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The Independent Budget Review Report |
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Friday, 30 July 2010 13:45 |
The Independent Budget Review reported back on 29 July outlining a series of options for delivering public services within a significantly constrained public expenditure environment.
The report makes uncomfortable reading, and warns that it may take us 15 years to return to 2009 levels of spending, and the financial difficulties we are currently facing are urgent and cannot be addressed by efficiencies alone. The level of employment in the public sector is expected to fall and there are no quick fixes. However it acknowledges that the radical approach that is needed offers scope for increased voluntary sector involvement and collaboration in the delivery of public services.
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MVSO to hold EGM |
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Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:37 |
MVSO is holding an Extraordinary General Meeting on Wednesday 11 August 2010 at 4.30pm; the meeting will take place in the Elgin Museum Hall, 1 High Street, Elgin.
MVSO currently have a pension debt of £60,000 that was inherited from a previous board when it was sold a final salary pension plan that was unaffordable. Their protests that the debt had been incurred before the current Board’s time and that pursuance of the debt was not in the best interests of the voluntary sector at large were dismissed. Although the amount continues to be disputed, MVSO have decided, following advice from their accountant and solicitor, to crystalise the debt; as a result the present Board have no option but to accept that MVSO is insolvent by reason of its Pension Scheme liability.
Despite insolvency, discussions with MVSO’s legal and financial advisors revealed that activities can be transferred to a new company underpinned by their restricted funds and assets. As the process can be lengthy it was started some time ago; as a result a new company with charitable status called Voluntary Action Moray (VAM) has been formed. MVSO is looking for membership approval at the EGM to transfer activities and restricted funds from MVSO to VAM to ensure continuity of service to members and the wider voluntary community. |
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PVG Scheme launch date announced |
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Tuesday, 29 June 2010 12:34 |
The new scheme that will strengthen protection for vulnerable groups in Scotland is set to commence on 30 November 2010, Children’s Minister, Adam Ingram announced today alongside publication of guidance and training materials.
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme) is a new membership scheme that will replace and improve upon the current disclosure arrangements for people who work with vulnerable groups. As well as helping to ensure that people who have a known history of harmful or abusive behaviour are unable to work with children and protected adults, it will simplify and speed up the whole disclosure process, making it easier for employers, staff and volunteers to use.
Guidance and training materials on the PVG Scheme for organisations, individuals and personal employers are now available on the Disclosure Scotland website. Over the coming weeks and months, additional materials will be made available to help organisations plan for the introduction of the PVG Scheme. These will include a modular training package and an assessment tool to help employers to determine whether a post is within the scope of the PVG Scheme.
A dedicated PVG Scheme help service, operated by Disclosure Scotland, goes live on 30 June. The PVG Scheme telephone helpline number is 0870 609 6006. The PVG Scheme email help service address is
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During the first year after the PVG Scheme goes live, it will only be available to those who are: Thereafter, existing members of the vulnerable groups’ workforce will be phased in over a three year period. The phasing in period is expected to commence towards the end of 2011, subject to secondary legislation successfully completing its passage in the Scottish Parliament. |
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Volunteer awards |
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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 15:41 |
Over the past few weeks, Volunteer Centre Moray has been busy handing out awards across Moray in recognition of some of the outstanding work being undertaken in the local voluntary sector.
Member groups were contacted and asked to nominate volunteers who they felt went that extra mile and Volunteer Centre Moray selected two finalists and one winner for each category; categories included Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year.
The finalists for Volunteer of the Year were James Black who volunteers regularly at Moray Art Centre despite health issues, and May Taylor who has been the driving force behind Moray Hydrotherapy Pool’s success at securing enough funds to begin building. The winner was Eddie Turnidge who was instrumental in setting up Reboot and volunteered there on a regular basis for over 10 years before finally retiring earlier this year.
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Merger latest |
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Friday, 11 June 2010 12:39 |
The following is a statement released giving an update on the current situation regarding the formation of a new single interface between Volunteer Centre Moray and MVSO:
You will recall that we promised to keep our members updated on the progress achieved by VCM/MVSO in our journey towards merging the two organisations.
A steering group was set up consisting of three directors from each board and which has been meeting regularly with representation from the Scottish Government and facilitated by the well-known consultancy firm Avante.
Progress has been made but we are very aware that we do not yet know where we stand regarding Scottish Government funding from April 2011. A decision on this is not now expected until the late autumn. This means that, although in today’s financial situation there seems little doubt that savings will need to be made, which was one of the main reasons for looking at a merger, suitable premises are difficult to find and future staffing arrangements are difficult to project because it is impossible to put together an accurate combined budget. |
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