Staff, VONEF Board and all Volunteers could like to wish all our members and friends a Happy Holiday and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Our offices will be shut from 12.30 on Friday 19th December 2008 and will re-open on Monday 5th January 2009 at 9am.

Letter from Scottish Gas - The Scottish Government Central Heating Programme

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing made a statement on Fuel Poverty in Parliament announcing the prioritisation within the Central Heating Programme, which took effect from 22nd May 2008.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced on 18th October 2008 that additional funding was to be invested in the Scottish Government’s Central Heating Programme this year to provide more central heating systems.
Ms Sturgeon also announced that as from 27th October 2008 the prioritisation will be extended to cover the following pensioner households:

• those who have never had a central heating system
• those who have a system which is broken beyond repair and are in receipt of the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
• those who have a system which is broke beyond repair and are aged 75 or over
• those who have a partial or inefficient system and are in receipt of the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit, and
• those who have a partial or inefficient system and are aged 80 or over.

Our website www.scottishgas.co.uk/scotland will be updated to reflect the announcement and we are presently updating our literature.
If you would like copies of the updated leaflet please email anne.sanders@service.britgas.co.uk, and we will send you some when we have taken delivery of them.
The Cabinet Secretary also revealed that from April next year it is intended that the government’s fuel poverty programmes are extended to include families on income support with children under five or with disabled children under 16.

Scottish Voluntary Sector Dementia Support Service - The Tudor Trust
The Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling, has established a new dedicated liaison service for the voluntary and community sectors in Scotland. This is a three-year project funded by the Tudor Trust and provides subsidised access to:
• specialist information on dementia care
• support
• training
• consultancy
To find out more about these opportunities, please contact Jemma Galbraith, Project Manager on 01786 467740 or by email at jemma.galbraith@stir.ac.uk

NEW GRANTS FROM THE BIG LOTTERY

One year on from Glasgow's successful Commonwealth Games bid, 2014 Communities aims to encourage groups from all over Scotland to get involved in sport and physical activity. We want to build a legacy of well-being before and beyond the Commonwealth Games.

Over the next 12 months, grants of between £300 and £1,000 will be available to groups who are looking to encourage participation, volunteering and community interaction through their sports projects. Voluntary and community sector organisations, community councils and schools can apply to the programme which has three key aims:
More people take part in sport or physical activity
More people volunteer in sport or physical activity
More people and communities are brought together through taking part or volunteering in sport or physical activity
We have created a webpage which contains all the information you need to know before applying as well as case studies and details of why BIG is committed to supporting the Commonwealth Games 2014 legacy.

BIG also wants to encourage people to start thinking about the legacy of the 2014 Games. As part of that process, we would like people and communities to make their own short films to be posted online, telling others what the legacy will mean to them.

If your group has an idea for a film which demonstrates their hopes for the legacy or vision for a brighter Scotland in the future, then contact us at 2014@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Pfizer UK - Foundation funds for community based projects
The Pfizer UK Foundation is keen to support voluntary or community-led not-for-profit organisations with links to local health professionals.
Grants of between £3,000 and £50,000 are available for community-based projects in areas of deprivation in the UK that address local health inequality issues for a specified target group and have measurable health-related outcomes.
Pfizer are keen to encourage creative and innovative approaches to reducing health inequalities through supporting groups who try untested methods, take risks and drive new practice. Emphasis is placed on evaluation in order to learn more about what works and what doesn’t.
For more information on Pfizer UK Foundation - www.pfizer.co.uk/Our Responsibility/foundation/Pages/Foundationhome.aspx.

Women’s Fund for Scotland
The Women’s Fund for Scotland is dedicated to improving the quality of life of women in Scotland. Over the last six years it has awarded £850,000 in grants to 400 community projects. Small grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects which seek to support and empower women. There are also grants available for international Women’s Day, 8 March 2009. Applicants must be constituted not-for-profit groups with an annual income of less than £250,000.
Applications can be made using the standard Scottish Community Foundation website: www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=
gX8HrbpJpitXbhe2HDKtbkdt9NBqD4f6. For advice and support contact grants officer Annabel Bath on 0131 524 0306.

