest exports – we have watched them on television spreading the good name of Scotland with their good natured antics and impeccable behaviour that has received glowing reviews from every country that they have visited. So much so that the fans are almost better known than our footballers! When labelled as the ‘Best fans in the World’ by other countries, it shows the impact that they have made and the long standing respect and friendship that they have created with the people of those countries. A World Cup is a very quiet tournament without the skirl of the pipes and the fun loving nature of the Tartan Army. But away from the cameras and the generally held public view of the Tartan Army lies a compassion for others that is distinctively Scottish. In 2003 a group of Tartan Army members established the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal to help ‘spread a little bit of sunshine wherever they go’. Since 2003 they have given a donation to a local charity 18 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
for disadvantaged and chronically ill children in each country that the Scotland National Team has visited –I believe they have not yet received the publicity and praise here in Scotland which they deserve despite them not expecting or striving for anything. As a recent recruit to the Tartan Army I had the privilege of attending a ceremony in the Serbian city of Novi Sad where a cheque for £1500 was presented to a local orphanage called the SOS Kinderdorf “Dr Milorad Pavlovic – which is an international, non-governmental and non-denominational, child-focused organisation that provides services in the care, education and health of children who have already lost or are at risk of losing parental care Suffice to say that it was a very emotional experience for all those who attended and there were tears in our eyes as the presentation was made. In honour of the charity work carried out by the Sunshine Appeal a motion was submitted to the Scottish Parliament by Gil Paterson, SNP MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, which praised the efforts of the organisation, paid tribute to their past donations and noted the donation that would be made in Serbia.
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY As a member of staff in Gil Paterson’s office I was entrusted with the responsibility of presenting the orphanage in Novi Sad with a framed copy of the motion which had received cross party support in our Parliament. I must admit that the event took a heavy toll on my nerves and I rather sheepishly asked the chairman of the Sunshine Appeal, John Daly, to present the framed motion which was gratefully accepted.
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nterested in community assets? The Community Ownership Support Service delivered by the Development Trusts Association Scotland may be for you. The service has been funded by the Scottish Government since 2011 to support community based groups take a stake in or ownership of previously publicly owned land or buildings. This adviser led service operates Scotland wide and provides:
A visit by Scottish football fans would not be complete without a game of football and those of us present were challenged to a game by the orphans in conditions that polar bears would be best suited to playing in.
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I am delighted to announce that at least one Scotland team won a game of football that day with us gaining a convincing 5-2 victory – in the long run it will be the orphans that will win and I am proud to have at least offered some help.
Drew McEwan, adviser with COSS told Focus “Our service is for individuals and groups who want to organise in their community to reap the social and economic benefits derived from the development of land or buildings; ultimately leading to their community taking control of their own destiny”
The smiles on the faces of the orphans are something that will live long with me and every time I remember that day a sense of pride builds up. Not only in the attitude that these children faced the world with but that the money donated, which in Scotland would be classed as small, was received with such gratitude that you know the money will be spent on something valuable and worthwhile. The publicity generated in Serbia by the donation was something to behold with pictures of the ceremony adorning front pages of newspapers and appearing on news programmes whilst the images of kilted Scotland fans playing football in the snow with orphans would have brought a smile to even the most hardened of people. Next up for the Scotland national team is a game against Croatia in Zagreb and as has been the case over the last 10 years the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal will be presenting a donation to a local children’s charity. I hope to be there to witness again the gratitude and emotion which those receiving the donation express. Regardless of the score in the football match, through the charity work of dedicated members of the Tartan Army, Scotland will win and another country will be able to add Scotland as a friend. Further information on the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal can be found at http://www.tasunshineappeal.co.uk
Expert advice on all aspects of asset transfer Training seminars Sign-posting to other relevant support agencies A comprehensive web resource of good practice, toolkits and case studies.
