New Funding Available - ACT FAST!

3rd Sector Resilience Fund

The Scottish Government has announced a new funding package, Third Sector Resilience Fund, to support voluntary sector services affected by the current recession. The fund opened on 30th October and will close on the 4th December 2009 - you must act fast to apply.

"The Third Sector Resilience Fund, which has the potential to mitigate the twin impacts of recession on some organisations of increased demand for their services and cash flow difficulties, will be open for five weeks from late October, and will provide immediate help to third sector organisations. Grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 will potentially be available to Third Sector organisations which can demonstrate how the recession has led to increased demand or significantly undermined their services." (Scottish Government)

Go to: 3rd Sector Resilience Fund for information on the following:

· Information and Guidance for Applicants
· Help Notes for Applicants
· Frequently Asked Questions
· Application Form

This fund may be of use to many OSC services.

New Out of School Care in Bankfoot (Perth & Kinross)

Photo copyright Ruth Trotter, September 2009

Bankfoot School's Out Club (BSOC) children were jumping for joy as their new after school club was officially open on Friday 11th September 2009. John Swinney MSP officially opened the club with the cutting of the ribbon to mark a milestone in Bankfoot's history. The open day was for anyone interested in seeing BSOC in action along with meeting the BSOC staff and Management Committee. There were light refreshments available and activities for the children to get involved in whilst parents/carers asked questions. BSOC were delighted with the turn out.

BSOC has been a long time in the offing but with the help of local parents, PKC Childcare Strategy Team officers, PKAVS and the new, Eco Friendly, Bankfoot Church Centre, it has now opened it's doors to children living within Bankfoot and surrounding area. BSOC allows parents/carers to work safe in the knowledge that their children are being cared for. In the new Bankfoot Church Community facility the children have a very safe environment in which to express themselves through arts and crafts, sporting activities and play. The Club experience promotes children's education by encouraging development of their social, creative and individual skills.

BSOC is being part-financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community Rural Tayside Leader 2007-2013 Programme. The Club is supported by the Coxland Trust, Perth & Kinross Grants Direct and Perth and Kinross Council Childcare Sustainability funding.

Go Play Fund

On Friday Irene attended the launch of the Go Play Fund, a joint venture between the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland. 4 million pounds is available over two years to support and develop play services in Scotland for children aged between 5 and 13.

This is a great opportunity for all voluntary* out of school care services to create and develop innovative and creative play services for children. The only thing is, there's not a lot of time to develop and submit applications as the closing date is Friday 6th November 2009- everyone get thinking, and fast!

For further information and criteria: www.inspiringscotland.org.uk/Home/Go-Play

*The funding is only available to Scottish registered charities; private organisations are not eligible.

Scottish Borders Big Day Out

The Borders Big Day Out 2009 was the culmination of a year-long process: in the autumn of 2008 the Scottish Borders Out of School Care Network (SBOOSCN) committee discussed the possibility of increasing their annual holiday play-days to include a Big Day, open to all the out of school care providers in the region. SBOOSCN applied to Awards for All in January 09 and were successfully awarded a grant of £5,100 to cover venue hire; snacks and lunch; transportation for all children and staff, and four workshops.

Although the initial plan was to hold the event on National Play Day, as this fell in the middle of the ‘trades’ fortnight it was decided to hold their own regional play day on the 10th Aug at Springwood Park, Kelso.

Children and staff were able to attend four hour-long workshops throughout the day: an African drumming workshop was provided by Infectious Grooves; Future Stars ran two workshops: Sports and Arts & Crafts; and Mindstretchers provided sessions on den building and gutter problem solving.

At the end of the day, to the immense enjoyment of the staff and workers, the children put on a drumming and dance show whilst wearing the masks they had made in the Arts/ crafts workshop. The day was a great success and SBOOSCN were delighted that Cllr Frances Renton was able to attend
the ‘grand finale.’