education
Driving improvement in healthcare
Do you want to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland?
Will you dedicate some of your valuable free time to this important task?
Healthcare Improvement Scotland is now recruiting volunteers to the role of Public Partner to ensure the experiences and voices of people inform and influence improvements in the quality of care in Scotland. There are a variety of Public Partner roles involving a range of activities. These include developing, promoting and supporting quality standards and guidelines, encouraging sharing of good practice and spreading improvement, and participating in hospital inspections.
Previous experience is not required as training will be provided. You must live in Scotland to be a Public Partner. For some role
s, travel throughout Scotland with occasional overnight stays may be required. While the role of Public Partner is voluntary, expenses will be paid.
For an informal chat about what is involved, please contact: Katy Penman on 0141 225 6892 or send an email to katy.penman@nhs.net
To request an application pack, call 0141 225 6887 or send an email to contactpublicinvolvement.his@nhs.net
Closing date: 5pm, 1 February 2016
Please note: An information and selection day will take place on 17 February in Glasgow. Induction is planned for 9 and 10 March in Clydebank.
Driving improvement in healthcare http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland
Improving the Quality of Drug and Alcohol Service in Scotland
Small Test of Change Fund
The Scottish Government is making available small sums of money to encourage and support improvement in the quality of drug services. We are looking to invest in local small tests of change which contribute to our ambitions to build and strengthen recovery orientated systems of care (ROSC) across services throughout Scotland and support implementation of The Quality Principles: Standard Expectations of Care & Support in Drug & Alcohol Services.
A maximum of up to £3,000 (non-recurring) will be available per application (if successful). The concept of “small tests of change” stems from the Scottish Government 3-step Improvement Framework for public services. More detail can be found via: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0042/00426552.pdf.
Partnership applications are welcomed. It is expected that the lead bidder will be a third sector provider. It is also expected that applications received will sit within at least one of the following priorities; Prevention, Education, Harm Reduction and/ or Quality Improvement.
All applications should be signed-off by the local ADP. It is expected that any funding application received will clearly align to an outcome agreed as part of a local improvement work underway in your area. The ADP team in your area should be able to support you with this
https://www.facebook.com/AberdeenshireAdp
Deadline for applications and review process
This will be a rolling fund with applications received on a quarterly basis. The closing date for this round of applications is: 29th January 2016.
All applications received will be reviewed and successful bids will be notified within 4 weeks. Light-touch feedback will be provided to any unsuccessful applications. Read the rest of this entry »
Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund
As part of the national conversation about the future of health and care services in Scotland (Creating a Healthier Scotland – What matters to you) VAF is delighted to announce the launch of the Scottish Government’s new Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund.
From August 2015 to Spring 2016 the Scottish Government is holding a national conversation on improving the health of the Scottish population and the future of health and social care services in Scotland.
With £26,000 to give out in grants the Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund is part of this conversation. It aims to help small voluntary organisations and community groups in Scotland run an event or engagement activity to gather views of people who would not normally participate in a consultation of this nature.
Grants of up to £500 (or exceptionally up to £1,000) are available to support an event or engagement activity with a group of five or more people.
We are particularly keen to fund events or engagement activities that will involve seldom heard or hard to reach groups or communities. Applications that will gather the views of these groups will be considered a priority as will applications from groups with an income under £100,000.
Applications should be received by VAF by 5pm on Friday 11 December 2015. Applicants will hear the outcome of their application by Thursday 7 January 2016. A short report on the event or activity should be returned to Voluntary Action Fund by Thursday 18 February 2016.
Further information, including the guidance and application form, is available on the VAF website at www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk or click on this link: http://www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/funding-and-support/healthier-scotland-engagement-fund/
The Voluntary Action Fund receives funding from the Scottish Government.
Scottish Charity number SC035037. Company Number SC261186.
Community Anchor Organisations
Community Anchor Organisations are community bodies which may act as a focal point for community groups in a localised area. The benefit of having a community anchor in your area is that it may take the lead in large projects or initiate new projects. Often the problem when initiating a new project is the creation of a constituted group and finding office bearers. A small community can only have so many treasurers and secretaries! Once created the ‘community anchor’ can invite local people to come forward with their project ideas without the necessity of them becoming an office bearer. There are many examples of ‘community anchor organisations’ throughout Scotland to inspire you. http://www.localpeopleleading.co.uk/anchor-orgs/
Let’s Celebrate!
