Final Print Issue of the Voluntary Voice Changes in the way that people access information combined with funding challenges in the third sector mean that this, 36th issue, is the last print issue of the Voluntary Voice. This and all previous issues can all be viewed online: www.shetland-communities.org.uk/vas/voluntary_voice.htm
This issue focuses on how you can access sources of information for and about the third (voluntary) sector in Shetland.
Voluntary Action Shetland
Market House, 14 Market Street
Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0JP
Main Reception: 01595 743900 Fax 01595 696787
[email protected] www.va-shetland.org.uk
Voluntary Action Shetland
Voluntary Action Shetland Volunteering
Shetland Community Portal Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS) www.shetland-communities.org.uk/ www.va-shetland.org.uk The Shetland Community portal is an internet The website gives information for community and resource that has three main aims: to provide a voluntary groups, links to further sources of information source of information for local groups and and outlines the services we offer. Sections and organisations, to provide the people of Shetland, associated pages include: and its visitors, with a quick and efficient way of Who we are: details on staff and directors, becoming a finding relevant local and national web-based member of VAS, how to contact and find us and what is a information and to present local groups with the third sector interface? opportunity to develop their own websites for What we do: Our Services, Association of Shetland inclusion in the Community Portal. Community Councils, Funding, Independent Examination of Accounts, OPEN Peer Education Project, Protecting Vulnerable Groups, Representation, Shetland Befriending Scheme, Supporting Carers, Training and Learning, Third Sector Forum, VISP (Voluntary and Independent Sector Partnership) newsletters, Volunteering
Pages include information on: Advice Creating your own website Business Services Information: keeping info safe and accessing it Disability Education and Training Emergency
Services and Helplines Housing Market House Volunteering and Saltire: Volunteer Friendly Media News Shetland Islands Council NHS Awards, Volunteering Opportunities, Youth Shetland Protecting People - Children and Volunteering and Saltire Awards, Shetland Youth Protected Adults Care Inspectorate SCIOs Volunteering Awards, as well as details of past Transport Community and Voluntary Groups and events and photos of participants What's On in Shetland. Resources and Publications: VAS Policies and From the main page of the website you can link Procedures (can be used as templates), Document quickly to these pages using the green sidebar. Library, Downloadable Forms, The New Shetlander, Voluntary Voice, Equalities, Useful Links Market House: Room Hire, Resource Room Facilities and Charges, Resident Organisations Latest news, Events and Recruitment
(see front) There is also a section on the site with information (page) and guidance specifically for community and [email protected] VAS reception: 01595 73900 voluntary groups at the Shetland Community Toolkit on e.g. legislation, good practice and sources of If you don’t have access to the internet, please feel free funding. This site is maintained externally for us by to phone reception and your enquiry will be directed to Skye and Lochalsh community workers. the right person or organisation.
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The Shetland Befriending Scheme
has been a very active service since
starting in June 2000. It has evolved
and developed in line with local need
and supported a range of individuals
to ‘be all that they can be’.
