International Women’s Week 2010

Running from the 8th to the 14th of March, this week-long festival provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate the contribution of women to life in North Fife.

A partnership group has been established to create a programme of events for the week, but we need support and ideas from within each community for it to be a real success.

If you would be interested in organising an event for International Women’s Week in your local community, or if you already have something planned which you would like to include in our programme of events, please contact either Helen Rorrison at VONEF or Sarah Ballantine at Volunteer Centre Fife to let us know. We can provide support in planning your event and may be able to help cover any expenses incurred.

We are also looking for community or voluntary group representation at a large marketplace event in Cupar on Saturday the 13th of March. Any organisations who would like a stall at this event, or those that have something else to offer (for example hosting a workshop or providing some form of entertainment) please contact us. Again, we may be able to help cover any expenses and can provide you with other forms of support.

Helen Rorrison: helen.rorrison@vonef.org.uk
(VONEF): 01334 654080

Sarah Ballantine: sarah.ballantine@volunteeringfife.org
(Volunteer Centre Fife) 01334 659134

Computers for Rural People Scheme (UK)

Water Charges
There is to be an extension until 2015 of the current exemptions for charities, with a review in 2 years time to look at making these permanent. Exemptions will also be portable where an organisation changes premises - and any organisations charged because they have moved will have the exemption applied retrospectively.

Using the NHS Scotland Costs Book

Every year the Information Services Division, Scotland's national organisation for health information, statistics and IT services, collects annual data on the cost of providing health care in Scotland and publishes this information in Scottish Health Service Costs, commonly known as the Costs Book.

Costs Book 09 is now available online and it contains a wealth of financial information on NHS services from both a local and a national perspective in an easily accessible format.

The Costs Book is a series of Excel spreadsheets whose detailed reports are structured to analyse around 93% of the NHS operating costs, presenting information on the Boards and hospitals that provide care directly to patients as well as an overview from a Scotland wide perspective.

It notes, for example, that across Scotland there were over 1.6 million attendances at Accident and Emergency in 2008-09, with an average cost of £100 each. To support Shifting the Balance of Care, NHS Boards require to achieve agreed reductions in the rates of attendance at A&E within their 2010 HEAT targets.

It can be seen from the information that NHS services have a high percentage of fixed costs, such as staff salaries, which third sector organisations cannot influence.

However, by using the geographical breakdown in the Costs Book, local organisations will be able to show where they are reducing pressures on the NHS by providing services which complement and support existing services while providing value for money.

Third sector organisations may do this, for example, by providing evidence that their services are influential in reducing their client group’s attendance at A&E. This may be for services as diverse as preventing falls in the elderly to supporting young people to safely manage their alcohol intake.

Although it is in itself no guarantee of securing future funding, when used in this way, the Costs Book is another tool which can be effectively used to evidence the added value of the third sectors involvement in health.

The NHS Costs Book is available online from the Information Services Division at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4683.html

For more information contact Bill Weir at bill.weir@VHScotland.org.uk

Open Championship announced by new charity!

The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership, which has just been awarded its full registered Scottish charity status, has announced that they will host a second Pan-Disability Open Golf Championship in 2010.

The SDGP, which was the first group in the United Kingdom to organise a Pan-Disability Open Golf Championship, has announced that in 2010 it will once again hosted in Scotland. It will be played over three days at the prestigious Scotscraig Golf Club, Tayport in Fife, an Open qualifying standard golf course and the thirteenth oldest golf club in the world . The event will be played in early September and will consist of a practise round and two days of golf for the Championship players.

Further information about the SDGP can be found at www.sdgp.co.uk

End of Year Accounts - Independent Examination or Audit?

To help you decide what your organisation needs check out the OSCR web page for help and pointers on what you need and what you should be looking for.

Funding to Increase Physical Activity Levels Among Girls and Young Women (Scotland)

Youth Scotland has announced that Grants of up to £2,000 are available for projects and initiatives across Scotland that increase physical activity levels among girls and young women. The funding is available to groups working with girls and young women aged 12 – 18 years who are not currently taking part in physical activity. Applications are particularly welcome from young women who:

· live in disadvantaged communities
· have experienced homelessness or are living in care
· have disabilities or mental health issues
· are from black and ethnic minority communities
· are mothers of young children.

Previous projects have included cheerleading, netball, walking, dance, gymnastics, outdoor activities and many more. Only activities out with the school curriculum are funded.

The application deadline are the 1st March 2010.

http://www.youthscotland.org.uk/projects/girls-on-the-move/the-participation-programme.htm

AWARDS FOR ALL - CHANGES

From 2nd November 2009, the application form will no longer ask for details of an independent referee to be included.

While we haven’t removed the requirement completely - we may still ask some groups for a referee once we have looked at their application – it will make the initial application process quicker and easier for all.

The referee requirement was originally introduced as a measure to counter fraud, but as our processes and checks have improved, the need for all groups to provide a referee has diminished.