Useful Information - For Communities
East Lothian
East Lothian Council have a dedicated space online to highlight support to their residents: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/
East Lothian Works provide help and support for young people, adults and businesses with employment, education and future career choices: https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/east-lothian-works
Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL) is the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for East Lothian. They strengthen local charities and social enterprises, support volunteers to make a difference, and work alongside public partners to ensure community voices help shape decisions: https://vcel.org.uk/
Edinburgh
All in Edinburgh provide supported employment for people who have a disability or long term health condition in Edinburgh: http://allinedinburgh.org.uk/
City of Edinburgh Council have a dedicated space online to highlight support to their residents: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
Community Renewal Trust engage with individuals through community activity to improve their health, learning and employability: https://www.communityrenewal.org.uk
Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (ESEN) supports, promotes and develops social enterprises in Edinburgh. They serve as a hub creating social and economic growth and are one of the three partners who form the Edinburgh Third Sector Interface (TSI): https://esen.scot/
Edinburgh's Third Sector Interface (TSI) is a partnership of three specialist organisations: Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (ESEN), Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) and Volunteer Edinburgh (VE). Working together, they support, develop and champion the city's diverse community, voluntary and social enterprise sectors. Find out more about the partnership and the work they do at: https://www.edinburghtsi.org.uk/
Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) is the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) for the City of Edinburgh and are one of the three partners who form Edinburgh's Third Sector Interface (TSI). EVOC helps to support, develop and promote the interests and work of voluntary and community organisations across the city: https://www.evoc.org.uk/
Joined Up for Business is a collective framework of key public, third and statutory organisations, working together to provide free and bespoke support to Edinburgh employers. They make it easier to do business across the city by providing accessible and practical support for employers, to promote economic growth and the creation of good quality, fair and sustainable employment opportunities for local citizens to reduce inequality and poverty. https://joinedupforbusiness.org/
Joined Up for Jobs is overseen by Edinburgh’s Local Employability Partnership (LEP), an internationally recognised partnership of third, private and public sector organisations working to achieve inclusive growth in Edinburgh. Key stakeholders include: Third Sector employability providers who form the Joined Up for Jobs forum; City of Edinburgh Council; Capital City Partnership; Department for Work and Pensions; Skills Development Scotland; Edinburgh College; Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce; and Edinburgh University (representing the Edinburgh-based universities): https://edinburghlep.org/members-area/joined-up-for-jobs/
Volunteering Edinburgh aim to inspire more people to volunteer so they can enhance their lives, the lives of others and build resilient communities. They are one of the three partners who form the Edinburgh Third Sector Interface (TSI): https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/
WHALE Arts is a firmly established cultural anchor organisation based in and for Wester Hailes. They are a community-led arts charity and social enterprise where their mission is to be the creative heart of a vibrant, thriving community across southwest Edinburgh. They deliver projects, programmes and events connecting with the city and national cultural partners: https://www.whalearts.co.uk/
Fife
Fife Council have a dedicated space online to highlight support to their residents: www.fife.gov.uk/
Fife Voluntary Action (FVA) is the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for the Fife Council area. They are an independent charity that receives funding from key public sector agencies to ensure the third sector is robust, resilient and delivers high quality services for the people of Fife. They support, develop and represent community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering and have expertise in a wide range of skills and topics including governance, funding, legislation, policy, volunteering, managing people, planning and problem solving: https://www.fva.org/
Kingdom Works is an employability project, hosted by Kingdom Housing Association. Based in Glenrothes, they support individuals from all over Fife into employment and training opportunities. Clients will be offered tailored support to find suitable routes into work and training and they also offer careers information, advice and guidance: https://www.kingdomhousing.org.uk/fife-works/
Opportunities Fife Partnership (OFP) is the strategic local employability partnership for the region. Its mission is to influence and drive innovative approaches to skills and employability services that reflect the current and future needs of individuals and employers. OFP brings together representatives from the Department of Works & Pensions, Developing Young Workforce, Fife Chamber of Commerce, Fife College, Fife Council, Fife Health & Social Care Partnership, Fife Voluntary Action, and NHS Fife and Skills Development Scotland. They also feature the latest vacancies across Fife: https://www.opportunitiesfife.org/
Midlothian
Midlothian Council have a dedicated space online to highlight support to their residents: https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/
Midlothian Community Action (MCA) is the single point of access for support and advice for the third sector and volunteers across the area. They provide access to a team of experts, a tailor-made training programme and a volunteer matching service – as well as acting as a voice for the sector. They are Midlothian’s Third Sector Interface (TSI) which helps to develop and represent community groups, charities, social enterprises, volunteers, and volunteer involving organisations: Home - Midlothian Community Action (MCA)
Scottish Borders
Berwickshire Association for Voluntary Services (BAVS) is a charitable organisation that assists local groups in the Berwickshire area with funding applications and governance issues. They are partly funded by three charity shops and organise the Berwickshire Wheels, a community transport service: http://www.bavs.org.uk/