In the last 16 years the project has OPEN meetings are on Tuesday nights 6pm to 8.30pm recruited 276 volunteers to support at Market House, anyone aged 16-25 is welcome to individuals on a 1:1 basis, to engage in come along. OPEN meetings are led by young people their local community in a positive capacity; a total for young people, there is a discussion on a topic of of 457 matches have been made in this time. For a interest, ongoing training is provided in harm reduction child, there may have been the need for support to about drugs, alcohol, sexual health and relationships, enable them to become involved in a local sports mental health and well-being. Bus fares are paid for club, for a young adult to support them to develop and refreshments are provided. Come along. their skills to live independently, and for a 60+ adult about reducing feelings of loneliness and providing Peer them with an opportunity to continue to engage in OPEN activities locally; just to give some examples. Education Project
The service has a quality assurance award which ensures that it is delivering a quality befriending service to its service users and holds the Volunteer Friendly award, a quality standard which supports, recognises and rewards groups who are The organisation formerly known as Crossroads good at involving volunteers. Shetland is no longer affiliated to Crossroads Despite challenges in funding, the service has Caring Scotland and, accordingly, is now known as striven to continue to support people in the Shetland Care Attendant Scheme (SCAS). Shetland community to get involved in activity The aim and objectives of SCAS remain the same: locally and will endeavour to continue to adapt and to provide a respite service to unpaid carers in develop in the future to meet local demand. Shetland in their own homes. To find out more about the service please contact: Contact: [email protected] 01595 743931/743932
Lynn Tulloch, Project Co-ordinator 01595 743907 Check out our website for more information:
www.shetland-communities.org.uk/shetland-befriending Designed to provide access to good Shetland Befriending Scheme quality information about services,
activities and sources of support to help you to make informed choices for you and for your family, the directory has been compiled by organisations in Shetland who work to support the well- being of families in these islands and help them and Safer Shetland is an alliance of the Shetland those working with parents, carers and children. It is Adult Protection Committee, the Shetland Child maintained and updated by Voluntary Action Shetland in Protection Committee and Shetland Domestic response to changes as they are notified.
Abuse Partnership. SaferShetland.com has VISP (Voluntary and Independent Partnership) recently launched a new document library for their VISP newsletters are issued by e-mail monthly to website, where you can find a wide variety of subscribers; a general newsletter gives information on useful documents on issues ranging from child local courses and opportunities and a funding newsletter protection to domestic abuse to self-harm. on new funding streams and forthcoming deadlines. To Find out more at: subscribe email [email protected] or view/download at http://www.safershetland.com/documents www.shetland-communities.org.uk/vas/visp.htm
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VAS Carer Support Service How can CAB help you? Voluntary Action Shetland has secured This year, Shetland Islands Citizens Advice Bureau £3,500 from the Creative Breaks (CAB) celebrates 25 years of delivering free and Fund from Shared Care Scotland allowing confidential advice. During this time, CAB advisers have them to offer unpaid carers of adults in helped people with thousands of enquiries on a wide Shetland the chance to benefit from a range of topics from consumer problems to housing short break from their caring role. issues, employment queries to questions about tax. The limit is £150 per carer towards a chosen short Specialist staff are available to help with complex break; this could be towards the cost of a holiday, an benefit applications and appeals, and to support people activity or therapy. Applications are dealt with on a to tackle debt problems. There is also high demand for first-come-first served basis and assessed against the new Energy Advice Service which helps people eligibility criteria. To make a request: reduce their energy costs and have warmer homes. 1) Apply online: www.shetlandcarers.org/need-a-break Phone: 01595 694696 email: [email protected] or call Karen Hannay 01595 743923 at VAS for a paper or come to a drop-in session, round the back at version of the application form. Market House in Lerwick, no appointment needed: 2) Register with the confidential VAS carers’ database. Monday 9.30-12.30 & 2.00-4.00 VAS can then record that you are a carer and send you Tuesday 9.30-12.30 & 2.00-4.00 out any new carer information (you can opt out of this). Wednesday 9.30-12.30 3) On receipt of your form, if you meet the eligibility Thursday 5.00-8.00 criteria then VAS will send you a cheque. Friday 9.30-12.30 & 2.00-4.00 After Your Short Break: As part of the grant conditions Saturday 10.30-1.00 you send us your receipts and fill in an evaluation form CAB also offers a regular programme of outreach about your Short Break online or on paper. sessions at health centres in Unst, Yell, Whalsay, Hillswick, Brae, Walls, Bixter, Levenwick and Lerwick. May MacDonald said : “As a carer, I benefitted from a For details, phone CAB or ask at your health centre. grant through the Short Breaks scheme this year. It gave me the opportunity to relax and have time to myself, whilst enjoying a spa break away from home, (in Bressay!) For anyone in a caring role, this support is so important as it allows you to re-charge your batteries CAB Staff and Volunteers Photo: C Brown and continue to look after your loved ones”.
Could you be a CAB volunteer?
CAB would not be able to provide any of the above services
without their team of dedicated volunteers. If you have 6-8
hours spare each week and you would like to help people to
access their rights, please get in touch to find out more. No
special qualifications are needed and a full programme of VAS Carers Support Service has created a new online training and support is offered. (Contact details above.) survey to gather your input into the way they can develop their support services for carers. Please Royal Voluntary Service complete this so that your views can be included. New Service Manager https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/J2D8VX5 Mary Gair is the new service or contact Karen for a paper copy 01595 743923. manager at RVS Shetland.
She will be looking after the office, the lunch clubs
(in Lerwick and Cunningsburgh) and the social clubs
(in Hillswick, Whalsay, Walls, Burra and Sandwick).
She joins Liz Walter, Administrator and Helen
Karen Hannay 01595 743923 Budgen, Home from Hospital Coordinator. [email protected] Contact: Mary Gair 01595 743915 www.shetlandcarers.org [email protected]
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In November, the 7th annual Shetland Youth All photos: Dave Donaldson Volunteering Awards took place at a civic reception Alec Miller, VAS Chair presented the winner’s trophy in hosted by the Vice Convenor of Shetland Islands the Organisations category. The shortlisted organisations Council, Cecil Smith, at Mareel. The event was were: The Bridges Project, the Scalloway Youth Cafe and attended by over 100 nominees, nominators and guests. Police Scotland, Young Scot and Youth Link Scotland and There were 31 nominations from across Shetland in winners the Shetland Junior Netball Development Group. the three awards categories: 7 Organisations, 10 One Roger Moore, Operations Site Manager of awards Team (groups of volunteers) and 14 Individual partners BP Sullom Voe, presented awards to the volunteers. Posters showcased the nominees’ “One Team” group of volunteers category. Shortlisted volunteering achievements and music was provided by were: Weisdale Enterprise Shed Group, Virtually Safe young traditional music group Fjanna (pictured below). Virtually Sound, Shetland Befriending Scheme
Befrienders and winners RSPB Young Volunteers. Dennis Leask, president of the Rotary Club of Shetland, the third partners in the Shetland Youth Volunteering Awards, presented in the individual volunteers category. Shortlisted were: Catherine Johnson, Nethan Watson, Bronwyn Mathieson and Thomas Hawick (a volunteer with
Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS) Youth Disability Shetland and 4 time SYVA shortlisted Development Worker Neil Pearson introduced the Nominee) the winner of the Individual category. event, Caroline Moyes was compère for the night This year the event was also streamed live on 60 North TV. For information on Youth Volunteering contact: and Shetland MSP Tavish Scott who issued certificates to all the nominees. Neil Pearson [email protected] 01595 743911
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Learning Opportunities at Voluntary Action Shetland All these courses are designed for voluntary and community groups and are free of charge. For more information or to book a place on any of these courses, please contact: Ayesha Huda VAS Support Worker, Community Development 01595 743905 [email protected]
Roles & Responsibilities of a Management Committee Keeping Adults and Children Safe Wendy Hand; Scalloway Youth Centre Wendy Hand/Mairi Jamieson; Market House, Lerwick th Monday 6th March, 6 pm - 8 pm Thursday 16 March, 5.30 pm - 8.30 pm Course Outline Course Outline This course aims to increase the knowledge of the This course will provide an introduction to roles and responsibilities of a management committee. safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. It will Learning Outcomes: cover the basics of safeguarding, legal By the end of the session participants will be able to: responsibilities and good practice. Understand the key roles of committee members Learning Outcomes: including Chair, Treasurer and Secretary By the end of this training you should be able to: Have an overview of the main legal obligations Explain what is meant by adult and child protection Have a knowledge of duties as a ‘charity trustee’ Have an understanding of what is meant by abuse Treasurer Training Describe the possible alerting signs of abuse and harm Be aware of local adult and child protection procedures Wendy Hand; Market House, Lerwick Know what to do if you