Voluntary Action Scotland - Supporting, Developing and representing Scotland’s local third sector interfaces

News and Updates from VAS:    TSI Event Reminders TSI Youth Volunteering Forum Wednesday 23rd July 2014, Robertson House, 152 Bath Street, Glasgow Contact elaine.gibb@vascotland.org VAS and Senscot TSI Practice Forum: Working with our national Social Enterprise partners Wednesday 6th August 2014, The Melting Pot, 5 Rose Street, Edinburgh The purpose of this event is to support TSIs in how they and the national social enterprise support agencies can work together to support local third sector social enterprise activity. With an aim of supporting TSIs in their delivery of the social enterprise common services. For more details and booking form contactJanette.gallacher@vascotland.org TSI Practice Forum - 'The Engagement Matrix 1 Year On' Tuesday 12th August, Robertson House, 152 Bath Street, Glasgow In partnership with Voluntary Health Scotland. This practice forum will involve TSIs in sharing experiences of the exercise of Health Boards working with TSIs and the local third sector to complete 'The Engagement Matrix - a tool and guidance for improving engagement between health boards and the third sector'; exploring how it has helped 'catalyse' relationships. The purpose of the event is to support TSIs around engaging with health sector partners with a focus on how The Matrix might further assist this in future. Contact Janette.gallacher@vascotland.org These event are for TSIs only VAS Progress Survey In June, VAS carried out our second annual progress survey with the TSI network. This survey allows us to chart our progress as an organisation and helps us to plan our activities and set targets for the coming year. We are delighted with the results of this year's survey as they demonstrate real progress and improved satisfaction in the work of VAS. We have seen an improvement across all areas of work, with an average year on year increase of 27.8%. In particular there was much increased satisfaction in clarity and consistency of VAS messaging and branding (34.7% increase relative to 2013), involvement in national policy (47.3% increase relative to 2013), influence on the national community planning agenda (47.5% increase relative to 2013) and reflecting the role of TSIs in key policy areas(46.3% increase relative to 2013). Thank you to all the TSIs who took part in this survey, we will continue to use this tool in future years to help gauge our progress and set our agenda. For full disclosure we have provided a breakdown of all the figures which can be foundhere. Community Empowerment Bill - TSI Roundtable VAS is planning to hold a roundtable discussion with TSIs on Friday 15th August, Robertson House, Glasgow. This roundtable discussion is open to people who are interested in the Bill and will help to shape the VAS response to the Bill. Please contactniall.sommerville@vascotland.org . This will not be primarily an information session. VAS Blog in Third Force News Calum Irving, Chief Exec of VAS, has written a blog about volunteering and Community Work Placements for Third Force News. Have a read of it here - ˜Volunteering or voluntold?' and share it with colleagues and on social networks.

News from the sector: GIRFEC National project - Save The Date - Friday 6th February 2015 The National Third Sector GIRFEC Project is hosting an event, "Delivering GIRFEC in Partnership" on Friday 6th February 2015! The day will include guest speakers, workshops from our demonstration areas and an expert panel who will be able to provide answers and views on the Children and Young People Act as well as the implementation of GIRFEC and The National Third Sector GIRFEC Project. This will give you the opportunity to find out what has happened in the demonstration areas and hear about their progress. Plus you can put your questions to and hear from the experts. If you can all pencil the date in just now more news will follow and invitations will be with you shortly! Celebrate Good Practice with the Self Management Awards Nominations are open for Scotland's fourth self-management awards.  These awards celebrate and reward good practice in self-management from a range of innovative work from all over the country.  Showcase the work of your organisation, project or an individual who goes the extra mile to support people to self-manage. The categories this year are: ·        Self-Management Project of the Year ·        Self-Management Champion of the Year ·        Self-Management Partnership of the Year (voluntary organisation and NHS/Council/Private Sector Organisation) ·        Best Self-Management Resource ·        Self-Management Supporting Health Board of the Year ·        Outstanding Volunteering Achievement of the Year (person/project) Apply now!  The closing date for the awards is 1st August 2014.  Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in the Scottish Parliament on 1stOctober during Self-Management Week 2014. Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2014 Can you emulate Link Group, Simply Play, Calman Trust, North Lanarkshire Council and the Fun Factory - the 2013 winners of the Social Enterprise Awards in Scotland? Social Enterprise Scotland is delighted to announce the launch of the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2014. Last year saw over 80 applications to the Awards in Scotland, showing outstanding quality in products, goods and services across the length and breadth of Scotland and fantastic imagination, creativity and design all brought together by incredible people! Working with our partner organisations across the UK, Social Enterprise Scotland wants your applications for the Social Enterprise Awards 2014. Download the application pack and read the guidance notes today - and pass the word on to your favourite social enterprises! Applications close on Fri 11th July The Annual Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2014 - Info Sheet [180 KB] The Annual Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2014 - Application Form [81 KB] Resourcing Scotland's Heritage Resourcing Scotland's Heritage is providing inspiration and practical advice to help heritage groups and organisations maximise results from their fundraising. The programme includes training focussed on successful fundraising from private sources. Further information is available at www.resourcingscotlandsheritage.org and bookings are now open for 'Make it Happen' an introductory course focussed on fundraising for Private Sources. Places are still available on the following two courses: 30th July - Kilmarnock 7th August - Culloden, Nr Inverness http://www.resourcingscotlandsheritage.org/training-and-events/ Resourcing Scotland's Heritage is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is a partnership project lead by Arts & Business Scotland with Archaeology Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, greenspace Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland.