1. North Lanarkshire Voluntary Sector Partnership Group

2.  North Lanarkshire Voluntary Sector Conference 2015 scheduled for Tuesday 2 June 2015 at Jim Foley Centre, Craigneuk  Hosted by VANL on behalf of the local Voluntary Sector Partnership Group  Opportunity for organisations to network and discuss key sectoral issues  Theme of ‘Valuing the Voluntary Sector’  Contact VANL on 01236 748011 or e-mail info@vanl.co.uk to book places

3.  Four year ‘Change Plan’ period of Reshaping Care for Older People concludes in March 2015  Health and Social Care Integration agenda commences in April 2015  Investment in Community Capacity Building and Carer Support continued  Locality Partnership Development Programme and Thematic leads re-defined to focus on Integration

4.  Voluntary Sector Children and Families Network operational as sub-group of Voluntary Sector Partnership Group  VANL Early Years Development Officer supporting local organisations to link to Early Years Collaborative  Approach approved for voluntary sector in two locality areas to support children and families affected by drug or alcohol misuse in 2015-16  Contact VANL on 01236 748011 for further or direction to relevant staff member

5.  Successful Third Sector Employability Network meets quarterly with new membership welcomed  Network has produced a comprehensive report responding to new North Lanarkshire Employability Strategy  Report details how voluntary sector can contribute to partnership employability objectives over coming period  Contact Michelle Thomson at VANL on 01236 748011 for further information

6.  Voluntary Action Scotland release report ‘Finding Local Solutions to National Issues’  Explores impacts of welfare reform and role for voluntary sector in alleviating the negative impacts for those affected  Crucial role for Third Sector Interfaces in being a conduit for voluntary sector  Full report can be downloaded from Voluntary Action Scotland website at www.vascotland.org

7.  Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill explores new ways for communities to take ownership and do things for themselves  Bill is expected to be given Royal Assent in 2015 following period of consultation  Includes new legislation on how communities take on land and buildings  Proposals for increased community involvement in Community Planning  Briefing available at www.vascotland.org/ news/community-empowerment-bill-briefing

8.  Volunteers’ Week takes place from 1-7 June 2015  UK’s annual national week for celebrating, recognising and rewarding the contribution of people who volunteer  Estimated 74% of adults in North Lanarkshire volunteer informally at least once each year  Contact VANL on 01698 358866 for details of local festivities being organised for Volunteers’ Week 2015

9.  Legislation commenced in 2012 obliging UK employers to enrol all staff for pensions  Introduced on phased basis between 2012-2018 (largest companies first)  Period for employers with 49 or less staff auto enrolling is 1 June 2015 to 1 April 2018 (with various staging dates)  Cost implication for local voluntary sector organisations recognised by local Voluntary Sector Partnership Group

10.  Francis Fallan MBE awarded honorary v lifetime presidency of VANL on his retirement from Board of Directors  Francis was a founding member and Chair of VANL over a six year period  Special presentation made to Francis at VANL Annual General Meeting of Friday 20 February 2015  June Vallance has been appointed as new Chair of VANL  Poverty, social exclusion and economic transition identified as key areas sector can contribute to  SCVO submitted response to advocate for maximum third sector delivery elements

11.  Applications open for a new Scottish Government scheme to help charities with payment of water and sewerage charges  Open to registered charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs  Organisations with income of less than £200,000 no longer need to pay water or sewerage charges and reduced rate for groups earning less than £300,000  Visit www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business- Industry/waterindustryscot/watercharges for further information