Season's Greetings!

Just over a week to Christmas now - and time to wish all CVS members, website visitors and bloggers a very happy festive season and a prosperous 2011.

It's going to be a year of changes and challenges. Here at CVS we're gearing up for developments with Stirling Third First, the new organisation that's to be the single, one-stop-shop interface for our local third sector in Stirling.

We're holding an Extraordinary General Meeting in early January (details on the website news page) where the future of CVS Stirling will be decided (in accordance with our constitution, memorandum & articles). All our member organisations will have a vote on this, and we'd encourage them to make every effort to come along.

Allthough of course only members can vote, the EGM is open to anyone interested.

Hope the threatened bad weather doesn't interfere with your Christmas arrangements. We'll be closed from Monday 20th December, and will reopen on 5th January.

CHRISTMAS CHARITIES EVENT

It's coming round to that time again when the Albert Halls is taken over by dozens of local voluntary groups offering for sale festive goods. Lots on offer for all the family. A good opportunity for you to support your favourite local charities as well as make a start on your Christmas purchases.

So make a date for your diary for Saturday 20th November, 10am onwards. For more info contact Linda or Donald on 01786 469916.

If you want a stall contact Linda on the number above, still a few tables available to members in the first instance. Membership of CVS Stirling is free. For details contact Lee on the same number.

Digital Outreach Project

This time next year we should all be watching Digital TV, which means that everyone's telly will need to be digital ready. CVS Stirling will be offering guidance around this process, in particular for groups or individuals who may be unaware of or have problems understanding what this means.

Please keep an eye out for national press releases, events, advice points, our website and ebulletin. Please call 01786 469916 if for further information. CVS Stirling are working with Digital UK to support local organisations to run awareness raising events. If you are a local group and you wish to run an event please get in touch with Lee at CVS Stirling.

The switch over dates for the Craigkelly which covers most of Stirling Council area will be 1st and 15th June 2011. The Blackhill Transmitter which covers Aberfoyle, Callander and a few surrounding villages will switch over to Digital on 8th and 22nd June 2011.

Children In Need

We have just announced that our Children in Need Fund is open for applications for 2010.

We would remind applicants to read the guidance carefully before applying to help us process the applications quickly and efficiently. Can we just reiterate that it is a requirement of funding that all receipts must be sent to Linda at the CVS office as soon as items are purchased.

For more information please go to the Resources and Downloads page of our website for further information.

SINGLE INTERFACE DEVELOPMENT

Avanti Consultants are currently facilitating progress on the Single Interface which aims to consolidate the functions of CVS Stirling and Stirling Volunteer Centre. We will pass on news of developments as and when we receive it.

Third Sector Convention

CVS Stirling manned a stall at the Market Place at Thursday's Third Sector Convention at Falkirk College. The event was well attended and loads of organisations enquired about our services. It was also an opportunity to raise the profile of our organisation through practical use of our website and resources. We showed people how easy it was to navigate and find the information they wanted.
A number of organisations have promised to sign up as new members. We are looking forward to offering our help and support to them.
This event was an opportunity for us to meet, chat and exchange news. All in all a very informative long day.

We welcome comments from anyone who attended this event. Thanks

Don't Miss Out on Funding Opportunities!

Just a quick note to recommend that you keep up to date with deadlines for different funding programmes. There is funding on offer that is not always applied for, an example being the Cash Back for Communities Fund which had no applications from the Stirling area this round. We find it hard to believe that some youth projects in the area could not have benefited from this fund. £5198 will now be carried forward to round 4 which will be announced in due course. Once CVS Stirling find out if Youthlink Scotland will still be administering this fund post April we will let out members know via the website and eBulletin.

Look out for Stirling Council's Community Grant Scheme which will accept applications from April.