are concerned about an adult or child Wednesday 22nd February, 6 pm - 8 pm Course Outline Course for voluntary groups to improve their Parent Link Shetland recording of income and expenditure, holding of Positive parenting skills for all: ‘Parenting Matters’ account information and doing financial planning. Mairi Jamieson; Market House, Lerwick Learning Outcomes: Tuesday 28th Feb for 4 weeks, 6 pm – 8 pm By the end of the course participants will: Find out how to make being a parent less Understand the role & responsibilities of the treasurer stressful and more enjoyable Be confident to keep a basic book-keeping system Share experiences with other parents and Be confident to produce a basic income and discover new ways of helping your child make the expenditure sheet most out of life. Have raised awareness of financial jargon Mairi Jamieson 01595 743964 [email protected] www.shetland-communities.org.uk/pls Organisational Structures Wendy Hand; Market House, Lerwick Community Asset Transfer th Wednesday 26 April, 6 pm – 8 pm Part 5 of the Community Empowerment Act came Course Outline into force on 23rd January 2017. It introduces a This course will help groups decide the correct right for community bodies to make requests to all legal framework and the liability of the people local authorities, Scottish Ministers and a wide- involved in managing the organisation. ranging list of public bodies, for any land or buildings Some common structures for third sector and they feel they could make better use of. They can voluntary organisations: request ownership, lease or other rights. Unincorporated Organisation The Act requires those public authorities SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) transparently to assess requests against a specified Company Limited by Guarantee list of criteria, and to agree the request unless Trust there are reasonable grounds for refusal. The Act
Voluntary Action Shetland offers a range of sets out the key rights and duties and provides a training and learning opportunities to meet the group framework for the asset transfer process. and individual needs of your organisation and its Regulations and Orders set out more detailed members; please see the website for further details arrangements for implementing the scheme. www.shetland-communities.org.uk/vas For more information visit: /training-and-learning-.html www.gov.scot/Topics/People/engage/AssetTransfer
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New Volunteering Opportunities through VAS Volunteering
SPECIAL CONSTABLES POLICE SERVICE OF SWAN TRUST SCOTLAND – LERWICK POLICE STATION WINTER MAINTENANCE With a long and impressive history the Special The volunteering opportunity includes: Constabulary is a part-time, volunteer body consisting of Refit work ongoing to March includes removing officers with similar powers to that of police officers. rig, sails, equipment from the boat in Scalloway to As a special constable, you'll forge strong partnerships the store in Lerwick. in the community, patrolling the streets, preventing Organising equipment at two stores in Lerwick crime and interacting with all kinds of people to help Varnishing and painting on board. keep your local community safe. Engineering maintenance - all on board systems. Special constables can act as a positive force for change POLICE CUSTODY INSPECTORS - bringing with them an extensive pool of skills, talents, Independent Custody Visitors are people from experience, local knowledge and diverse backgrounds - as well as enhancing the overall level of service provided the local community who visit police stations by the police. So whatever your walk of life, step unannounced to check on the treatment of detainees, the conditions in which they are being forward now and find out how being a Special Constable held and that their rights are being observed. could be the perfect fit to suit your lifestyle. The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) is a body set THE FLEDGLING ARTS COLLECTIVE CENTRAL up to oversee police reform and continuously Fledgling Arts Collective Central are a volunteer improve policing for the people of Scotland. The run charity providing a platform both online and authority is led by 13 board members who meet offline for those who struggle with mental health, regularly in public to consider and set policy, as addiction, gender dysphoria, sexuality and/or feel well as scrutinise and monitor performance. like they don't quite 'fit'. We encourage you to Independent Custody Visiting is a statutory express yourselves through art as catharsis. function of the SPA and is