Communities also have the opportunity to link into the DTAS network to explore the wide range of business models being adopted by other communities throughout Scotland and across the UK. Support is also available to Local Authorities and other agencies. COSS produced a Baseline Report on Community Ownership during 2012 based on collated data from the wide range of public bodies who have either transferred or supported the transfer of assets. Although the report comes with many caveats it provides a reasonable overview of the current levels of asset ownership in Scotland. Report highlights... • 75,891 assets owned by a total of 2,718 community controlled organisations estimated combined value of just over £1.45 billion. • Collectively comprising 463,006 acres, equal to 2.38% of Scotland’s land area. • 73,151 units of housing owned by 84 community-controlled housing associations, housing co-operatives and rural development trusts. • 2,740 assets are termed ‘community assets’; 2400 are community halls primarily in the Highlands and Island. Want to know more, you can contact the COSS team on 0131 225 2080
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INVESTING IN VOLUNTEERS
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any organisations would like to make the most out of the experience and contribution volunteers can bring. The Investing in Volunteers (IiV) award can help them achieve this. The initiative is a UK wide award that allows organisations to evidence their good practice in relation to volunteers. The IiV award in Scotland is managed by Volunteer Development Scotland and assesses key areas of practice in volunteer management, developed around four areas: • • • •
Planning for volunteer involvement Recruiting volunteers Selecting and matching volunteers Supporting and retaining volunteers.
For organisations or groups who involve volunteers, achieving the Investing in Volunteers award is a public demonstration of commitment to volunteering and effective volunteer management. It helps to create a more structured environment, ensuring that appropriate documentation is in place for effective volunteer management. Routes to the Award Interested organisations should register their interest on the IiV website, to discuss the process further. Two routes are available: Route One, IiV: a self-assessment process takes place with each organisation in relation to the nine IiV indicators. Using the feedback, a development plan will be produced. This is followed by an assessment visit to gather information from a sample of volunteers, staff 20 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
and Board members. The cost of the award will depend on the size of the organisation and the number of volunteers engaged with. Route Two. Working towards IiV: organisations have the option to do some preparatory work before fully committing to IiV. An assessor will undertake an initial assessment and highlight areas of development needed in advance of applying for the full award. This can make the process more efficient at a later stage and supports organisations to make any changes early in the process. This route involves payment of £300 which is deducted from the full cost if the organisation registers for the award within 12 months. Organisations awarded IiV status receive a wall plaque and are entitled to use the Investing in Volunteers logo for the three year duration of the award, after which time renewal is required. An example of a successful organisation is New Caledonian Woodlands – they have around 1000 volunteers involved in various sustainability and woodland conservation projects throughout central Scotland. Co-ordinator Andy Ross said: “We felt we already did
FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE invest in volunteers but it seemed sensible to go for the IiV award. It gave us a forum to ask volunteers how we could do things better or differently, for example we asked whether volunteers wanted risk assessments to be e-mailed and they said no so that solved our indecision about it.” He added: “We are a very small organisation so it took us longer to complete the process however a useful volunteer manual came out of it all and that has been really beneficial to us as an organisation.” Another successful organisation, The Seagrove Centre, is a small registered charity which delivers day-care involving meaningful activities for people with dementia. The charity operates six days a week and offers 108 places day-care places. A team of staff deliver the activities but are assisted by volunteers, all of whom bring their time and skills which enhance the service. Janette McIntosh, Manager of the Seagrove Centre, said they decided to go for the IiV award after the volunteer coordinator left the organisation. “As Manager I took on the additional role and I wanted to ensure I was going to do this properly so decided to undertake the IiV award. At that time we had 8 volunteer day-care workers.” She added: “I soon discovered that, although we had supported volunteers in the past, we needed to update and revamp all of our paperwork. Doing simple things like diversifying the volunteer roles on offer, would generate more volunteers.” As a result of going through the IiV process, a further 20 volunteers joined the Seagrove Centre. Janette said: “The benefits of having the IiV award are not just in the amount of volunteers but in the calibre of skills they bring to their different roles. “The results of all the hard work “invested “in the award and volunteers have been hugely beneficial to both the service and to the volunteers.” For more information about IiV or Working Towards IiV visit http://www. volunteerdevelopmentscotland.org.uk/involvingvolunteers/investing-in-volunteers/ or contact IiV Manager Anne Hislop at Volunteer Development Scotland on 01786 479593.
