In this issue
Job opportunities
for you and your clients
Admin officer vacancies, DWP, Bathgate, Falkirk, Glasgow, Paisley, 09 September
Day and Night Support Worker, Quarriers, 14 September
Female Assistant Support Worker, Gowrie Care Ltd, closing date 18 September
Administration Assistant, Falkland Estate Trust, 18 September
Apprentice Customer Adviser, Lloyds Banking Group, Telephone Banking, closing date 28 September
Customer Adviser, Lloyds Banking Group, Telephone Banking, closing date 05 October
Various roles, Sky, no closing date indicated
TopSeptember 2015
Greetings!

With over 40 participants we had another packed Employability Forum in August focused on vocational skills gaps in Fife. Thanks to everyone who took part.

The discussion findings will be shared with Opportunities Fife Partners. Notes from the Forum as well as links to the presentations and reports can be found below, including:
  • Employer Recruitment Incentives in Fife
  • Fife Workforce Modelling Report 2015
  • SDS Regional Skills Assessment Report 2014
Missing Badges
We are missing a few badges from the Forum . If you have an FVA event badge we would appreciate its return to your nearest FVA office as soon as you can. Thanks!

Creating a Fairer Scotland - Have your say
FVA is drafting a response to the Scottish Government's consultation on how we shape future employability services in Scotland - find out how to get involved below.

Diversity Week Fife started on Monday with a great conference, opened by Marco Biagi MSP, Minister for Community Empowerment. If you haven't done so already check out the programme and get along to some of the events! 

Finally FEAT are pleased to share an opportunity to gain internationally accredited training in disability management and job retention - NIDMAR

The deadline for the next e-bulletin is Monday 28 September 2015 - please send any contributions to Christine@fifevoluntaryaction.org.uk
 
All the best,
Christine Davison
Project Support Officer
Fife Employability ForumFEF15

Notes and slides from the August Forum can be found here. This includes links to:

Don't forget to book your place for our next Forum:

Wednesday 25 November - Preparing for Universal Credit - Room 10, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes

 

With Universal Credit coming to Fife in April 2016 this will be your chance to hear what to expect and the lessons learned from local authorities that have been part of the pilot.

Click on the link above to book your place. 

Dates for Your Diary

Diversity Week 07 to 13 September, Fife

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Employability & Skills Scotland Conference 2015, 14 and 15 September, Edinburgh

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Scottish Learning Festival 2015, 23 and 24 September 2015, Glasgow

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Youth Employment Convention 2015, 24 November 2015, London

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Funding Opportunities
Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity

Closing date Wednesday 30 September 2015.
Bank of Scotland Foundation - Funding to improve local communities and promote financial inclusion (Scotland)

 

The closing date for the small and medium grant making programmes is Monday 12 October 2015.

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Two CSV Scotland briefing events are also being held for anyone who wishes to know more and who may be interested in applying. 

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Starbucks Youth Action Invites Applications for 2015 Funding

 

Applications can be made at any time from July 2015 until February 2016.

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Training and Learning Opportunities
NIDMAR
Through the success of three members of staff completing the coveted, internationally-recognised qualification overseen by the  National Institute of Disability Management and Job Retention (NIDMAR) training; FEAT are looking to secure 15 participants so they can offer the training (at a very reduced rate) right here in Fife! Contact Duncan for more information. 

When: 1.00pm - 4.00pm, Thursday 10 September 2015
Where: Fortmonthills Community Woodland, with mini-bus pick up and drop off points available at Glenrothes Town Centre.
This event is being organised by Fife Employment Access Trust and is free to attend. 

When: 10.30am - 2.00pm, Monday 14 September 2015
Where: Crosshill Business Center, Main Street, Lochgelly KY5 8BJ
This event is being organised by Fife Rural Skills Partnership and is free to attend.

When: 5.30pm - 9.30pm, Wednesday 16 September 2015
Where: Venue T.B.C
Costs: Places are £25.00 per person

When: 9.30am - 12.30pm, Monday 21 September 2015
Where: Playfield Institute, Stratheden Hospital, Cupar, KY15 5RR
This event is being organised by NHS Fife and is free to attend.

When: 1.00pm - 4.30pm, Monday 05 October 2015
Where: Rothes Halls, Glenrothes
This event is being organised by Fife Cultural Consortium in partnership with Fife Voluntary Action and is free to attend.

When: 9.30am - 4.30pm, Thursday 08 October 2015
Where: CVS Falkirk & District, Unit 6 The Courtyard, Callendar Business Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk, FK1 1XR
This event is being organised by Just Enterprise and is free to attend for the third sector. 
What's happening in Fife

Creating a Fairer Scotland - Open meeting, Tuesday 22 SeptemberFairerScotlandConsul

 

At the Employability Forum FVA was asked to draft a shared response to the Scottish Government's consultation paper on the commissioning of devolved employability services in Scotland. To help shape our comments we are hosting an open meeting for third sector colleagues to discuss the paper in more detail:

 

Date - Tuesday 22 September

Time - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Venue - Craig Mitchell House, Flemington Road, Glenrothes, KY7 5QF

 

Contact Christine to be part of the conversation. 

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The Scottish Government will establish a taskforce to support the workers, businesses and communities impacted by the closure of Longannet Power Station. This follows confirmation by the owner, Scottish Power, that it will close the facility in March 2016.

Fife Council recently received the new Carer Positive award from Carers Scotland, which demonstrates an organisation's commitment to supporting carers in their workforce. Fife is one of only four councils to have achieved the award. You can find out more on the carer positive award here
Other News

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that income thresholds for Education Maintenance Allowance eligibility will be raised from January 2016, meaning that a family with one dependent child earning up to £24,421 is now eligible, an increase of £4,070 on current levels. For a family with more than one dependent child, the increase is £4,481 up to £26,884.

The Big Lottery are delighted to be supporting the UK-wide
'What Works Centre for Wellbeing' to engage with people in Scotland. In order to develop this a workshop in Glasgow on Thursday 17 September will explore how wellbeing evidence can be useful to stakeholders from different sectors. To find out more on the center or the workshop click the title link. 

Citizen's Advice Scotland (CAS) reports that bullying and exploitation are rife in Scottish workplaces. Its advisers have seen a 12% rise in the number of employment cases they have to deal with and are now at their highest level ever.
The most common cases include low pay, withheld wages, unfair dismissal, bullying, racism and discrimination. 

A unique census has revealed Scotland's social enterprise sector is world leading, contributing £1.15 billion to the economy and has become vital in tackling social issues.

This report contributes to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's developing anti-poverty strategy for the UK. It proposes five ideas to reduce poverty which could make a substantial impact in the long term, including boosting social investment and redesigning back-to-work support for disabled people.

A £400,000 investment in The Prince's Trust Scotland Enterprise programme will assist in offering practical advice on how to start up a business, how to write a business plan, introductory finance training as well as offering loans of up to £7,500 and grants of up to £1,000.
Fife Voluntary Action
Tel: 08456 006 046
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

Registered Office: Craig Mitchell House, Flemington Road, Glenrothes, KY7 5QF.

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