LLOYDS TSB FOUNDATION FOR SCOTLAND SETS OUT TO RAISE £12M mTO CONTINUE FUNDING SCOTLAND’S CHARITIES

Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland has announced that it is seeking to raise funding of £12m to guarantee its future for the short term.

Trustees have agreed that efforts should now be made to secure monies from sources other than Lloyds Banking Group to cover the Foundation’s grant-making programmes for the next two years, whilst continuing to work to reach a settlement for interim funding with the Group.

To read our full statement click here.

You can keep up to date with the latest news via the Chief Executive’s updates.

A number of Policy & Information resources made available by Bill Weir (Voluntary Health Scotland – VHS) at the network meeting 11 Nov 2009 have been added to the Policy & Information Resources page of this weblog.

Resources include information from:
• NHS (Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Inverclyde CHP)
• Scottish Government
• Inverclyde Council
• Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS)

Click here to access.

LATEST NEWS ABOUT MEETING BETWEEN FOUNDATION AND BANKING GROUP

We are disappointed that we have been unable to reach agreement with the Banking Group at our meeting today as their position appears to be largely unchanged. Regrettably, the Banking Group’s proposal has not changed substantially and remains unacceptable to the Foundation on the basis of legal and financial advice that made it clear the proposal was not in the best interests of the Foundation and, therefore, the charities we support. That continues to be the case, and the Trustees now have to consider their overall position.

At today’s meeting the Banking Group did discuss our proposal but was not prepared to accept any part of it as a useful way forward. Whilst we understand that they are keen to reach one agreement with all four Foundations, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland is governed by an independent Board of Trustees, who can only speak for Scottish interests.

The Foundation remains extremely heartened by the extensive support of charities and others who have urged us to continue to stand up for what is right. Clearly Trustees will now be considering all the options available to the Foundation going forward.

You can keep up to date with the latest news via the Chief Executive’s updates.

Our New Children’s Hospital Can we build it?

Work is now underway on planning for a New Children’s Hospital for the West of Scotland. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is working closely with families, children and young people in the design of their new hospital to ensure it offers not just the best clinical treatment possible but also a warm, friendly, supportive place to get better.

If you would like to learn more about the plans for the new hospital; find out how to get involved in the meetings and discussions with NHSGGC planners or have questions that you’d like to chat about then please come and see them when they visit Greenock
They’ll be at:
The Oak Mall Shopping Centre
on Thursday the 3rd
of December from
10am – 3pm

Pop in any time to view some of their early plans, hear about the changes that are proposed and to meet with some of the Project Team.

Yes we can!

Can you help, ICOD?

ICOD are looking for Usable Display Boards. If you have any that you no longer require or use and would be willing to donate, they would be very grateful. ICOD will arrange to uplift.
Call the ICOD office on 01475-732700 if you can help.

The National Conversation comes to Port Glasgow
Monday 16 November 2009 – 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Town Hall, 35 King Street, Port Glasgow, PA14 5HD

The National Conversation is the debate on options for Scotland’s future, including independence. The Scottish Government is keen that as many people as possible have a chance to take part in the debate. That is why Government Ministers are holding meetings across Scotland to let you have your say.

You can find out more on the National Conversation website.

The event will be chaired by Rosanna Cunningham, Minister for the Environment and will feature a presentation from Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice on the options for constitutional change. This will be followed by an open question and answer session.

Refreshments will be available from 6.30 pm, but in any case it would be helpful if you could aim to arrive by 6.45 pm.

There is no charge to attend, but you do need to register in advance. I would be grateful if you could indicate whether you can or cannot attend this event by emailing The National Conversation team or calling 0131 244 1893 during office hours.

Please also let us know if you have any dietary, access or other requirements.

You should note that this event may be recorded and video and audio coverage of the event may appear on the Scottish Government National Conversation website or on broadcast media.

Respect and Responsibility is the Scottish Government strategy for sexual health. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde together with a range of partners including local authorities and voluntary sector partners, is responsible for implementing key recommendations of the strategy. In addition the Scottish Government has recently issued Scotland’s first HIV Action Plan.

They wish to invite you to a voluntary sector engagement event to be held at 9.30am – 1.00pm 26 November at The Moir Suite, The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow.

The purpose of the event is to present the Health approach for improving sexual health and to consult with a broad range of voluntary organisations to help shape our ongoing plans.

While there are a range of specialist sexual health and HIV voluntary organisations in Scotland with whom they are in regular dialogue, they appreciate that there are many organisations for whom sexual health is not the primary focus but is of some relevance.

This event is designed to provide an opportunity for your organisation to feed in your priorities and concerns around sexual health and HIV.

At the event you will have the opportunity to take part in two round table discussions based on the following themes
1. Sexual Health Services
2. Sexual Health and Relationships Education in Schools
3. Condom Distribution
4. Promoting Healthy Sexual Relationships for Adults
5. The role of volunteers in sexual health
6. Local sexual health information

Please can you confirm your attendance by no later than Wednesday 18 November to Kam Kaur and also indicate which two round table discussion you would like to participate in.

The 16 October edition of SCVO’s Third Force News included an article entitled Charities Rally to Save Lloyds for the full article.

As part of this campaign, SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) has produced a standard letter that you can download and send to
• Eric Daniels, CEO of Lloyds TSB
• The Prime Minister
• MPs
• MSPs
• MEPs

Stating your concern around the closure of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, due to substantial funding cuts from the recently merged Lloyds TSB and HBOS bank.

1. We have attached a Lloyds TSB Campaign Letters and a mailing list of Political Contacts (Oct 2009).

2. If you prefer, you can download the letter from SCVO’s website.

3. You can also email this letter via Write to Them (This is a free service).
Simply enter your Post Code and a list of your local MPs, MEPs & MSPs will appear on screen.
Click on the links and a standard email form will appear.
You can then cut and paste the text of the Lloyds TSB Campaign Letters.

We would encourage you to send this letter to everyone on the attached mailing list as the impact of this closure will take a massive toll on the Voluntary Sector in Scotland. Please encourage other organisations you work with to do the same.

If you decide to take action, please send us a return email with details of the individuals you lobbied. This will allow us to register the level of concern amongst the Voluntary Sector in Inverclyde.

If you have problems accessing any of this information, please contact Gordon or Cathie (CVS Inverclyde) 01475 710207.

“A Weight off my Mind” – Telecare for Carers Conference.

Carers Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government Joint Improvement Team will hold a major free conference, on 1 December 2009 in the Glasgow Science Centre, to examine and identify the potential benefits of telecare and its impact on carers lives.

For more information go to the Carers Scotland website or click on the attached Telecare for Carers Conference flyer.

Fewer jobs.. and less money for the charities which help them.
Essay of the week by Simon Watson of Barnardo’s

With one in five young people out of work, the warnings of another lost generation are fast becoming a reality.

A sustained period of large-scale youth unemployment will present us with a triple deficit of social, economic and opportunity cost that will be sustained way beyond a return to economic growth.

Unemployed young people are not a homogenous group. Behind the unemployment statistics is a very complex picture of young people with a diverse range of needs from very different backgrounds. Young people in different areas face different odds of getting into work when the economy picks up.

The full article is available at The Abandoned Generation via The Herald website.