Winter is coming in and we hope this e-bulletin finds you keeping warm from the chill.
Our first Fife Employability Forum on Monday 04 November was a great success with over 40 people taking part and lots of useful connections being made.
For those of you who were unable to attend you will find links to our employability service mapping report 'Working for Fife' below as well as copies of presentations and notes from the discussion groups.
Save the date! We were so pleased with the success of last week's event and feedback so far that we have already booked the next Fife Employability Forum date. So save the date of Wednesday 29 January 2014. Topic and speakers to be confirmed.
In the meantime if you have new projects you want to let people know about or information to share via our e-bulletin then please get in touch with Pegs Bailey at pegs@fifevoluntaryaction.org.uk
Best wishes,
The team at FVA.
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In this issue:
» Fife Employability Forum - 04 November
» FVA report on third sector employability services in Fife published
Funding
» Fairer Scotland Funding - launch delay
» European Social Innovation Competition launched
» Fife Youth Jobs Contract
Training and Work Opportunities
» My World of Work Training
» Benefits Awareness Training Courses
» 'Grow Your Mind' about to launch at FEAT
» FORT News and Training
Other News
» Third Sector Employability Forum - 28 November 2013
» Disability Rights UK report: 'Taking Control of Employment Support'
Fife Employability Forum - 04 November
FVA held the first Fife Employability Forum last week. It was attended by over 40 people and, while we are still gathering feedback on the evaluations, we think it is safe to say it was a great success. So much so, in fact that we have booked the next event already. Save this date! Wednesday 29th January 2014, Rothes Halls.At the event FVA launched our report Working for Fife: A Survey of Third Sector Employability Services in Fife, 2013. We also heard presentations from Fife Council on ESF and Fairer Scotland Funding and from DWP on the new Community Work Placement model and commissioning competition.
To download the presentations and notes from the discussion groups click here
To download the FVA Working for Fife report click here
FVA report on third sector employability services in Fife published
Fife Voluntary Action have launched their report Working for Fife: A Survey of Third Sector Employability Services in Fife, 2013. Thank you to all who contributed.To download a copy of the full report click here
Fairer Scotland Funding - launch delay
Fife Council are working hard to finalise the commissioning guidelines for FSF 2014/15 but unfortunately we do not have them yet. As soon as they are available we will send them out in this bulletin.We do know that the expected deadline for applications has not changed and will be end of December 2013 so turnaround on submissions will be tight.
We also know the Council remains committed to focussing provision on residents of the 20% most deprived datazones in Fife and to innovative and collaborative approaches to delivery.
To support organisations wishing to develop partnership bids FVA have committed to gathering information on their target group and delivery idea and to share this across this e-bulletin network. We will also support projects in developing their applications and are happy to arrange and facilitate meetings with potential partners. Please contact Pegs for more information.
European Social Innovation Competition launched
The European Commission has launched the second European Social Innovation Competition. Three prizes of £30,000 will be awarded to social innovations that help fight unemployment, improve the working conditions of people in low-paid jobs, or improve the opportunities of the unemployed. The money is intended to support the winning projects - whether this means getting a new idea off the ground or making a great project accessible to more people.The deadline to submit your entry is Wednesday 11 December 2013. For more information, please visit their website.
Fife Youth Jobs Contract
Fife Council have set aside £5million from 2013 to 2015 to support the creation of new jobs for unemployed young people aged 16-24.To find out more click here
My World of Work Training
Skills Development Scotland is running short courses on their My World of Work website for staff working in youth and community groups across Fife.To find out more and book a place click here
Benefits Awareness Training Courses
One Parent Families Scotland is running a range of benefits awareness courses including: Welfare Reform, Universal Credit and Child Maintenance. The courses will be held in Edinburgh and Glasgow through November and December.For more information and to book a place please visit OPFS website.
Grow Your Mind about to launch at FEAT
FEAT are about to embark on a new partnership project with Falkland Centre for Stewardship, New Caledonian Woodlands and NHS Fife Mental Health Directorate - Grow your Mind. The project is aimed at those with severe and enduring mental health conditions to gain support managing their condition and gaining woodland skills. The project is funded by the Alliance Impact Self Management Fund and will run for 2 years.FEAT would also like to express thanks to Fife College and Fife Council for their support in the delivery of their Remploy Connect project, in which they're supporting 20 ex-Remploy staff from the Leven factory to consider new employment and take part in a range of community and social activities.
FORT News and Training
Advice Infrastructure the company behind the FORT (Fife Online Referral Tracking) system is launching an extensive training and refresher programme for the voluntary sector.To find out more click here
Third Sector Employability Forum - 28 November 2013
Supported by the Scottish Government, the Third Sector Employability Forum (TSEF) works to develop the capacity of the sector in relation to both policy development and the delivery of employability services funded by the Scottish and UK Governments.Date: 28 November
Time: 10.30am - 3pm
Venue: The Scottish Youth Theatre, Glasgow
To find out more visit the Forum's website.
To register to attend contact Kirsty Smith at SCVO on 0141 559 5072 or by e-mail Kirsty.Smith@scvo.org.uk