Children in Need

1. BBC Children in Need which this year alone has distributed over 37 million pounds to projects in the UK, has always prided itself on accessible and responsive to the needs of the sector. Yet despite its success, under its established processes with two application dates per annum the fund can remain closed for business for new applicants for much of the year. This has now changed. in place of the traditional end of November and end of March dates, from now on we will operate with application dates on January 15th, April 15th , July 15th and October 15th. There will be no application deadline this November. (However, applicants who might normally expect to apply to us this November will still hear an outcome of a January application during April ’09)

We hope that this new structure will enable projects to submit their applications at a point in the year that best suits their business needs, rather than be rigidly bound by our procedural requirements.

Further information can be found online at www.bbc.co.uk/Pudsey
or Pudsey@bbc.co.uk. or by writing to the following address
BBC Children in Need Appeal BBC Scotland
G10 40 Pacific Drive
GLASGOW G51 1DA
Tele: 0141 422 6111

TRAINING EVENT @ VONEF - SOME PLACES STILL AVAILABLE

The following training session is taking place on Wednesday 28th January 2009, at 10 am. There are still some places available, if you are interested then please contact Sue. Price is £25 per person. If you require any further information on these courses please phone 01334 654080 or email Sue

Workplace Walk Organiser/Leader Training – Programme

Friday 6 February 2009 - Gilvenbank Hotel, Conference Room, Huntsmans Road, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 6RA. 9.30 – 4.30pm

Paths for All have provided Fife Workplaces with the opportunity to participate in the Walk Organiser/Leader Training.

This training is perfect for developing the skill for all who are or would like to develop staff walking groups.

If you or a member of staff would like to book a place please complete the above booking form and return to me by 5th January 2009.

Please note: Places are not limited per workplace.

For more information on the training and paths for all visit; http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/pathstohealth/workplace.asp

NHS Fife - Health Improvement Support Service - Training
Improving Health : Developing Effective Practice

6 day course - 24th, 25th, 26th February 2009, 24th, 25th March 2009, 29th April 2009
9.15 am - 4.30 pm
Cardenden Health Centre, Wallsgreen Road, Cardenden

The course deals with seven main themes:
• Exploring health and health promotion
• The policy context for health promotion
• Promoting health with individuals
• Promoting health with communities
• Needs assessment
• Planning and evaluating an intervention
• Identifying local resources

For a booking form contact: Karen Stirling, Team Administrator, Health Improvement Support Service, Haig House, Cameron Hospital, Leven, KY8 5RA.
Form to be returned by Friday, 16 January 2009.

Mentally Healthy Workplace Training for Managers

Aims
Give employers and line managers a broad understanding of
mental health
Identify the key factors that contribute to a mentally healthy
workplace
Increase awareness of mental health issues in the workplace
Raise awareness of the economic impact of positive mental
health in the workplace
Improve managers’ skills and confidence in dealing with mental
health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Ensure that managers are aware of their legislative responsibilities
in relation to health and wellbeing.

Who should attend?
The course is appropriate for employers, line managers, supervisors and those who are responsible for developing policies.
Further Information from: Haig House, Cameron Hospital, Leven
Fife KY8 5RA E-mail - karenstirling@nhs.net

Fife Credit Unions - What is a Credit Union?
A Credit Union is a self-help savings and loans co-operative set up for the mutual benefit of all its members -
• to encourage its members to save regularly
• to provide loans to members at very low rates of interest
• to provide members with help and support on managing their financial affairs (if required)
• access a local source of affordable finance, regardless or your income
• revive the local economy by keeping money in the community
• convenient savings and low cost loans
Fife Credit Unions are constantly in need of fresh blood and new volunteers. There are a huge range of activities in which you can get involved. In fact, if you have an interest or skill that you would like to share and develop then volunteering is just the job for you. If you would like more information about volunteering, saving or borrowing, please pick up the phone and call Susan on 0800 085 5803.

Here is an example of how a Credit Union can help you.