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he NHS National Waiting Times Centre is delighted to have retained Investing in Volunteers (IiV) status – the national quality standard for organisations showing a commitment to involving volunteers in their work. The Board – home to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Beardmore Centre for Health Science and Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre – was originally accredited back in 2009. At that time one of the first to achieve IiV following a directive in the Scottish Government’s Better Health Better Care action plan, the Board is delighted to be one of the first NHS organisations in Scotland to be accredited for a second time after assessors continued to be impressed with the way volunteering is embedded into the culture of the organisation. Shona Chaib, Nurse Director at the hospital, has overall responsibility for involving people in the work of the organisation. Mrs Chaib said: “We are delighted to have achieved the Investing in Volunteers accreditation again and couldn’t have done it without the wonderful group of volunteers we already have. “Volunteers are a vital part of the NHS and that is the same for us as in any other NHS Board. Whether they are helping shape services, supporting patients with special needs, providing social interaction or spiritual care, our dedicated group of volunteers make a major contribution to supporting safe and effective patient care at a time when patients are at their most vulnerable. “We look forward to continuing our work with our many volunteers, and our colleagues at Volunteer Development Scotland, to ensure we maintain this high standard over the next three years and beyond.” FOCUS SCOTLAND | 21
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Why did you get involved in volunteering? Whilst I was studying David and Gemma from West Dunbartonshire Community Volunteering Services visited my college to give information about volunteering. Personally I thrive better in the working environment than the education environment and volunteering has helped me build up on my Administrative Skills. What do you do in your volunteer opportunity? My opportunity was as a volunteer broker with West Dunbartonshire CVS. I was responsible for registering volunteer’s that had made an appointment and also dropped in to register. Part of this role was being responsible for looking for opportunities for the volunteer’s that had previously registered. I would also contact volunteers by phone, email and post giving me experience in an admin role. What did you like most about your volunteering opportunity? I liked the admin aspect of the opportunity and also 22 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
having the opportunity to meet people and interview the volunteers that came in to the office. Volunteering was a good use of my spare time. What do you think you have gained from your volunteering? Lots of things... obviously the increase in the admin skills that I have mentioned before, the growing relationships with the staff and the volunteers that I register and most importantly the job that I have managed to secure with the West Dunbartonshire Community Volunteering Service via the Community Jobs Scotland Fund. How did you get that job? I got that by looking through the job centre website with my adviser, she spotted it out for me. What do your friends and family think of your volunteering? My friends have expressed an interest in volunteering after learning of my ongoing commitment to the role and 200 hours achievement of the Saltire Awards, and
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY my family are generally proud of me. Have you used an existing interest in your volunteering or have you learned a new skill? Both. The great thing about my volunteering was that I wasn’t only building on my old skills that I have gotten through my job before but also creating new ones to build with it. What benefits do you think the organisation and people you volunteering with gain from your work? I like to think that people in the organisation have had their work load eased somewhat, allowing them to focus on other tasks. I also think that having volunteers working here is great for portraying a good image for the organisation.
NEW REPORT SHOWS THE IMPACT OF WELFARE REFORM ON SCOTLAND’S THIRD SECTOR
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CVO has published its Welfare Reform Mapping Report, which incorporates evidence from around 400 people across the third sector on how welfare changes are affecting their organisations. The report makes several recommendations on what should be done to take on the cuts and considers how welfare reform has and will impact upon the third sector across Scotland The key findings of the report include: Gaps in provision already exist and organisations do not have the resources to fill them. Over 40% of respondents cite a lack of long-term funding and inability to plan ahead as a critical issue for them. Gaps exist in areas such as advice, advocacy, community support, IT, transport and access to financial services Many organisations feel that members of the public have poor understanding of the reforms and the stigma attached to claimants is a significant challenge. 35% of respondents cite poor public awareness of the welfare changes and almost 30% negative public attitudes towards benefit recipients as critical issues
What benefits do you think you have gained from volunteering? Besides the obvious skills increase, volunteering has helped me to find structure to my life when I had little to none, it has also helped me with my confidence I think and interpersonal skills when communicating. What would you like to say to people to encourage them into volunteering? Personally I would say open your mind and dive right in it always helped me. I would like to say that volunteering is a great thing to go for, people under estimate the strength of it and I think that they should give volunteering a go.