the established Combining Art and Catharsis, we believe in being system of regular visits undertaken by approved CathARTic. and trained members of the public to places FLEDGLING ONLINE OUTREACH where people are deprived of their liberty. This We are looking for Online Volunteers allows them to monitor the care and welfare of who will respond to our members in detainees and ensure their human rights are being either a live chat (booked in advance) observed. Visitors are independent of both the or via email, messaging style. SPA and the police. FLEDGLING ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH FEEDBACK Your role will include interacting with online Voluntary Action Shetland Volunteering has members giving feedback on the creative arts over 100 registered opportunities, these can posts they leave in a positive constructive way. be seen on our website or by contacting Having a creative, positive and constructive Kathleen Williamson 01595 743910 approach will be required. Mentoring will be [email protected] provided. Spread your wings and come fly with us. She can give you further information about the
SHETLAND AMENITY TRUST - BOAT WEEK opportunities on this page and on the website; To assist in the delivery of the 2nd annual Shetland Boat also please get in touch if you are looking to Week in August 2017. This could include taking part in recruit volunteers for your organisation. sailing or rowing training earlier in the year to enable the www.shetland-communities.org.uk/vas/volunteering volunteer to assist in providing boat trips in August. Experience: interest in boats/maritime topics or As well as on our website, new volunteering heritage and working in a team to deliver a public opportunities are also available in the window event. No boat experience necessary, but a good at Market House and on the level of communications skills is essential. Voluntary Action Shetland Minimum age 16. Volunteer Expenses paid. Volunteering Facebook page
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Facilities at Market House The Shetland Community Portal The following low-cost facilities www.shetland-communities.org.uk are available for use by Has your group joined the voluntary and community groups: Shetland Community Portal yet? Room and equipment hire: Quick access to relevant video-conferencing, whiteboard, material for Shetland residents OHP, screen, flipchart, etc., and visitors coffee/tea facilities available Cheap and easy way to create DIY admin: your own website with free photocopying, laminating, training and support: £50/year binding, faxing, printing, etc. Provides information through Computer: internet access the Community Toolkit and Office 2007 (Word, Excel, 30 groups currently have a PowerPoint, Access etc.) web presence through the Private Organisations hire: Shetland Community Portal rooms also available commercially Have a look at what other groups To find out more please contact: are doing on the website, or Market House Reception for more information, contact: 01595 743900 Sue Beer 01595 743909 www.va-shetland.org.uk [email protected]
Market House Resident Organisations Organisation 01595 Email address Advocacy Shetland 743929 [email protected] Association of Shetland Community Councils 743906 [email protected] Carer Support 743923 [email protected] Community Mediation Team 743934 [email protected] Disability Shetland 743900 [email protected] Mind your Head 745035 [email protected] Moving On Employment Project 743926 [email protected] OPEN Peer Support Project 745074 [email protected] Relationships Scotland Couple Counselling 743913 [email protected] ShetlandRelationships Scotland Family Mediation Shetland 743859 [email protected] Shetland Befriending Scheme 743907 [email protected] Shetland Bereavement Support Service 743933 [email protected] Shetland Care Attendant Scheme 743931 [email protected] Shetland Islands Citizens Advice Bureau 694696 [email protected] Shetland Pre-School Play SCIO 743917 [email protected] Shetland Rape Crisis 745078 [email protected] Victim Support Shetland 744524 [email protected] Voluntary Action Shetland 743900 [email protected] Voluntary Action Shetland – Volunteering 743910 [email protected] Royal Voluntary Service (was WRVS) 743914 [email protected] Reception at Market House: 01595 743900 [email protected]
Voluntary Action Shetland is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. 165677 Registered Office Market House, 14 Market Street, Lerwick ZE1 0JP Scottish Charity No. SC 017286 Voluntary Action Shetland is committed to equal opportunities
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