Borders Community Action provides support to community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and individual volunteers enabling communities to become more resilient and empowered across the Scottish Borders. They are the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for the area: https://borderscommunityaction.org.uk/
The Bridge is a Council for Voluntary Service and a community development organisation. They are an integral part of the Borders Third Sector Partnership: The Bridge
Employability Service offers tailored support for people of all ages to meet their needs and goals in work, skills development and confidence-building: https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/help-finding-job/support-employment They are committed to the ‘No One Left Behind’ vision: http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/local-employability-services/scottish-borders/
Scottish Borders Council have a dedicated space online to highlight support to their residents: https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/
Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber promotes and supports the development and growth of social enterprises in the Scottish Borders Area: https://www.facebook.com/scotbordersec/?locale=en_GB
South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) supports businesses and enterprising communities throughout the Scottish Borders (and Dumfries and Galloway). SOSE is there to help people and enterprises to thrive, grow, and fulfil their best potential. Its services include training, specialist expertise, and funding, including grants and loans. If anyone is looking to start or grow their business, whatever scale, stage, or sector, SOSE provides expert advice and resources to support community development projects: http://www.southofscotlandenterprise.com/
Volunteer Centre Borders develops, promotes and improves volunteering for all, removing barriers to participation and to monitor the success of volunteering for the Scottish Government. They work in partnership with many volunteer-involving organisations and projects, to promote good practice, recruit and place volunteers and to raise the awareness of the importance of volunteering. They are also active members of the Borders Third Sector Partnership: http://tsi.scot/volunteer-centre-borders/
West Lothian
West Lothian Council have a dedicated space online to highlight support to their residents: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/
Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL) is the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for West Lothian. Their primary purpose is to promote, develop and support West Lothian’s Third Sector. They are a membership organisation of locally based charities, social enterprises and volunteer-led community organisations. Their aim is to strengthen the third-sector and partnerships that deliver real change by connecting people, ideas and resources: https://www.voluntarysectorgateway.org/
West Lothian Social Enterprise Network (WLSEN) is a membership network composed of leaders in social enterprise in West Lothian. Social enterprises help communities to thrive socially, environmentally and economically. WLSEN are proud of their diverse ecosystem of organisations covering sectors from cleaning and environmental management, to care services, employment and training, food, theatre, community, housing, children and young people, older people, business development, and so much more!: https://www.wlsen.org.uk/
National Offer
Business Gateway is a publicly funded service to support people across Scotland meet their business needs with tailored guidance at every stage of the business journey whether initially starting out, looking to grow or wanting to strengthen their activities. Individuals can access free 1-1 expert advice, online resources and a wide range of webinars and events and/or use Business Gateway’s personalised business support tool to get recommendations built around specific goals and challenges: https://www.bgateway.com
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) is a vital part of Scotland’s careers and skills system. DYW is employer-led and their priority is to make it easier for employers to connect with young people in schools and colleges across Scotland. They ask that employers provide inspirational opportunities to help individuals understand and develop the skills they need to succeed so as to shape the future workforce Scotland needs: https://www.dyw.scot
The Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS) is the country’s foremost membership driven association for all organisations and individuals with an interest in economic development. They aim to improve this activity in Scotland by helping to raise the knowledge, skills and networks of those involved in all of its aspects. They are the ‘go to’ body for all those who have an interest in Scotland’s economic development: https://edas.org.uk/
ENABLE Scotland is the leading member-led Scottish charity supporting children and adults with learning disabilities and their families. It campaigns for equal human rights and provides frontline social care, education, and employment support across most of Scotland. They have 3 key services: Enable Cares to help people live independently; Enable Works provides education, training, employability support and assists businesses with inclusive hiring; and Enable Communities runs local projects, youth groups and self-advocacy forums to keep people connected and engaged in society: https://www.enable.org.uk/
The Fair Work Convention acts as an independent advisory body to Scottish Ministers. It has been in place since April 2015. It is working towards a Scotland that leads globally in ensuring that there is opportunity, security, respect, fulfilment, and an effective voice for all. Its aims are to ensure Fair Work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society across Scotland: https://www.fairworkconvention.scot/
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) operates as an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. It is a national body supporting the people and businesses of Scotland to develop and apply their skills to support the country's economy. Their core services include: careers advice; apprenticeships; online resources; business support; and redundancy: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/
Volunteering Matters Scotland delivers a diverse range of volunteer-led projects across the country. From mentoring care-experienced young people and supporting families through life’s challenges, to reducing isolation among older adults and protecting Scotland’s natural environment, their programmes address a wide range of social issues rooted in local communities. Volunteering with them means joining a movement that’s helping to reduce inequality, tackle loneliness, and create more inclusive, connected places to live: https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/our-work/volunteering-in-scotland/