Tag Archives: Volunteering

Edinburgh Mela (volunteers sought)

(adapted from Leith Links CC)

The Edinburgh Mela Festival 2014 is looking for volunteers…

 Friday 29th  August – Sunday 31st August

http://www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk/

A carnival atmosphere with a vibrant and exciting mix of dance, music, street art and theatre, The Edinburgh Mela Festival is a lively, colourful event for all the family.

We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to join the Festival team, so if you are looking for a fun, summer experience then this is the opportunity for you…

We are looking for volunteers in the following areas:

Artist Liaison, Audience Services, Market Stalls, Kids and family area, Green Recycling Team and Marketing.

We provide:

  • A volunteer training session, which will give you a chance to meet your volunteer colleagues
  • Travel expenses to and from the Festival
  • A meal per shift plus refreshments from our hospitality area
  • 2 complimentary day tickets
  • A limited edition Mela t-shirt
  • You will be able to ask for a reference on successful completion of your volunteer post

You will be asked to attend a short, informal interview and training session.

To find out more, please contact Antonia Dickson on 07870621086 or email volunteer@edinburgh-mela.co.uk; alternatively write to The Edinburgh Mela, Unit 14, Abbeymount Techbase, 2 Easter Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5AN

 The deadline for all opportunities is Sunday 10th August 2014.

Lord Provost’s Inspiring Volunteering Awards: 2014

Nominations for the 2014 Lord Provost’s Inspiring Volunteering Awards are now open.

The annual awards ceremony is organised by Volunteer Centre Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Compact Partnership as part of Volunteers’ Week, the national celebration of volunteers and volunteering.  This event is hosted annually by the Lord Provost and City of Edinburgh Council.

The awards celebrate the accomplishments of volunteers, and the major economic and social benefits they provide as a result of their voluntary activities. This year the event will take place on Wednesday 4th June 2014 and is by invitation only. This is your opportunity to recognise the contribution of your volunteers by nominating them for an Award.

You can nominate your volunteers online through this Survey Monkey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6LBL3VW

Organisations can nominate up to three individual volunteers and one team. There is no guarantee that any of them will be invited to accept their award at the City Chambers because numbers are strictly limited. However all nominated volunteers will receive a certificate.

Eligibility criteria:

  • The Awards are only open to people volunteering in the City of Edinburgh.
  • There are no age restrictions.
  • Volunteers must have volunteered for at least six months with your organisation before being eligible to be nominated.
  • If they have previously received an “Inspiring Volunteering Certificate” at the City Chambers they should not be nominated again.
  • Only fully completed nominations will be considered for individuals or teams, and we will quote from these statements when presenting the awards.

All shortlisted nominations will be considered for the Lord Provost of Edinburgh’s Inspiring Volunteer of the Year Award 2014.

A number of special recognition categories have been introduced to highlight some of the diverse areas of volunteering across the City of Edinburgh, including:

  • A Young Volunteer (aged between 11 and 25 years old)
  • Long Standing Contribution to Volunteering Award (an individual who has volunteered for 10 years or more, and has made an outstanding contribution)
  • Charity Shop Volunteer
  • Fundraising Volunteer
  • Trustee Volunteer
  • Health & Social Care Volunteer (volunteers engaged in health and social care, including support work, befriending or projects which reduce social isolation and help assist independent living)
  • Sports Volunteer (volunteers actively involved in supporting sports in their communities).
  • Environment & Conservation Volunteer (volunteers engaged in environmental activities including education, conservation or gardening).
  • Arts, Culture & Heritage Volunteer
  • Housing / Tenant volunteer ***NEW category for 2014 ***

Volunteers Week runs from the 1st – 7th June 2014. We encourage all volunteer involving organisations to organise their own recognition events during Volunteers’ Week, whether that be their own awards ceremony, coffee morning, lunch or social activity for their volunteers. It’s a great opportunity to do something to say thank you, and show your volunteers that they are valued and appreciated.

*** Nominations close on Monday 7th April 2014 at 6pm ***

For more information please contact:

Lara Celini, Public Services Manager, Volunteer Centre Edinburgh, 24 Torphichen Street (3rd Floor) Edinburgh EH3 8JB

Direct dial: 0131 225 0630

lara.celini@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

 

Leith Neighbourhood Partnership News

Leith’s Local Community Plan 2014-17

The Leith Neighbourhood Partnership is now gathering information for its Local Community Plan for the next three years. This plan sets out what we will focus on achieving from 2014 – 2017.  We want our actions and priorities to reflect Leithers’ views. The Leith community, including the people who live, work, volunteer and study here are best placed to know what Leith needs. This survey is the first step in finding out what local people want.  Click here to give your views online (open until 31 March 2014).  Paper copies are available in McDonald Road Library and Leith Library, or by contacting Loraine Duckworth.  Survey results will be shared on the Neighbourhood Partnership website by the end of April.

