|
Caithness Partnership �
eBulletin July 2005
In order for Partners to be able to share information and to disseminate
some of the information given to the Partnership office we have put
together this eBulletin. If you feel this service is useful and wish to
provide information for the next issue please let us know. Or, if there
is statistical information you feel it would be useful for the partners
to receive on a regular basis please let us know. We will try to make
this service as useful to you all as we can. If you have difficulty
accessing any of the information off the web we can get you a paper
copy. Inside this issue:
Connected Communities
Labour Market Profile for Caithness & Sutherland
CASE Area business survey 2005
Postwatch Scotland
European Prize for Cultural Heritage
Funding � for communities & business
Events CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES is a multi-million pound project to bring wireless
broadband services to rural communities throughout the Western Isles.
Funded by DTI, Western Isles Enterprise, Western Isles Council and the
EU and involving NHS Western Isles and the Scottish Executive, the
project will bring a high speed broadband service across the islands,
which the partners see as a necessity for modern business and service
provision. The network project is one of the first and the largest in
the UK to incorporate the recently licensed 5.8Ghz bands.
www.connectedcommunities.co.uk , and see case studies on
http://www.connectedcommunities.co.uk/case/
FUTURESKILLS SCOTLAND � LABOUR
MARKET PROFILE FOR CAITHNESS & SUTHERLAND � this report provides a
labour market profile for Caithness & Sutherland with information of
local labour demand and supply from Autumn/winter 2004, skills and
qualifications, school leaver destinations, joblessness statistics etc.
Interesting comparison of workforce employment (number of jobs in the
area) 14,900, and resident employment (number of employed persons living
in the area) at 19,000 showed that the number of people living in the
area but working elsewhere had increased by 46% in Caithness &
Sutherland compared to 1% across Scotland. For a closer inspection see
http://www.futureskillsscotland.org.uk/uploadedreports/Caithness%20and%20Sutherland.pdf
CASE AREA BUSINESS SURVEY 2005
� In march CASE sent out a survey to 500 businesses in Caithness &
Sutherland quizzing them on their perspectives of recruitment, training
issues and business confidence. The survey showed that local companies
preferred using local methods of recruitment, they tended to find a lack
of interest in their vacancies and the interest of the right people for
their positions, and that between 40 � 60% of recruiters have
experienced problems which result in undesired outcomes such as
unsustained or unfilled posts. However, four out of ten businesses are
planning to provide training for their existing workforce. For the full
report see
http://www.hie.co.uk/case/business-survey.html
POSTWATCH SCOTLAND is the
independent consumer watchdog for postal services representing business
and individual interests in postal matters. 86% of mail delivered by
postal services is from business customers and Postwatch is keen let the
business community know what Postwatch can do for them, including
assistance with complaints about the service. Call the helpline
08456013265 (local call rate) or see www.postwatch.co.uk Interestingly
Postwatch cites an incident where a villager in Canisbay had to take the
morning off work to go the delivery office in Wick to collect an item
that was too big to go through his letterbox � new �Sorry you were out�
cards have since been developed explaining that items can also be picked
up at the local Post Office for a charge of 50p, or redelivered to the
same address or another address on the delivery route�
EUROPEAN UNION PRIZE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE
Europa Nostra has now launched the 2005 awards to give recognition to
exemplary initiatives and best practices by individuals or organisations
that contribute to the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage
in Europe. The categories for 2005 are Architectural Heritage; Cultural
Landscapes; Collections of Works of Art and Archaeological Sites. The
awards are open to individuals, public bodies and non-governmental
organizations. Outstanding heritage achievements will be rewarded by six
monetary prizes of �10,000 each, in addition to Medals and Diplomas.
http://www.europanostra.org/lang_en/index.html
Deadlines: The closing dates for entries are 1 August 2005 and 1
September 2005. FUNDING
ESM�E FAIRBAIRN FOUNDATION
The Foundation will make grants totaling �28M in 2005 for the following
type of projects:
New Approaches to Education � improving the quality and relevance of
pre-school and statutory education (0-16).
Hard to Reach Learners � excluded children, hard to reach adults,
parents and carers.
UK Biodiversity � conservation of hard-to-fund native species and
habitats, marine reserves, control of invasive species
Low Carbon Economy � e.g. sustainable transport, renewable energy,
lessen effects of greenhouse gas emissions
Sustainable Food Systems � local sourcing and distribution of food,
up-skill local producers, allotments, viable retail opportunities
Enterprising Communities - emphasis on helping people and organisations
to be more enterprising and to develop new ways of tackling the needs of
those at greatest disadvantage. Amongst the kind of things that could be
supported are work that enables organisations to be more sustainable,
social enterprises, new entrepreneurial approaches to tackling social
need, and projects that enable people to find real work.
