For Lease - Small Office - for further details contact Sue

"Toastmaster International - Dundee - a relatively new club for anyone interested in improving the public speaking abilities. For further information contact Sue. A three fold leaflet containing information on who, what why and where is available on request.

Water charges exemption set to continue until 2014. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has written to the Minister to ask for a meeting about what steps will be taken to simplify the scheme. SCVO believes that the exemption should apply to all voluntary organisations that are registered as charities.

taken from SCVO's Rural Dimension newsletter for June

NHS INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM GLENROTHES & NORTH FIFE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP FORUM

The 18 Week Referral to Treatment Programme is about to have its local launch. Some of the things that have asked of previous patient reps have been:

· To validate process maps.

· Walk the patient pathway making observations

· Comment on communications i.e. letters

. Involvement in local, regional and national meetings

Whilst the level of commitment is unclear right now I wouldn’t see this exceeding 3 or 4 meetings per month but could be a lot less, perhaps as low as one.

Any member of the public who is interested in becoming part of this group should contact Arlene Dunleavey Locality Administrator on 01592 769090 or at Glenrothes & NEF CHP, Hanover Court, Glenrothes, email arlenedunleavey@fife-pct.scot.nhs.uk

St Andrews Community Hospital & Health Centre - Travel Planning Group – Minutes of Main Group Meeting – 5th June 2008

Aa copy of the minutes for the main group meeting held on 5th June 2008, can be accessed through VONEF website.. The next main group meeting is due to be held at 2.30 p.m. on 4th September 2008 at the Lawrence Levy Studio, the Byre Theatre.

Lloyds TSB Funding Surgery - VONEF 16th July 2008 - Phone 08709021201 for appointment

The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill is currently progressing through the UK Parliament. The money will be invested exclusively in the third sector. “Dormant” is defined as a period of 15 years during which the customer has not initiated any activity on the account. In England the assets will be distributed among defined priority areas of providing opportunities for young people , improving financial inclusion and supporting institutions involved in social lending – but it is for Scottish Ministers to set the priorities for the Scottish share of funds and they have initiated a consultation process.

Although the exact figure is not yet known, it is estimated that Scotland’s share for investment in the third sector could be approximately £40m in the first year and around £4m per year thereafter. The money would be distributed by The BIG Lottery Fund (Scotland). It is hoped that the fund would be operational at some point in 2009.

The consultation process went live on 16th June and will run until 8 September. The purpose of this note is to encourage you to express your views. You can access the Scottish Government consultation at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/ACCOUNTS

A copy of the briefing pack is availabe in hard copy at VONEF, or available to downloan of the website.

Diverse Routes to Higher Education in Scotland - The pack and website are designed to help new and settled migrants, asylum seekers and refugees find pathways into higher education in Scotland. An online version of the pack is available at www.diverseroutes.co.uk