Community Conference

A Community Conference will be held on 16 May 2014 at 2.00 pm in the South Leith Parish Church Halls, Henderson Street to discuss the survey results and other available information about the local area and its needs. The conference will help to start developing the Local Community Plan 2014 – 17 and set out how we can keep working together to make Leith an even better place. This event will be open to all who wish to attend.

Understanding Leith Public Meeting

The Leith Neighbourhood Partnership covers two council ward areas of Leith and Leith Walk. These wards are recognised for their high density, variety of activities, and diverse populations.  How much do we understand about Leith and Leithers?   A public meeting is being held at 7.00 pm on Thursday, 3 April 2014 Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pairce  (Parkside Primary School)  Bonnington.  A presentation will be given on information from the 2011 Census.  Everyone welcome.

Community Grants

A new financial year from 7 April 2014 brings with it a budget of £44,184.  £22,092 to be allocated through the Leith Funding Panel in grants of up to £3,000 and £22,092 allocated through the next £eith decides programme.  The Funding Panel meet on 9 April 2014, therefore any community grants applications submitted with all supporting documents by 28 March 2014 will be considered at that time.  See the Community Grants Website Page to download an application.

£eith decides Participatory Budgeting

Thank you to everyone who participated in our fourth successful £eith decides.  1,035 Leithers allocated £22,885 to 26 local projects, choosing from a wonderful range of 43 projects.

Other Local News

Leith Time Bank is an exciting new idea that gives people the opportunity to share time and skills to develop their community.  Time banking is a way for people to exchange their skills and time.  For every hour members ‘deposit’ by doing something for someone, they are able to ‘withdraw’ equivalent support in time.  In this way a new structure is provided for neighbourliness, creating a sense of community.  For more information contact Mary O’Connell at marytimebank@btconnect.com or Anne Munro on annemunro@btconnect.com -or phone 553 2559.

Do you rent your home from The City of Edinburgh Council?  Not much time left to have your say in the survey  Your Rent, Your Priorities,  which asks tenants what is most important to them and what their rent should be spent on. The consultation will run until March 2014.

Congratulations to All Together Edinburgh who have secured £10,000, from the Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards to create opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

DIARY DATES

Understanding Leith Public Meeting – 7.00 pm, Thursday, 3 April 2014 at Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pairce (Parkside Primary School)  Bonnington.

Leith Funding Panel – 6.30 pm on Wednesday, 9 April 2014 at McDonald Road Library.

Meet the Funders – 1pm to 4pm,Thursday, 1 May 2014, Assembly Rooms , 54 George  Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LR

Leith Neighbourhood Partnership Board Meeting –6.00 pm, Thursday, 15 May 2014.  Venue to be advised.

Community Conference – 2.00 pm, Friday. 16 May 2014, South Leith Parish Church Halls.

Online information

SfC Neighbourhood Team Facebook Page

Vote for £eith decides facebook page.

www.edinburghnp.org.uk/leith

Loraine Duckworth | Partnership Development Officer | Leith Neighbourhood Partnership | Services for Communities | Leith Library | 28-30 Ferry Road | Edinburgh EH6 4AE | Telephone: 0131 529 6194 | Mobile: 07739188437

Feeling Safe Community Forum

The latest meeting of the Feeling Safe Community Forum, a sub group part of Leith Neighbourhood Partnership, was held on Tuesday 4th March 2014.  Twelve members of the public attended this first weekday evening meeting. (Previously meetings were held on Saturday mornings.)

The Forum will no longer be selecting ‘Safer Neighbourhood Priorities’. This is because Police Scotland now set local Leith officers’ annual priorities.  Instead, the forum will now select four quarterly ‘Feeling Safe neighbourhood priorities’ which will be led by Edinburgh Council’s Community Safety Team.

The next Forum meeting is due to be held in early June (exact date to be advised).

Local community plan 2014 – 2017

Leith Neighbourhood Partnership is now gathering information for its 2014–17 Local Community Plan. This plan’s actions and priorities should reflect Leithers’ views: people who live, work, volunteer and study here are best placed to know what Leith needs. A survey is the first step in finding out what Leith people want and is open until 31 March 2014.

Take the survey by 31 March 2014 – https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LeithCommunityPlan

NHS Information Bulletin 46

This bulletin has potentially very useful information on

  1. Classes, Courses, Workshops, Training, Support and Publications
  2. Events, Fairs, Community Days and Seminars
  3. Health Service / Statutory Agencies / Government – documents and information
  4. Strategies, Consultations, Campaigns and Websites
  5. Organisations, Groups, Networks and Charities – News and Information
  6. Funding Opportunities and Grants
  7. Useful websites and contacts

There is likely to be something for almost everyone!