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The Queens Award for Voluntary Service
(published 10-05-10)
Volunteering is a vital part of day-to-day life in the UK, and in 2002 The
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups, was set
up to recognise the outstanding contributions made by voluntary groups in
local communities across the country.
750 groups have received this prestigious honour to date, including 85 from
Scotland. However, we are continually striving to recognise more of
those groups who are operating to the highest standard. Groups may
previously not have been nominated because they, or those in a position to
nominate them, have been unaware of their eligibility for the award.
Further information: Information
Pack (PDF 522 KB)
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
(published 27-04-10)
The latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) has been published
(2009). Having this important information will inform decisions over
the targeting of resources to the areas they are most needed, and assist in
the planning of infrastructure, community needs and a host of other support
frameworks.
The first SIMD, in 2004, led to the identification of specific data zones in
the area. The whole of Scotland is divided into data zones which are
contained within local authority boundaries. These zones are designed
to help local groups and public authorities to be clear with each other -
and the public at large - about the areas they are seeking information on or
where they wish to target resources. It is, in effect, a local
identity understood across all agencies.
The Scottish Government asked Community Planning Partnerships to name their
datazones in 2009 to aid local understanding of the areas used to present
important statistics, such as data from the SIMD. Intermediate
Geographies (also known as Intermediate Zones) are aggregates of several
datazones that can be used to make comparisons between areas on a larger
scale. Names for Moray's datazones and intermediate geographies were
created in agreement with the Community Engagement Group, and they can be
seen here.
(MS Excel, 51 KB)
It is important that local forums and groups adopt the use of these names,
which will be used in the Single Outcome Agreement, Strategic Assessments
and supporting research documents such as Fairer Scotland Fund bids in
future to describe specific areas of deprivation.
Maps of datazones and intermediate geographies can be viewed in two ways:
SIMD results and other relevant statistics
can be viewed by area on both of these sites.
| Forres - a
town of disability excellence report published. (published
09-04-10) |
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A major report
on the issues faced by disabled people access facilities has been
published. Commissioned by the Forres Area Forum in partnership
with Moray Towns Partnership, the report, 'Forres: A Disability Town
of Excellence' highlights what is currently available for disabled
people and what improvements could be made to increase access.
Document download: Report
(PDF 2MB) |
Highlands and
Islands fragile communities to get online advice (published
28-01-10)
People working to grow some of the Highlands and Islands most fragile
communities are to benefit from free online access to a range of top tips
and advice.
The Scottish Community Land Network (SCLN) website,
funded by HIE, has published a training package aimed at supporting anyone
involved in community driven activities.
The resources cover developing a project idea, through
to project implementation and beyond towards future sustainability. There is
also advice on the requirements and responsibilities of employing staff, of
working with volunteers and in dealing with the media.
The original learning materials were created by Comas,
which delivers the workshops on behalf of HIE's Community Land Unit. The
website developer, Walking the Talk, has ensured the materials are
accessible and easy to use online via the SCLN website.
"The 'Mind your own Business' training materials
were developed to support workshops which we hold across the region and so
far have reached well over 100 community groups and organisations. These
packages are now available online and will be useful reading for anyone
interested in helping their communities develop," said Claire Hannah of
HIE.
Ruth Campbell of Comas commented: "The range of
work being carried out in rural communities is truly inspiring. By putting
these resources online we are hoping that it makes it even a little easier
for those who work so hard to achieve their aims."
Anyone interested in accessing the resources can do so
for free by
registering with the network at www.communityland.org.uk
Moray
Performs (published
27-01-10)
Moray Performs is part of the new
accountability that is behind local and national government
reform in Scotland. By exploring the
site you will be able to see if Moray is performing to the
best of its
abilities, and if the services provided meet national and local
standards.
www.morayperforms.org.uk
Seminar on Identity and Rural Equalities (published
26-01-10)
F50KB)
To inspire the seminar's discussions, we are to keen to secure a
local speaker who has experienced tensions between differing layers of
his or her identity. Please read the outline
(PDF 56KB)
of what we would hope to hear from such a speaker - Please can you help us
find someone who is willing to contribute in this way?
Please do register to come along on the 16th
using the registration
form (Word 538KB)
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Better Community Engagement Demonstration
Pilot in Moray (published
18-01-10)
The Moray Project Steering Group are inviting Community Planning Partner
agency staff and local community based groups involved in engaging with
communities to become involved in local demonstration pilot projects
throughout Moray early in 2010.
The local pilot projects, supported by staff of the Community Support Unit,
Project Steering Group and an independent consultant from the Scottish
Community Development Centre will be available to support agency staff in
Moray to develop community engagement skills and toolkits for Better
Community Engagement across Moray.
The engagement will be monitored and evaluated and will feed into the
national project outlined in the information and action plan (see
below.) The outcome of this project between now and March 2011 is to
produce a national 'engagement toolkit' that can be used across the country
to sustain and improve engagement practices. It is also anticipated
that once the project is complete, there will be a sustainable skill base
resource of staff in Moray within the area of community engagement.
For further information: Contact Ian Todd, Community Support
Manager - ian.todd@moray.gov.uk
or telephone 01343 554313.
Document Download: Information and Action Plan
(PDF
133 KB)
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