Demand for support and services provided by third sector organisations has increased according to 72% of survey respondents due to the impact of welfare reform. In particular, changes to disability-related benefits (including an increase in appeals), housing benefits, and growing complexity of the system, are driving increased demand. Some organisations are already being diverted from their main purpose to support people through the reforms Demand is expected by 88% of organisations to increase in the coming months, with 60% saying they expect to see demand increase significantly. This is true of all types of organisations, across all areas of Scotland. Some organisations report that they are already operating at full capacity There are some strong collaborations and innovative projects across the sector To access the report log on to the SCVO website www.scvo.org.uk FOCUS SCOTLAND | 23
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MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT A guide for everyday living
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he Care Inspectorate (CI), recently launched a new initiative for everyone supporting older people in care homes or in their own home.
Make Every Moment Count is a resource aimed at supporting managers and staff in care settings, relatives, friends and others to value the lives and the individuality of the older people they support by ensuring that every moment is meaningful, so that their overall quality of life is improved. Resource material has been written in the form of a personal message from an individual to the person supporting them. It stresses the importance of person centred care, choice and the basic human rights we all have as individuals, reminding everyone that even the smallest interactions matter. The 5 key messages in the resource cover the issues of awareness, emotional intelligence, support, safety and security and added value. ‘Make Every Moment Count’ asks everyone to consider ‘activity’ as more than a programme of planned or coordinated events and about engaging in every day life. It does not require additional resources or equipment but care, compassion and taking time for these important human interactions. Annette Bruton, Chief Executive of The Care Inspectorate said: “Make every Moment Count is a tremendous resource which has real people at the heart. Prior to the launch we tested the resource out 24 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
in various care settings with very positive responses; One Handyman said “It recognises that everybody has a part to play in the daily life of the unit” and “I like the bit about how you make people feel, that’s important” The Minister for Public Health in Scotland Michael Matheson launched Make Every Moment Count in a care home in Rutherglen, stating, “This excellent resource has the potential to drive real improvement in care, as it recognises the importance of compassion, dignity and human rights. It will support people to have more choice, more independence and a healthier and happier life and I am delighted to be part of the launch” The resource has been printed both as a pocket sized leaflet and in poster form. Along with that there is a DVD which has been filmed in care homes in which staff and residents take part which talks about Make Every Moment Count and the importance of every day living. Every person using a care service should receive good quality care that reflects their needs and promotes their rights. Make Every Moment Count can help everyone to contribute to that good quality care by reminding us of the importance of every day life and the value of that to individuals. To access the resource visit the Care Inspectorate website or call the enquiry line on 0845 600 9527
Darren’s breakthrough moment Breakthroughs in diabetes research don’t just happen. They happen thanks to people like Darren.
The money he raised by doing a Walk for Diabetes is helping our scientists move us one step closer to a future without diabetes. This Diabetes Week, people all over the UK will Walk for Diabetes to help keep our research story going. Join them at www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetesweek #diabetesweek
Diabetes research: be part of the story 9-15 June 2013
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Falls and feet
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eeping feet healthy is fundamental to maintaining mobility and independence. As we get older, we’re much more likely to suffer from foot conditions and complaints, such asbunions and stiffness in toe joints and ankles. These problems, along with the foot pain theycan cause, all affect our balance and walking and reduce sensation in our feet, which often leads to falls. In addition to these risk factors, studies have shown that some types of footwear and going barefoot indoors can also contribute to falling.
and falls in a number of ways. As well as influencing balance, poor footwear can act as a barrier and make it difficult to judge surface friction and distance from the floor. Other shoe characteristics, such as the height of the back of the shoe that goes over the heel, sole hardness and tread can also affect balance and gait. Older people should therefore be advised about the importance of wearing well-fitting shoes to reduce the risk of falls, and particularly about the shoe characteristics that can aid walking and gait. These include:
Foot-related risk factors for falls: • • • • •
foot pain stiffness in toes and ankles foot and toe weakness and deformities such as bunions and claw toes toenail disorders unsuitable or loose-fitting footwear.