Financial Independence, where the emphasis will be on supporting work
that improves access to financial services for individuals, voluntary
and community organisations and businesses which are unable to use
traditional sources of finance. This may include grants to credit unions
or Community Finance Institutions, as well as other partnership and
innovative schemes in the field.
http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/index.html
FUTUREBUILDERS SOCIAL
ENTREPRENEURS FUND
Administered on behalf of Communities Scotland by ScotlandUnLtd, these
Seed Corn Awards are given to emerging social entrepreneurs �
individuals over 16 demonstrating entrepreneurial solutions to social
problems. Expects to support over 100 individuals over two years.
Awards of up to �5,000
www.scotlandunltd.com
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS �
CASE may be able to contribute up to 25% of the costs of training
staff within a business. For this and other training grants/support see
http://www.hie.co.uk/case/workforcegrants.htm
EVENTS
6th September 2005, Corn Exchange Edinburgh � �Planning in Scotland �
the implications of the White Paper� � a one day conference which will
examine the future of planning in Scotland. The Executive has released a
White Paper setting out a major package of reforms to the planning
system to make it fit for purpose (by making it easier to plan
effectively for a range of different types of development, and respond
appropriately to applications with regard to their size and impact),
more efficient (by putting local development plans at the heart of the
system), more inclusive (by ensuring better transparency in the
decision-making process) and to ensure that all development is
sustainable (delivering high quality, sustainable design). http://www.holyrood.com/nav/conference/planned.asp
15th September 2005, London - �Offshore Development � New frontiers of
Opportunity� � a one-day conference run by CoastNET, the UK�s national
network that supports those who care for and manage the coastline.
Covering topics such new technology that enables new uses for the marine
environment (including electricity generation), maximizing local
economic and social benefit from offshore developments and integrating
development aspirations into strategies for coastline management.
http://www.coastnet.org.uk/new/index.asp?page=event/events1.htm
16th September 2005, Edinburgh � �Green Jobs � Examining the Scottish
Executive�s Strategy� � a one day conference which examines the
Executive�s Strategy for developing green jobs, Scotland�s clean energy
potential and placing the issue of job creation in the setting of taking
a more sustainable approach to the economy. Subjects to be discussed
include the economic benefits of environmental quality, green tourism,
recycling and exporting renewables technology. http://www.holyrood.com/nav/conference/planned.asp
19th, 20th & 21st September 2005, Portland Arms, Lybster � Initiative at
the Edge National Conference � bringing together community, voluntary
and agency representatives from all the Initiative at the Edge (I.A.T.E.)
areas. Main theme to be covered is likely to be �Making best use of
marine resources� but this is still to be confirmed. Programme is as
follows: 19th September � evening informal networking reception. 20th
September � welcome by Minister and keynote address on I.A.T.E. followed
by panel event, workshops on I.A.T.E. issues, evening reception for
delegates and Ministerial address. 21st September site visits and wrap
up session. For more information nearer the time contact Eric Larnach on
01593731455 or Hugh Donaldson 01967431815. For more information about
Initiative at the Edge in Caithness see
http://www.caithness.org/initiativeattheedge/ or nationally
http://www.initiative-at-the-edge.org.uk/ .
26th & 27th September 2005, Inverurie -
�Funding and support for Rural Services� SCVO-led Scottish Rural
Services Conference. This year's theme is "Funding and Support for Rural
Services", and the conference will be looking at this issue from as many
angles as possible, offering policy background, examples of good
practice, practical advice and the opportunity for you to have your say.
Top speakers include Dr Frank Rennie from Lews Castle College and Sheena
Munro of Highland Community Care Forum. The Minister for Environment and
Rural Development has been invited to give a keynote address. The event
is aimed at everyone involved in planning and delivering services to
people living in rural communities voluntary organisations, local
authorities, Enterprise Networks, Health Services, Rural Partnerships,
Community Councils, local business - and anyone else who's interested.
For more information contact
[email protected] 01463251730.
3rd October 2005, Edinburgh � �Protecting
Communities � the Antisocial Behaviour etc. Act one year on� � on
June 2nd 2005 Justice Minister Cathie Jamieson urged agencies to help
communities stand up to anti-social behaviour. This Scottish Exec-led
conference will evaluate the Anti-social Behaviour Act and highlight
examples of its powers being used effectively and consider questions
such as the role of planners in providing safer communities, how to
divert potential offenders and the use and effectiveness of ASBOs in
Scotland.
http://www.holyrood.com/nav/conference/future_events/conf_protcomm05/conference.asp?content=contents
4th October 2005, Royal Museum
Edinburgh -
�Regenerating Scotland � Partnerships for Communities� � a one day
conference. The regeneration of Scotland�s deprived communities is key
to the Executive�s goal of breaking the cycle of deprivation, as well as
raising personal and community ambitions. Community regeneration can be
a potent economic driver for Scotland, as well as a major contributor to
achieving social justice and sustainable development. The conference
will examine both urban and rural regeneration in Scotland and will
discuss the forthcoming Planning White Paper .
http://www.holyrood.com/nav/conference/planned.asp
|