Voluntary Action Moray (VAM)

Following the Moray Voluntary Service Organisation (MVSO) Extraordinary General Meeting on 11th August 2010, the activities and restricted funds assets has been transferred from MVSO to Voluntary Action Moray (VAM).

A further EGM will be required to obtain membership approval to dissolve MVSO. This will be happening soon, further details will be posted as soon as known.

A new website for VAM will be developed and created soon, but we will still update this one, keeping you updated of events, funding opportunities and news.
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Civic Licensing Fee Review 2010

The Background
A full civic licensing fee review has not taken place in Moray since local authority re-organisation in 1996 and some of the licence fees have not changed since that time. At their 25 August 2010 meeting the Licensing Committee approved provisional changes to these fees, for consultation with those groups likely to be affected. It is proposed that the new fees will come into effect on 1 January 2011.
Further Information
A copy of the full report to the Licensing Committee of 25 August 2010 can be obtained upon request. Please e-mail licensing@moray.gov.uk or contact the address below.
Next Steps
We would encourage anyone likely to be affected by these proposals who wishes to express their views to lodge representations in writing.

Representations will then be considered by the Moray Council Licensing Committee at their next meeting on 20 October 2010. Any representations must be received by close of business on 1 October 2010. Representations should be addressed to: Chief Legal Officer, The Moray Council, Council Offices, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX.

Once the Licensing Committee has decided on fee levels, the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee will make a final decision at its meeting on 23.11.10.

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OSCR - Becoming a Charity in Scotland

OSCR has just published it's leaflet 'Becoming a Charity in Scotland'. The leaflet provides a simple introduction and helpful advice to organisations and individuals who are thinking about starting a charity in Scotland.

The leaflet can be found in the Guidance for Charities section of Publications in the OSCR website -
www.oscr.org.uk
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The ELGIN EAR

You speak, we listen!
To all citizens of the
City of Elgin

o Do you want to change the way things are done?
o Do you want to have your say?
o Do you want someone in your community to be recognised for an act of kindness or bravery?
o Do you want to report anti-social behaviour?
o Do you have an idea that could benefit the community?
o Do you know how to go about achieving the above?

You can contact the EAR on Email - elginear@moray.gov.uk

Website – http://www.yourmoray.org.uk/
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BIG Information Days

BIG Information Days – coming to a venue near you!
Online registration facility which your groups/members can access here:

https://secure.tylerevents.co.uk/ei/getdemo.ei?id=156&s=_3JW0LKPEV

Or for more information please contact Mhairi -0141 242 1425

The BIG Lottery Outreach Team
0300 123 7110
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How to Contract with Moray Council

Visit the procurement page on the Moray Council website to keep up to date with the latest Procurement developments and for more detailed information

www.moray.gov.uk

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The Digital Switchover in Moray

Do you work with the following groups?

The Digital Switchover takes place in your area on 8 and 22 September 2010. ACVO has been appointed as the lead organisation in your area, even though we are based in Aberdeen!!

We believe that it is vital that people receive the right information and advice to make the switch to digital - and that those who most need it can look to a local organisation that they know and trust to provide it.

We would like to organise a free event in your area, possibly Elgin, but open to suggestions, to raise awareness about the Digital Switchover and explain to you about the help that is available. You can then cascade this information to the people that you support. Interested to find out more?

Please contact Louise Farmer (01224)686059/686050
E-mail lfarmer@acvo.org.uk
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Youth Work in a Voluntary Capacity

Are you currently working with a youth group - or would you be interested in doing youth work in a voluntary capacity?

This short 10 hour evening course (2 hours per weekly session - held over 5 weeks) is taylored for those people interested in working in a voluntary capacity with youth organisations.

The course will discuss young people, the role of the Youth Worker, Youth Work practice and the organisational aspects of Youth Work.

Courses are currently being organised at both Lhanbryde (in October) and Speyside (in November) Community Centres.

If you would be interested in participating in either area, please email or call to register your interest.

This training is free of charge and places are limited, so please get back to me as soon as you can. Full details of dates and times will be confirmed once sufficient interest has been noted.

