Families in Midlothian are set to benefit from nearly £900,000 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Improving Futures programme.

Three hundred families across Midlothian, including family units such as foster carers, kinship carers and siblings with caring responsibilities, are to benefit from an award of £899,081 to Midlothian Sure Start. In partnership with a range of voluntary groups, Midlothian Community Health Partnership and Midlothian Council, the project will work with families before they reach crisis point to help them plan for a better future and in turn reduce the likelihood of involving child protection agencies. The project will have a particular focus on reaching out to disabled children and those whose families are affected by unemployment and substance misuse.

Sheila Thacker, Chair, Midlothian Sure Start, said: "We are thrilled to receive this grant. This funding allows Midlothian Sure Start in partnership to help the community meet an identified need. Families have been telling us that we make a significant difference in helping them raise their children with confidence. Each change in children's lives can bring fresh challenges. This grant will help us to ensure that early gains are not lost and families receive the help they need, when they need it."
Midlothian Sure Start was one of three projects in Scotland receiving the funding.

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “I am delighted that around 800 families in Scotland are to benefit from this first investment from the Improving Futures programme. These groundbreaking Scottish projects will help to give some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children the best start in life by providing tailored and joined up support for families before they reach the point of crisis. Together they will unite some of the country’s leading children’s charities, key voluntary organisations and public services to reach out in new ways to families who have fallen under the radar thereby helping them to plan for a better future.”
The application was endorsed by the Midlothian Community Planning Partnership.

Cllr Alex Bennett,  Cabinet member with responsibility for Community Planning, Midlothian Council,  said: "This is great news.  Midlothian Sure Start already do a great job in helping children and families get off to a good start and this funding will allow them to do even more for the benefit of people in Midlothian.  We are delighted to be able to support them in their important work."

MVA closure over the holiday period

MVA will be closed on Friday 23 December and will reopen at 8.30 am on Thursday 5 January 2012.  

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is searching for Scotland’s most outstanding social service projects:

• Could your service be an SSSC Care Accolades winner?
• Do you want to showcase your outstanding project or service?
• You are making a difference and we want to hear from you.

For further information, see the SSSC website www.sssc.uk.com/ca or telephone 0845 60 30 891 to find out this year’s categories and how to enter.

Closing date:  13 February 2012

Getting ready for winter – individuals

Are you ready for Winter?

Have you thought about what may make Winter safe, warm and enjoyable for You?

In addition to the newsletter mentioned below, Midlothian Voluntary Action (MVA) working in partnership with Midlothian Community Care Forum, Platform and Voice (the voice of Older People across Midlothian), and Forward Midlothian Disabled People (Forward Mid) has produced two Winter newsletters to help residents to think about preparing for winter.

The newsletters encourage local people to think about what may help if we were encounter a period of weather anything like last year. They include a list of useful telephone numbers, support and advice to keep warm and in touch with neighbours and friends and some tips on what things may be useful to have in the house as well a personal Winter Plan.

Copies of these newsletters were given out at Midlothian Council’s Winter Roadshows; and are be available from our website  - http://www.mvacvs.org.uk/publications/newsletters/newsletters.html and by contacting MVA: tel:  0131 663 9471.  They will also be available from local libraries from the beginning of December.

Emergency Planning: Getting Ready for Winter

Lesley Kelly has produced a MVA newsletter focussing on Getting Ready for Winter. The newsletter can be downloaded from our Newsletter page. It has also been emailed out already. The same e-mail distribution list will be used to communicate emergency planning information if there is bad weather, so if you think you should be on the mailing list but have not received it, or are not sure if your organisation has received it, please get in touch - tel: 0131 663 9471 or contact us by email.

MVA FREE Training Programme 2011-12

In-work training for staff working for social enterprises in Midlothian, which is part-funded by the European Social Find. Courses include:

• How secure is your data?
• Business Continuity Planning
• Emergency First Aid at Work
• HR aspects of Tendering/Grant applications - make sure your staffing needs are properly resourced

For further information download the programme and booking form from the MVA Training page.

For more training opportunities, and events, see the MVA online Calendar

PAYMENTS COUNCIL TO KEEP CHEQUES AND
CANCELS 2018 TARGET

The Payments Council announced on 12 July 2011 that “cheques will continue for as long as customers need them and the target for possible closure of the cheque clearing in 2018 has been cancelled.”

MVA took part in the consultation process after asking for the views of the voluntary sector in Midlothian – thanks to everybody who responded to our request for views.

For further information see the Payments Council website http://www.paymentscouncil.org.uk/

We recently set up a Facebook page. If you are a Facebook user and would like to be kept in touch with our news, please visit our page and ‘like’ us - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Midlothian-Voluntary-Action/171408129562376

The final switchover day for the Craigkelly Transmitter was on 15 June. MVA ran a very busy Digital Advice Point on 1 and 2 June, and 15 and 16 June. If you are still having problems with your television following the switchover, further information can be found on the Digital UK website http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/

Woodburn Day Care Club

The Woodburn Day Care Club moved from their previous premises at Dalkeith Community Centre to the St Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church Hall, 119 High Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1AX (opposite the County Hotel) in April 2011.  The telephone number remains the same (0131 654 1770).