Engage Update - 24 February

Applications now open for the Scottish Charity Awards!

We're delighted to share that applications are now open for the Scottish Charity Awards 2025.

If your organisation has had a particularly special year, we want to hear all about your achievements and impact!

Whether you’ve secured a campaign victory, responded to a new need in your community, or overcome unusually challenging circumstances - share your story and help us celebrate the brilliant work going on in voluntary organisations of all shapes and sizes across Scotland.

The Scottish Charity Awards application process

Based on positive feedback about the changes we made to last year's application process, this year we're keeping these changes in place to help make the Scottish Charity Awards more diverse, accessible and inclusive with:

• a simplified application process - just answer two questions
• the chance to submit your answers in writing, audio or video
• drop-in sessions to help you with your application
• changes to our judging panel, including people from our membership community, to make sure that judges are representative of the sector
• more relevant award categories for small, medium and large organisations.

Don't forget that all finalists will also be entered into the running for the People’s Choice Award as voted for by the public, and that the Scottish Charity Awards are completely free to enter! 
 
Apply here

Newsletters

Trading Standards Scotland Bulletin 20 February

Funding boost to tackle gender-based violence - Renfrewshire News

TFN February 2025

OSCR - New Charity Regulations

From this summer, your charity will need to provide OSCR with details about its trustees. Then, starting at the end of 2025, full charity accounts will begin to be publicly available on the Scottish Charity Register.

These changes stem from the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023, which strengthens oversight and public trust in the sector. Some provisions, such as OSCR’s expanded inquiry powers, are already in effect.

OSCR will be updating the OSCR Online system to help charities give us this information, and we are working with charities and other people in the sector to make sure these changes are as helpful and easy to use as possible.  

Find out how to prepare here


 

Changes in law affecting charities working with children and protected adults

Does your charity provide services to children and/or protected adults? Recent and upcoming changes to the law may affect your organisation. Some updates are already in effect, with more coming in 2025.

To help your organisation understand and adapt to these changes, OSCR, Volunteer Scotland, and Disclosure Scotland are hosting an information session on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 1pm – 2:30pm.

These sessions will provide an overview of changes introduced by the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023 and the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, explaining what they mean for your charity.

Register for the webinar here

Palliative Care Experience

Share your experience of palliative care 

Everyone will be affected by illness, poor health, dying and bereavement during their lives. If you are comfortable in doing so, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Patient Experience and Public Involvement (PEPI) team would like to hear from you.

In particular, we would like to hear from those who’ve cared for someone at the end of their life in the past few years, or anyone who is currently receiving this type of care. 

The information you provide will help us identify themes for developing the vision for palliative and end of life care within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and all information you share will be treated sensitively, anonymised and stored securely.

To find out more about getting in touch, please visit Tell us your story - Help us develop the vision for palliative and end of life care for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

 Should you need support, please visit:

 Palliative Care

 Bereavement

If you prefer to speak to someone in person to share your experience please email ggc.public.involvement@nhs.scot

We can arrange a suitable day and time to phone you at your convenience.

Celebrating Renfrewshire

Celebrating Renfrewshire is a fund designed by and for young people, where young people aged 12-25 will have a direct say on which projects are funded in their local area.

We have opportunities available for young people to join our Steering Group and support the development and delivery of the fund. The group represent the voices of young people across Renfrewshire and is open to young people aged 12-25 who live in the area.
This year we are particularly keen to hear from young people who live in the Villages, Paisley East or Gleniffer Local Partnership areas, and from young people who have an interest in social media content creation.

This is a unique opportunity for young people to develop a wide range of skills and experiences while contributing to their local community.

Visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/celebratingrenfrewshire or get in touch with the team at celebratingren@renfrewshire.gov.uk for more information.

 

Renfrewshire Events Strategy 2025-2028

Renfrewshire has built up a reputation as an exciting events destination and a capable host. Our major events provide unforgettable experiences, and position Renfrewshire as a great place to live, work and invest. Our events bring our place to life—telling the story of who we are and generating a deep sense of civic pride.

This strategy offers the opportunity to share our ambitions for Renfrewshire's events programme— an inclusive, accessible, and innovative calling card for the region.

A programme of engagement was carried out to gain public and stakeholder input into the new events strategy. This research sought to hear stakeholder views and to understand what events are most important to them and what our priorities should be.

The initial consultation survey, carried out in September and October 2024, asked residents, visitors, local businesses and cultural groups, which events they attend, which ones they value and which are most important to them.

