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FVA Employability Bulletin, Monday 1 December 2014


Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the December edition of the employability bulletin. We hope you’ve all managed to dig out your warm jumpers and boots with the weather getting colder each day.

We are delighted to confirm that FVA’s latest venture in supporting Fife’s third sector has been given the go-ahead by Fife Council. We’ve just had approval to begin work on two ‘hub’ buildings for third sector organisations to share – one in Leven, the other in Kirkcaldy. To read more on our latest venture click here.

If you haven’t spotted it yet then check out the launch of contracts for the Skills Development Scotland Employability Fund 2015-16, deadline 8 December.

We also have a national report on the Contribution of the Third Sector to Employability in Scotland, the Latest Updates on Sanctions and several new courses and local developments here in Fife, listed below.

If you have courses you want to promote or news to share then our next e-bulletin will be going out in December. Please send [email protected] any content you wish to include by Friday 9 January 2015.

All the best from the team at FVA.


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In this issue:
  » Fife Employability Forum
Funding
  » Employability Fund 2015-16 announced, deadline 8 December
  » European Structural and Investment Funds update November 2014
  » New Funding for Self-Directed Support in Scotland
Training and Learning Opportunities
  » Workers Education Association (WEA) Scotland - Stage 2 Employability Course, 5 January, Crosshill
  » Using Asset Based Approaches to Improve Health and Wellbeing, 21 January, Cameron Hospital
  » Safer Lone Working Fife Workshop, 22 January, Glenrothes
Other News
  » Community cafe in Levenmouth with internet access for job search, 9 December
  » Gilven House Christmas Craft Fayre, 12 December, Glenrothes
  » Contribution of the Third Sector to Employability in Scotland Report
  » Latest Updates on Sanctions
  » Changes to Scottish Datazones
  » Degree Apprenticeships Launched in England to Boost Hi-Tech Skills
  » Opportunities Fife Website


Fife Employability Forum

The Fife Employability Forum on Wednesday 12 November 2014 welcomed 41 attendees from across sectors to learn more about partnership working and to hear the latest updates from:

The Forum then heard from two exciting partnerships in Fife:

Attendees also got to road test their ideas for partnerships with Sue Newberry.

To read a note of the Forum and presentations, please click here.

Save the date for the first Employability Forum in 2015:

Wednesday 11 February 2015, 9.30am to 12.30pm, Hall B, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes.

Employability Fund 2015-16 announced, deadline 8 December

Skills Development Scotland is contracting on behalf of the Scottish Government for the Employability Fund as a key investment in the economic recovery of Scotland. The Employability Fund will support pre-employment and vocational training for Stages 2-4 of the Strategic Skills Pipeline. To read more or to record your interest in applying for the fund click here.

European Structural and Investment Funds update November 2014

To read the latest update on European Structural and Investment Fund please click here.

New Funding for Self-Directed Support in Scotland

A new Scottish Government Fund has been announced with proposals being invited for submission by 9 January 2015. The fund is worth �8.4m over three years, and directly follows the previous Self-Directed Support funding that finishes up in 2015. To find out more click here.

Workers Education Association (WEA) Scotland - Stage 2 Employability Course, 5 January, Crosshill

WEA Scotland are planning to hold a Stage 2 Employability Course in Lochgelly in the new year. The course will last eight weeks from Monday 5 January until Wednesday 25 February 2015 9.30am until 3.30pm. Candidates interested in attending this course should contact Rab Jeffery [email protected] or call 01383 510 774 or 01506 826469, Mobile 07910 345757. Please note Skills Development Scotland (SDS) referrals need to be completed before Tuesday 23 December 2014.

Using Asset Based Approaches to Improve Health and Wellbeing, 21 January, Cameron Hospital

This free course will provide an opportunity for participants to understand the principles, values and key themes of asset-based working. Participants will also practice using asset-based approaches in practical sessions. The course is on Wednesday 21 January 2015 from 9.30am - 4.30pm at Cameron Hospital. To book your place or for more information click here.

Safer Lone Working Fife Workshop, 22 January, Glenrothes

This workshop will explore the issues of Safer Lone Working and Personal Safety at Work and, through proactive, practical strategies, help individuals and organisations to reduce their specific risks and improve the safety of their staff. The course is on Thursday 22 January 2015 from 9.30am - 1.00pm at Glenrothes. To find out more or to book your place click here.

Community cafe in Levenmouth with internet access for job search, 9 December

Levenmouth Foodbank, in partnership with Foundation Scotland and Faiths in Scotland Community Action Fund, are trialling a community cafe on Tuesday 9 December at Methil Evangelical Church from 10.00am till 12.00pm. They will have facilities to provide internet access for job searches or completing on-line forms. They will also provide tea, toast and the opportunity to have a chat.

Gilven House Christmas Craft Fayre, 12 December, Glenrothes

The Gilven House Christmas Craft Fayre, offering crafts, soup, cakes and pudding, will take place on Friday 12 December, Gilven House, Glenrothes. Drop in at any time between 12.00pm to 4.00pm to enjoy the festivities.

Contribution of the Third Sector to Employability in Scotland Report

The Third Sector is recognised as a key player in delivering employability services in Scotland. Recent research provides a useful snapshot of the contribution of the Third Sector to Employability in the financial year 2013/2014 showing a significant, quantifiable minimum contribution of just under �58,000,000 identified. This report will be used to inform the future work of the National Third Sector Employability Forum. To read more click here.

Latest Updates on Sanctions

Updated Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) sanctions data on the national Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) website now includes the first quarter of 2014. You may want to explore what is there in more detail here.

Highlights of this data are:


Changes to Scottish Datazones

The Scottish Government have revised the boundaries for datazones across Scotland. This will see the current datazones in Fife increasing from 453 to 494 and an increase from 6505 to 6976 for the whole of Scotland. It will take time to see statistics published using these new datazones which will form the basis for the publication of small area statistics in the future, and become the new building blocks for Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) and the KnowFife Dataset. To read more click here.

Degree Apprenticeships Launched in England to Boost Hi-Tech Skills

Young people will be able to gain a full honours degree while earning a wage and paying no fees, under a scheme backed by government and industry. The new Degree Apprenticeship qualifications will be taught in England from next September, starting in the digital and software field. To read more on this development click here.

Opportunities Fife Website

Check out the Opportunities Fife website and its regularly updated job vacancies list here. Current opportunities with Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors include Surveying Engineer, Surveying Assistant and Community Liaison Admin Assistant




Fife Voluntary Action
Tel: 08456 006 046
E-mail: [email protected]

Fife Voluntary Action is the Third Sector Interface for the Fife Council area.
supporting, developing and representing community groups,
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering

Website: www.fifevoluntaryaction.org.uk

Registered Office: Craig Mitchell House, Flemington Road, Glenrothes, KY75QF.

Fife Voluntary Action is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in Scotland No. SC203613 and Registered Scottish Charity No. SCO28457.