To mark Falls Awareness Week 2013, Age UK have highlighted some simple things we can all do to help improve foot health and reduce these risks. Look out for local events Exercise It is well known that exercise plays a vital role in falls prevention. There are a number of research trials that show exactly how effective a programme of strength and balance can be in reducing risk, both for primary and secondary prevention of falls. While these programmes focus on building leg strength, emerging evidence has highlighted that exercises to improve toe and ankle strength can also significantly improve balance and functional ability, and thereby reduce falls. Older people should be encouraged to carry out regular exercises to improve toe and ankle strength at home. These can also be incorporated into existing falls prevention exercise classes for maximum benefit. Footwear Some footwear can increase the risk of slips, trips 26 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
• • •
a high back or ‘collar’ to support the ankle a hard, slip-resistant sole heel height lower than one inch.
It is also recommended that older people wear shoes or well-fitted, slip-resistant slippers indoors, rather than walking barefoot or in socks or tights, as this has also been shown to be a risk factor for falling. Foot care Taking care of feet is an essential part of falls prevention. Foot conditions, such as bunions, claw toes and ingrown toe nails, can all cause problems with gait and balance, as can foot pain, which is an independent risk factor for falls. Older people should be advised to check their feet regularly and speak to their GP, podiatrist or chiropodist if they notice any problems, have any reduction in foot sensation, or develop foot pain. This message is especially important when it comes to pain, which is often regarded as part of getting old and therefore ignored. Following a foot care routine can further help reduce the risk of falls by preventing some of the conditions that can cause pain and problems with balance. This includes: • • • •
washing and drying feet daily to prevent infection applying moisturiser to keep skin healthy cutting toenails regularly regular podiatry for management of foot problems.
Best foot forward Falls Awareness Week 17–21 June 2013
There are many things you can do to prevent a fall. Falls Awareness Week aims to highlight these and the local services available to help you reduce your risk of falling. This year’s Falls Awareness Week will focus on healthy feet. Keeping feet healthy is fundamental to maintaining mobility and independence. Come along to your local event to find out more about things that you can do to keep you steady, such as looking after your feet, exercise, diet and many more. For details of your local event contact:
You can also call 0800 169 6565 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/falls Age UK is a charity dedicated to improving later life for everyone. Registered charity number 1128267. ID201292 02/13
The law on waste is changing for every business in Scotland
Your legal duty as a business If you run a business in Scotland, you are already legally responsible for safely disposing of any waste your business produces. From 1st January 2014 the law will require your business to take all reasonable steps to recycle as much of that waste as possible. It will also require all local authorities and waste contractors to meet high recycling standards. Detailed guidance on the new statutory duties, and information on how best to comply with them, is available in the Duty of Care Code of Practice produced by Scottish Government. You can access this guidance via this web link: http://tinyurl.com/ waste-regs-code-of-practice
The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require your business to take the following actions: ¡¡ Your¡business¡must¡present¡metal,¡plastic,¡ glass,¡paper¡and¡card¡separately¡for¡ collection¡from¡1 January 2014.
¡¡ If¡you¡run¡a¡food¡business¡which¡produces¡ over¡50 kg¡of¡food¡waste¡per¡week,¡you¡must¡ present¡it¡for¡separate¡collection¡from¡1 January 2014.¡
¡¡ The¡requirement¡to¡present¡food¡waste¡for¡
Why should I do it? Aside from the long term economic and environmental benefits, your business risks a substantial fine if it does not take all reasonable steps to recycle the waste it produces. Your contractor may refuse to collect your waste if it is not properly sorted for recycling and local authorities and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency – www.sepa.org.uk – are empowered to deal with companies that flout the new Waste Regulations.
separate¡collection¡will¡extend¡to¡all¡food¡ businesses¡which¡produce¡over¡5 kg¡of¡food¡ waste¡per¡week¡from 1 January 2016.
¡¡ Where¡food¡collections¡are¡available,¡it¡will¡ be¡illegal¡to¡dispose¡of¡food¡into¡the¡public¡ sewer,¡for¡example,¡by¡using¡a¡macerator. If¡your¡business¡is¡located¡in¡a¡rural¡area,¡ you¡are¡exempt¡from¡all¡the¡food¡waste¡ requirements¡of¡the¡Regulations,¡however,¡you¡ may¡still¡want¡to¡examine¡the¡economic¡benefits¡ of¡food¡recycling.