Respondents were also offered the chance to take part in further engagement sessions. Participants reviewed a presentation of the key findings from the survey and then discussions focused on their views and experiences of events and key issues for the Renfrewshire Events Strategy.

Read the   Renfrewshire Events Strategy for 2025 to 2028 [2MB] and the  Renfrewshire Events Consultation Results [2MB] .

Intergenerational network for Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

Wednesday 19th March 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Engage Renfrewshire, 10 Falcon Cres, Paisley PA3 1NS

Come along and join the intergenerational network for Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. It has been ages since we all connected and discussed intergenerational work in your local area. Its a new year and a fresh look at what we are doing in our communities and what exciting new work is underway looking at our lives through an intergenerational lens. 

We will be discussing intergenerational opportunities, quality standards and more. 

Book your place now and share the information with your community.  


 

Community Safety Conference 2025

Mon, 24 March 2025 10:00 - 15:00
COSLA Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh and Online
 
In partnership with COSLA, the Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN) is delighted to be holding our annual Community Safety Conference. A range of presentations concerning some of the hot button topics in Community Safety will be shared on the day.  We hope to see you there!
 
Our confirmed agenda currently includes the following presentations and speakers:

• Intergenerational Practice & Community Safety - Bella Kerr, Generations Working Together
• Processions and Parades - Professor Dominic Bryan, Queens University Belfast
• Hate Crime Strategy and Local Authority Toolkit - Lesley Weber, COSLA
• Gypsy/Traveller Cultural Competency – Virginia Francis and Charise Barclay Daly, MECOPP
• The Thistle - Scotland and UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility – Dr Saket Priyadarshi, Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services

Please see full programme and speaker bios here.
 
This will be a hybrid event, participants may choose to attend in person or online, but we recommend participating in person where possible – places will be first come, first served.
 
Please sign up for the event using this link to Eventbrite.

Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund Application Deadline Approaching

The deadline for applications is now less than two weeks away, at 12pm (midday) on Monday, 3 March 2025.
 
This fund offers a fantastic opportunity for community groups to develop their ideas for ecosystem restoration into deliverable projects, which we think might be of interest to your networks.

• Grants of up to £13,500 are available.
• Place-based community groups with an income of under £200,000 can apply.
• Projects should focus on the development and feasibility stages of undertaking ecosystem restoration, rather than physical delivery.
• Successful applicants will receive up to £1,500 in professional fundraising support in addition to their grant.
• Projects must be delivered between 1 June 2025 – 31 March 2026.
• The deadline for applications is 12pm (midday) Monday 3 March 2025.

More information here: https://inspiringscotland.org.uk/fund/apply-to-the-neighbourhood-ecosystem-fund/ 
 

Growing Climate Confidence - Upcoming Training

Growing Climate Confidence, delivered by SCVO, provides a starting point for organisations looking to engage with the climate emergency. Building on the launch of our Net Zero Check-Up, we’re pleased to offer these training sessions and follow up support – further details noted below.
 
Climate Resilience Training for the Third Sector
Delivered by Sniffer (Verture), this one-day training will help charities understand climate risks, build resilience, and align sustainability efforts with their core mission.

What to expect:

• Engaging, accessible content on climate adaptation and resilience
• Practical exercises linking climate action to your organisation’s work
• Peer learning and knowledge exchange
• A tailored checklist of climate risks and adaptation actions

Upcoming sessions:
Wednesday 26th February - 10-3pm, online. Get more info & book here.  (Focused on organisations working to alleviate poverty)
Wednesday 19th March – 10-3pm, online. Get more info & book here.  (Focused on organisations working to support young people)
 
Take action: charting your organisations journey to net zero and beyond
Feeling overwhelmed by sustainability? This interactive workshop, facilitated by Small99, will help you craft a clear and compelling sustainability story while providing practical steps toward Net Zero.

What you’ll gain:

• A structured action plan and Net Zero roadmap
• Storytelling techniques to engage stakeholders and build credibility
• Cost-saving strategies and environmental impact reduction
• Clarity on key sustainability terms (e.g., carbon neutrality vs. net zero)

Upcoming sessions:
Tuesday 4th March, 10-12:30, online – Get more info & book here.  
Wednesday 12th March, 10-12:30, Edward House, Glasgow – Get more info & book here.  

Can’t attend these dates? Keep an eye out on our webpage for more dates coming online soon!