A good turn oot all roon…

Hello – some weather eh?!…

We’ve been excellently supported recently by Reid Kerr photography students at some of our events. To see their wonderful work click here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/engagerenfrewshire/sets/72157631557461714/

The students are very professional – I can’t thank them enough.

Last week I had the privilege to present some information on Engage Renfrewshire to attendees at the Paisley South Housing Association AGM. Unfortunately it was a rather ‘dreich’ night weather wise for the AGM but those in attendance were in good voice.

The Association aims to provide quality, affordable homes and services throughout the south, west & town centre of Paisley, Foxbar and Glenburn. The Association are also involved in non-housing, “wider role” projects and services aimed to help local communities develop as sustainable, socially inclusive and economically vibrant places.

Those attending were very enthusiastic regards the impact of local community action and volunteering and I would like to thank them for their attention.

http://www.scottishhousingconnections.org/HA/Paisley-South/

Yesterday I attended OSCR’s Meet the Charity Regulator event at the Abercorn Centre. I was delighted to be asked to speak at the ‘top-table’. It was a great turn-out and I think the vast majority felt it was an excellent event.

OSCR will be publishing the presentations and notes from the meeting on their website next week.  Should the pilot events prove successful, it is likely that they will hold similar events in the area early next year.

OSCR’s Outreach Programme for Autumn 2012 can be accessed here.

http://www.oscr.org.uk/news-and-events/oscr-outreach-programme-for-2012/

Thanks for listening

Alan

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Renfrew West and beyond!

Tonight the BIG funded Our Place Renfrew West initiative will be formally launched at Renfrew Town Hall. Our Place Renfrew West is made up of five projects. Our part of ‘Our Place’ is the ‘Community Committee Capacity building project’ – a three year programme of engagement and capacity building with voluntary groups within Renfrew West. It will address strategic planning, funding and governance and will help voluntary organisations develop business knowledge along with stability and strong business planning.

We are hoping to identify and support potential social enterprise groups with up to 96 volunteers and 27 organisations directly benefiting from the scheme – and due to the positive impact on the capacity of those organisations, the whole community is expected to see beneficial effects!

I will be tweeting live from the launch so follow us @EngageNews1 #Renfrewwest.

Speak to you soon!

Alan

Hello!

I thought I would start a blog… or am I starting ‘blogging’? No matter. I’ve started.

The last few weeks have been interesting to say the least for the Company. Our AGM last Monday was extremely well attended and actually very enjoyable. Feedback’s been great. So to all who attended – thank you.

We also hosted an excellent funding session last week at Paisley Town Hall – a wee picture has been posted here. Thanks for your input to all – participants and funders alike!

I attended a meeting today where we were discussing the soon to be launched Renfrewshire Council Staff Volunteering scheme. The employee volunteering scheme will begin in October 2012 and will give practical help to council employees to support involvement in volunteering, mainly through the use of special leave. The scheme will allow council employees to apply to use two days leave to spend their time and energy for the benefit of the Renfrewshire Community. So, how could your organisation benefit? What could be achieved by a volunteer in two days?
We’re keen to have a range of ‘two day taster’ volunteering opportunities available. If you’ve got a ‘Two Day’ challenge get in touch with us here at Engage and let us know!

Something for your diary – Scotland’s charity regulator, OSCR, has announced dates for a series of regional events aimed at those in charge of charities and, for the first time, members of the public. The new events are intended to reinforce understanding among charity trustees about their responsibilities, and build awareness among the public about the work of charities and how they are regulated. Renfrewshire’s free of charge events will be staged at the Abercorn Conference Centre on 25 September. Places are limited to 30 at each session and are expected to be taken up quickly. Book on line below:

http://www.oscr.org.uk/news-and-events/meet-the-charity-regulator/

I will return with more tales soon…All the best

Alan