Kind regards,

Debi Ingram
Clerical Assistant (Youth Team)
Community Learning & Development
9 North Guildry Street
ELGIN
Tel(01343) 557257
Email - debi.ingram@moray.gov.uk
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NEW VSPM Website
http://www.vspm.org.uk/
Please click on the link to view the Voluntary Sector Partnership Moray website
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Online HR Policies Library Launched
Councils for Voluntary Service now have an online library of Human Resources policies and procedures. This excellent resource is called the:

COMMUNITY TOOLKIT

Essential guidelines and contacts for community groups

Please go to http://www.slcvo.org.uk/ctoolkit/PageName=toolkit-home.htm for further information.
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FUNDING INFORMATION & OPPORTUNITIES
Save the Foundation - Sign the Petition

Charities and community groups across Scotland face an uncertain future after Lloyds Banking Group ended a historical agreement to give a share of pre-tax profits to the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland.

The agreement, or covenant, has allowed the Foundation to distribute £85 million to disadvantaged communities across Scotland since 1985. Vulnerable Scots will suffer when this valuable life-line is removed.

For 25 years the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland has invested in and supported communities across Scotland. Now it is our turn to support the Foundation.

Please sign the petition to save the Foundation, and forward to friends, family and colleagues.
Please click here to sign the petition - http://www.savethefoundation.org/Home/Home.aspx
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YouthLink Scotland
is pleased to announce Round 4 of the CashBack for Communities Fund. The Application Form and Guidance Notes are now available for downloading using the following link

CASHBACK FOR COMMUNITIES FUND ROUND 4 WEB PAGE http://www.youthlinkscotland.org/Index.asp?MainID=8146

We would urge organisations wishing to make an application to read the guidance notes clearly before completing the application form.

YouthLink Scotland is holding a series of Funding Workshops across Scotland and we would encourage you to attend one of these to gain clarification of the fund criteria. Information on the workshops can also be found on the above link.
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The Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust

Funds available in support of horticultural education; for the advancement of research in any branch of horticulture and the publication of the results of such research; to assist the creation, development, preservation and maintenance of gardens accessible to the public; the promotion of the cultivation and wide distribution of plants which have value to mankind; promotion and cultivation of new plants; assisting the publication of books or other works relating to science or horticulture

http://www.grantsforhorticulturists.org.uk/Smith.html
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Heroes Return 2

This Big Lottery Fund programme provides funding to help WWII veterans, along with their spouses or carers to make commemorative visits to the places where they saw active service during the conflict. Veterans must be resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland to be eligible.

Grants of between £150 and £5,000 are available, and can be made to both individuals and groups. The scheme runs between 1st April 2010 and 31st January 2011. There is an application helpline available to assist prospective applicants.

For more information please visit -
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_heroes_return.htm
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Awards for All

Awards for All - Scotland - unlike many funders, organisations do not require to have charitable status to apply. Awards for All give out grants from £500 to £10,000 and give priority to small groups. www.awardsforall.org.uk
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Tudor Trust

Tudor is an independent grant-making trust which supports organisations working across the UK. We aim to support work which addresses the social, emotional and financial needs of people at the margins of our society, and are particularly interested in helping smaller, under-resourced organisations which offer direct services and which involve the people they work with in their planning. For more information on the Tudor Trust please visit - www.tudortrust.org.uk

Children in Need

Our grants are open to organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people who are 18 years old and under.
Your organisation and project must be based in the UK and you need to be a registered charity or other not-for-profit organisation.
There are four general grant deadlines each year: 15 January, 15 April, 15 July, 15 October.
Within our general grants programme, you can apply for:
o Small Grants of £10,000 or less per year for up to three years
o Main Grants over £10,000 per year for up to three years
For more information on how to apply for a grant please click here-http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/
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Cash for Your Group

The Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) is pleased to announce that the deadlines for the next two rounds of the Community Chest are 30 September 2010 and 7 January 2010.
The Community Chest, a grant aimed at smaller community groups and voluntary organisations across Scotland, will provide grants of up to £1,000 and free training to groups with an annual income under £25,000.
Groups can apply for funding for a wide range of activities or operational costs. However, we are particularly keen to fund activities that will help build and develop strong organisations, for example; training for committee members and volunteers; visits to other organisations and conferences or professional support and consultancy.
Groups wishing to apply for a Community Chest grant can download the application form and guidance notes from the VAF website at www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk.

Alternatively contact Patricia or Chris at the Voluntary Action Fund, either by telephone on 01383 620780 or by e-mail at Patricia.McKibben@voluntaryactionfund.org.uk.