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Comment from Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland:
“2013 is an exciting time in the journey towards Scotland being a zero waste nation. Protecting our environment, being smarter with the resources we use, and finding new ways to grow the economy are all well within our grasp. “There are many opportunities for organisations and businesses in all sectors and industries, and householders too, to play their part and maximize their efforts to do what they can to save resources and save money in the process. “In April, Zero Waste Scotland launched Resource Efficient Scotland, the new one-stop shop for advice and support on using energy, waste and materials more efficiently to all businesses and organisations in the private, public and third sector. “In doing so, it will make it easier for organisations to get help and realise potential savings. We know that by making more efficient use of raw materials, energy and water, Scottish businesses and organisations can deliver over £2 billion of potential savings to the Scottish economy and help those businesses and organisations to save on unnecessary costs. “With telephone and online information and an available now, there’s no time like the present to see how your organisation might be able to benefit.
of informative, user-friendly, digital support resources, designed to make the transition to the new waste regulations as smooth as possible. These include online frequently asked questions addressing all the most common queries, and a postcode finder which enables users to find reputable and cost effective waste and resource management services in their local area. “Critical to the success of any efficient waste strategy is well-informed; motivated and empowered people who have bought into the vision of a low-waste environment. Preparations for the waste regulations should be a team effort and I know that within third sector organisations they will be. Bringing your colleagues together as early as possible to brainstorm where efficiencies can be made can make a real difference. By empowering green champions within the organisation; setting targets and reporting back on results, everybody will have a shared interest in success. “Our advice is that it’s important to take small, achievable steps. Auditing exactly where your waste is coming from and introducing simple measures such as removing bins from desks and creating recycling banks can derive huge benefits. Similarly, looking at ordering procedures can help. Are you ordering more supplies than you need? Do you need it at all? Can you lease, hire or refurbish items instead of buying new? Even by speaking with suppliers to tackle excess packaging can have dramatic results in reducing waste and maximising resources.
“All organisations will be required to separate key recyclable materials - including paper and card, plastic, metals and glass - for collection and recycling under the new regulations. Organisations in non-rural areas who are involved with food production, food preparation or food retail will also be required to separate food waste.
“In April, Zero Waste Scotland also launched Scotland’s Resource Sector Commitment which is designed to set consistent standards for business waste collections and to help deliver the country’s zero waste targets. This voluntary commitment is designed to engage with the resource management sector, including third sector organisations which offer a resource management service. Key to the commitment is a need for need for signatories to advise their customers on waste prevention and resource efficiency – something which our Resource Efficient Scotland programme can help to do. Signatories are also committing to provide their customers with a consistent high quality recycling service, and offer user-friendly contracts and charging structures. “For any and all organisations looking to join us on this journey, the time to do so has never been better and we look forward to supporting you.”
“Voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises will all be expected to comply. We know this is a challenging task for most and so Zero Waste Scotland is providing guidance to all organisations on how best to get themselves prepared. We have already created a set
For growth that doesn’t cost the earth: www. resourceefficientscotland.com or freephone adviceline 0808 808 2268. For information about Zero Waste Scotland: www.zerowastescotland.org.uk or 0808 100 2040
“Through the new Resource Efficient Scotland service we will also enable businesses and organisations within the third sector in Scotland to be in good shape to meet the new Waste (Scotland) Regulations. Doing so will ultimately help Scotland achieve the ambitious target set by the Scottish Government of 70% recycling of all waste by 2025.