This free event will be a great opportunity for Third Sector Organisations, Community and Voluntary
Groups from across Aberdeenshire to come together and celebrate the difference they are making
for people of all ages in towns, villages and communities across all of Aberdeenshire. The day will
consist of a variety of workshops, stands for local groups and organisations and delegates will be
entertained by a Children’s Choir from Kellands Primary in Inverurie in the afternoon.
Workshops:
Grampian Autistic Society Volunteering and Support Needs – raising awareness
Alcohol and Drug Partnership – Good Practice in Partnership Working
AVA Learning & Training – Motivate and keep your Volunteers
Volunteer Scotland PVG Awareness – raising awareness, information and guidance
Education Scotland – How Good Is Our Third Sector Organisation
Penny Downes Art in our Communities – inspiring art in our communities
Cornfields – Social Enterprise in Practise
Book your space at the conference by emailing: central@avashire.org.uk or call Ruth on 01467
626060. Booking forms for attending the conference are also available on our website at:
http://avashire.org.uk/events.html
We need you to help make it happen!
Are you pro active, motivated and have a personal desire to take forward joint tobacco related actions to reduce smoking in Aberdeenshire? If so, The Aberdeenshire Local Tobacco Alliance (ALTA) needs you. The ALTA is a multi-agency operational group that includes NHS, Council and 3rd sector agencies which localises the recommendations in the Scottish National tobacco strategy and co-ordinates and monitors a local tobacco plan that aims to reduce smoking and the effects of tobacco in Aberdeenshire. Membership is free and open to any Origination as long as they can declare that they do not have any connections, affiliations or holdings with Tobacco Industry or Representatives.
For more information on the work of the ALTA or how to join then please contact Public Health Coordinator Banff & Buchan; g.rutten@nhs.net
OPEN YOUR DOOR TO WELLBEING
FREE EVENT!
OPEN YOUR DOOR TO WELLBEING
St Bridget’s Hall, Stonehaven
Saturday 31st Oct 2015
10am – 12noon
Come along to our FREE event!
Explore local opportunities to help you look after
Your health and wellbeing!
Stalls, refreshments, information and
entry into a FREE prize draw!
‘Don’t Get Scared, Get Checked’
PEOPLE URGED TO NOT ‘MISS THE SIGNS’ AS DETECT CANCER EARLY TOUR HITS GRAMPIAN 
The benefits of finding cancer early will be highlighted to shoppers in Grampian over the next two weeks as the Detect Cancer Early tour kicks off at ASDA Aberdeen Beach tomorrow (Wednesday 21 October).
The 52-date national tour is focused on raising awareness of the importance of screening and the potential signs and symptoms of bowel, breast and lung cancer, in a bid to encourage more people to get checked at the earliest stage and save more lives.
The Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early programme aims to increase the proportion of people diagnosed and treated in the first stage of breast, bowel and lung cancer by 25 per cent by the end of 2015. Read the rest of this entry »
Creating Places
Place Standard Tool | Creating Places 
The Scottish Government has been working with partners NHS Health Scotland and Architecture and Design Scotland to develop a Place Standard Assessment tool. The aim of the Place Standard tool is to support the delivery of high quality places – which can be instrumental in reducing health inequalities. The tool provides questions for individuals and community groups to answer, to create a snapshot of built and social assets, and consultation is open regarding the format of the tool. To find out more and participate in the consultation please visit;
Over 55?
Want to get online? 
Footprints connect are encouraging over 55’s to get online and make the most of their computer, tablet and other digital technologies. They provide advice and support- and lots of great reasons to enter the digital world.
Call 01224 679 020 or email info@footprintconnect.org.uk for more information.
Half a million pound funding opportunity for Scotland’s social businesses
Early stage social businesses throughout Scotland can now bid for financial and mentoring support from a new Corporate Social Venturing (CSV) Initiative funding pot of £500,000.
The £500,000 is being invested by the Life Changes Trust, a charity that works to improve the lives of young people who have had experience of the care system, and people affected by dementia.
Ideas are being sought from any social businesses who have creative ideas for new ventures that would impact positively on one or both of these groups. Each social business can bid for up to £50,000 and will also receive business mentoring support. Read the rest of this entry »
EU Funds Masterclass: Aberdeen
Looking for funding? Pop along to;
Friday, 31 July 2015 from 10:30 to 13:00Union Square, Aberdeen |
EU Funds Masterclass: Aberdeen Tickets, Union Square | Eventbrite
This masterclass is a detailed introduction to the current EU Funds Programmes for Scotland. Targeted towards Senscot, Development Trusts Association Scotland, Social Firms Scotland and Scottish Community Alliance members.For more info click here;
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eu-funds-masterclass-aberdeen-tickets-17514814281
K&M Communities 