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COMMUNITY-LED HEALTH ORGANISATIONS
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ital to ‘radical change’ in health improvement Community-led health organisations have an intriguing history. In the shape of Community Health Projects, they emerged on to the health improvement landscape over 25 years ago. Using an approach that works directly with community members on health matters that concern them, they were hailed as something new, fresh and somewhat radical. The majority of projects operated with groups of local people such as the group of women in Pilton, North Edinburgh who organised around the prescription of tranquillisers to campaigning on affordable and accessible food via the Paisley Community Health Project (see Private Trouble, Public Issues, 2000). Crucially, this campaigning, organising and support lead to greater change in local communities – new organisations were formed, some services reconfigured to respond to expressed need, and local people used their experiences to improve the health of the wider community. 30 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
Local authorities allocated funding and resources to these organisations which proved positive and productive in both urban and rural areas. Glasgow, Paisley, Edinburgh, Dundee, Dumfries, Addiewell, Dunfermline, South Uist, Stirling..... all reported significant changes in how local people developed new strategies to get involved, stay involved and organise to not only address their own health needs, but give time, energy and ideas on ways of working with other community members. The last two decades have brought significant change to Scotland’s community-led health landscape. Some national and local policies which have aspired to place ‘patients and communities at the heart of the delivery of services’ have drawn positively on the communityled value base and methods as exemplified by Lottery funding helping to support 46 new community health organisations in the form of Healthy Living Centres across Scotland in the early 2000’s. A few years later, Scottish Government listened to the
FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE recommendations of a Ministerial Community-Led Health Task Group and funded ‘Healthy Communities: Meeting the Shared Challenge’ – a programme aimed at both community health organisations and public sector health agencies to strengthen community-led health. These interventions have fostered a legacy of working that has retained the key principles of community development, but have also informed new agendas around asset-based health improvement and the co-production of services that tackle health inequalities so central now to policy discussion. CHEX have consistently reported on community-led health activity from families acting on environmental improvements in North Glasgow, to older people shaping services in Perth and Kinross, young people supporting other young people in East Ayrshire, and community groups promoting mental health and wellbeing in the Scottish Borders… This long list reflects the diversity along with the nature and extent of support that these initiatives have drawn on from community-led health organisations – information, relationship building, training, capacity building, moral support, ideas, networking, links to policy, securing funding and additional resources, which have been offered at different times to different groups. As a result, a resourceful and skilful workforce has developed across Scotland - the Scottish Healthy Living Centre (SHLC – now Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing) Alliance Business Plan (2009) reported HLCs had 132 full-time staff, 98 part-time staff, 159 sessional staff, 256 Board Members, 1,218 volunteers working with 131, 529 beneficiaries. The national health intermediaries of CHEX, Community Food and Health Scotland (CFHS) and SHLC Alliance (now known as Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing ) along with local networks, such as Lothian Community Health Project’s Forum have played a critical role in the evolution of community health in Scotland. These organisations together have consistently created opportunities for almost two decades for local organisations to meet up, share practice and develop ideas to sustain healthy communities. As a result a pan Scotland information and support network has been established, shaping thinking as well as safeguarding practitioners and volunteers from isolation and despair, particularly after each wave of funding pressures and the subsequent loss of services and organisations. Indeed, in this current environment of austerity,
community-led health organisations could face major obstacles of reduced or no funding, changing personnel and weakened infrastructures. However, the reality is that many organisations continue to not only sustain their work programmes, but thrive with new recognition and status amongst community members and public sector agencies, both locally and nationally. Such is the resilience of community-led health, but the reason why is no secret: this movement thrives because lessons are continually being shared through its networks, case studies, action research, newsletters, websites, evaluations, seminars, conferences and solid partnership working. Crucially, funding and resources are secured to support organisations that have established a reputation for working in developmental ways with community groups despite the many challenges being faced. How can community-led health organisations continue to target and be inclusive – engaging with the most disadvantaged people?
However, in terms of opportunities for communityled health, there are many. Its growing evidence base points to both strategic and operational opportunities whereby community-led health organisations can grow, develop and have greater influence. CHEX case studies ‘Breaking Through’ (2011) ‘Picture of Health’ (2012) and ‘Routes to Sustainability’ (2012) emphasise practice development in: • • • •
demonstrating impact on health inequalities evidencing impact from inclusive practice in working with most disadvantaged people communicating the value of community members in gaining new skills and determining the processes building relationships and communication with FOCUS SCOTLAND | 31
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new partners articulating the unique and complementary of the approach to mainstream services and: creatively securing funding and resources.
WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY JUNE 14TH 2013
Many organisations might say “that’s what we’ve been doing for years!” But perhaps the new bit is getting the message across better to national and local policy makers, particularly about the value and role of community-led health in the current practice climate. Last year saw community-led health organisations engage collectively and individually with both national and local policy makers at different levels. Organisations, via CHEX, responded to the Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill and the consultation on the Integration of Adult Health and Social Care in Scotland. The Minister for Public Health responded positively to the examples of community-led health in tackling health inequalities. Community-led health organisations also helped shape the Learning Exchange Programme between community and voluntary sector health organisations and civil servants: LCHP Forum developed positive dialogue with NHS Senior Managers at a joint seminar with CHEX and the Health Inequalities Taskforce has invited Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing to present at one of their meetings along with a visit of the Taskforce to individual organisations. In 2013 this positive engagement needs to be consolidated to further our impact and influence. This year brings new opportunities for communityled health organisations to build this established engagement towards greater influence and greater understanding. Already several fresh opportunities are beginning to take shape such as the ‘Making Scotland Better’ Event on 23rd April, when CHEX together with Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing alliance, CFHS and Health Scotland are hosting a seminar between national and local policy makers and community-led health organisations.
E
very year on June 14th countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day; the event was established to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank those unpaid voluntary blood donors for taking the time to donate such a lifesaving gift. Transfusions of Blood and Blood products help save Millions of lives every year, helping those suffering from life threatening conditions live longer, as well as supporting complex medical and surgical procedures. Every blood donation is a gift of life. Donating blood is safe, simple and takes only an hour. Every minute of every day someone in Scotland is receiving blood as part of a life-saving or life-enhancing treatment. Yet, only 5% of the population are active blood donors.
The launch of the ‘Engagement Matrix’ between NHS and the Third Sector at SCVO’s ‘The Gathering’ on 27th February offered an opportunity to work with national partners such as Voluntary Health Scotland in building engagement with Health Boards.
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) must welcome 5000 blood donors every week to meet the needs of patients in Scotland.
CHEX continue to highlight the developments and impact of community-led health organisations across Scotland, and to find out more visit www.chex.org.uk
For details of how to donate check out the website www.scotblood.co.uk
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Go on, give it a try.
“If I needed an organ, I’d obviously take one.”
“I might join the Organ Donor Register, but not right now.”
If you believe in organ donation, prove it. Register now at organdonation.nhs.uk
0300 123 23 23
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BARNARDO’S THE BIG TODDLE
‘P
eter Pan’ has been crowned the Scottish nation’s favourite children’s story in a special poll conducted for Barnardo’s, for the ‘Big Toddle’.
The story of a group of boys who never age and spend their days playing with fairies and mermaids or battling pirates and crocodiles, has a close relationship with Scotland; writer JM Barrie was part-inspired by his own adventures growing up in Dumfries, Angus and Edinburgh. Parents and carers of under-fives are being encouraged to stage their own Never-Neverland and take part in this year’s ‘Fairytales and Nursery rhymes’ themed sponsored walk, which saw more than 6,000 children toddling in Scotland in 2012. All money raised will go towards supporting vulnerable and under-privileged children under 5-years-old, including those with physical and learning difficulties. Excited by the campaign’s enchanted element, feisty Holby City favourite and celebrity mum, Tina Hobley has also lent her support to the campaign this year and is encouraging parents, childminders, nurseries and primary schools across Scotland to embrace the event’s bewitching charm and toddle down to the woods in search of Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood or Hansel & 34 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
Gretel. Commenting on her involvement in the Big Toddle, Tina Hobley said, “The Big Toddle is such a great way for children to understand from an early age that there are children in their community less well off than them and in need of help. Also commenting on the launch of the campaign, Charlotte Cooper, Big Toddle Manager explains; “We are now into our 17th annual Toddle and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. “This year, the Big Toddle takes us into the world of fantasy and make-believe, so children can have even more fun dressing up and bringing to life their favourite fairy stories. Every penny raised goes directly to our work with under-fives – so everyone can enjoy themselves and help raise vital funds for those less fortunate children.” Registrants receive a fantastic Big Toddle pack bursting with information and ideas to make the event as fun and interesting as you want it to be. To join in and raise money for a super cause, you can register your interest at www.bigtoddle.co.uk or call 0800 008 7005.
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
RaisingAwareness Bringing Positive Change in Male Cancer Awareness
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