Do you have Microsoft Excel on your CV but don’t really know how to use it? You’re in luck – we’re hosting two free in-person training sessions all about Microsoft Excel.đź’» Sign-up here!
This session has been rescheduled to Wednesday 30 October. If you have already registered, this remains valid.
What will we cover?
The specific focus of this session will be determined by feedback prior to the session, but is likely to include the use of Excel spreadsheets for budgeting for full cost recovery, and the use of AI to support day-to-day work.
Who’s it for?
This training is targeted at management staff/ development workers in third sector organisations across Midlothian.
Who’s running it?
The training will be carried out by the Senior Communities and Lifelong Learning Worker at Midlothian Council.
Where will it be?
The training will be hosted in-person, at the MVA Offices in Dalkeith (4-6 White Hart Street, EH22 1AE).
Any more questions?
If you have any questions or access requirements, email us at info@mvacvs.org.uk or call our office on 0131 663 9471.
VOCAL – Voice of Carers Across Lothian – is a charity that supports unpaid carers. We provide training sessions for employers with a presence in Edinburgh and Midlothian. Our goal is to help employers across the public, private and third sector to build confidence in supporting carers in the workplace, and increase awareness in identifying and engaging with carers. Our training sessions aim to give you a strong foundation if you are looking to apply for Carer Scotland’s Carer Positive accreditation.
Caring is often a hidden issue in the workplace, making it difficult to talk about and support. One in five carers give up work because balancing caring and holding down a job becomes too much.
As a leading expert, we collaborate with employers to create carer-friendly workplaces. We can support you in raising awareness, leading team discussions, building carer networks, also reviewing and developing internal policies.
Programme for third sector managers
The programme is aimed at supporting managers in the third sector to increase their awareness of working carers, and how they can best support their employees who are juggling work and care. We will run an introductory session called Identifying and supporting carers at work, which aims to make carers more visible in the workplace.  During this session, managers will reflect on the hidden impacts of caring and learn how to identify and support unpaid carers within their organisations.
If there is enough interest following the introductory session, we can offer follow-up sessions on:
Caring conversations
An introduction to Carer Positive accreditation
How to develop/improve a carer policy and carer passport
How to build and establish a successful carer network
How to engage and communicate to create a caring culture
Peer support is powerful, and it works. It’s a mutual relationship where people with shared experiences support each other especially as they move through challenging times. In partnership with Scottish Recovery Network, we are running a free 60- minute online session exploring:
Peer support and the positive role it plays in supporting mental health recovery and wellbeing
Top tips for developing community-based peer support
It’s a great opportunity to connect with others interested in peer support as well as providing inspiration to kick start or enhance your planning and/or proposals for peer support activities. The session will draw on a range of examples of Peer Support in Action and resources which are free to access on www.PeerRecoveryHub.Net
We will be using the online tool ZOOM. You will receive the log in details in advance of the session.
Last week, MVA held a Naloxone training and harm reduction session for third sector staff and volunteers in Midlothian. The session was delivered by Ross Ballantine, Clinical Support Worker with the Midlothian Substance Use Service, and David Boyd, Harm Reduction Worker from MELD and the Scottish Drugs Forum.
National Context
Scottish mortality rates to drug misuse and related deaths are the highest in Europe. The annual National Records of Scotland report provides insightful statistics of the ongoing drug crisis:
In 2023, 1,172 people in Scotland died due to drug-related causes—a 12% increase from the previous year.
Opiates and opioids were implicated in 80% of all drug-related deaths.
People living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are more than 15 times as likely to die from drug misuse compared to those in the least deprived areas.
Drug-related deaths have been steadily rising since 1996, with a much steeper increase since 2013.
This stark reality reinforces the need to raise awareness of harm reduction approaches.
Harm Reduction & Lived Experience
During the session David spoke of his own lived experience, sharing his journey through different support services, the mindset change that led to him to recovery, and the harm reduction work he does now. David’s message echoed a quote from Johann Hari,
“The opposite of addiction is connection.” – Johann Hari
His story serves as a powerful reminder of the role community, support, and understanding play in recovery.
Hearing David’s real-life experiences emphasises the importance of involving those with lived experience in service delivery. It underlines the significant impact that partnerships between mental health professionals, wellbeing staff, and individuals with lived experience can have in delivering more comprehensive support.
Following the discussion on harm reduction, participants were trained on how to recognise an overdose and administer naloxone.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a life-saving medicine that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioids in the event of an overdose. It works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, restoring normal breathing for someone who has stopped or is struggling to breathe due to an overdose. Administration of naloxone provides crucial time for emergency services to arrive and for further treatment to be given. In the UK it is legal for anyone to administer naloxone to anyone for the purpose of saving a life.
Always call 999 if you think someone is having an overdose. Administering naloxone is not a substitute for calling an ambulance.
How is Naloxone Administered?
In Scotland, naloxone kits can come in two forms:
Nasal Spray (Nyxoid): A quick and easy method that involves spraying Naloxone into one of the person’s nostrils.
Injectable (Prenoxad): A pre-filled syringe that can be injected into the muscle, typically in the thigh, buttock, or upper arm.
Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce a national naloxone programme. The Scottish Government established the programme in 2010, aiming to reduce opioid-related deaths. Through this initiative, take-home naloxone kits are made widely available to those at risk of overdose, as well as to people who are likely to witness an overdose, such as family members, friends, or workers in the community. The availability of take-home naloxone has become even more crucial as Scotland faces a rise in synthetic drugs and polydrug use, both of which are contributing to the country’s alarming overdose statistics.
Takeaways from the Session
While the session offered practical naloxone training, the broader conversation touched on the challenges faced by third-sector and public services in supporting people with addiction. Cuts in funding resulting in low staff retention and reductions in services, make it difficult to provide consistent, trauma-informed care. Addressing these systemic issues is critical to improving outcomes for service users.
A recent report by the Scottish Drugs Forum gives insights into the experience of people in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), identifying the need to improve treatment. You can read the report here.
Special Thanks
We are incredibly grateful to Ross Ballantine for organizing the training and supplying take-home Naloxone kits, and to David Boyd for sharing his lived experience—his openness brought an important perspective to the session. Ross & David are happy to arrange similar training for organisations & volunteers in Midlothian. Please contact MVA for more details.
Getting the Message Out
As we continue to push forward with harm reduction efforts, it’s vital to raise awareness of harm reduction strategies like the provision of naloxone. Campaigns like #StopTheDeaths and International Overdose Awareness Day aim to amplify this message, ensuring more people understand how they can help prevent overdoses in their communities. You can find out more in the resources linked below.
We can all do something to help prevent drug related deaths.
This session has been rescheduled to Tuesday 22 October. If you have already registered, this remains valid.
What will we cover?
The specific focus of this session will be determined by feedback prior to the session, but is likely to include the use of Excel spreadsheets for budgeting for full cost recovery, and the use of AI to support day-to-day work.
Who’s it for?
This training is targeted at management staff/ development workers in third sector organisations across Midlothian.
Who’s running it?
The training will be carried out by the Senior Communities and Lifelong Learning Worker at Midlothian Council
Where will it be?
The training will be hosted in-person, at the MVA Offices in Dalkeith (4-6 White Hart Street, EH22 1AE).
Any more questions?
If you have any questions or access requirements, email us at info@mvacvs.org.uk or call our office on 0131 663 9471.
This session has been postponed. We will announce the new date soon. If you have already registered, this remains valid.
Who’s it for?
This training is targeted at board members/treasurers in third sector organisations across Midlothian.
What will we cover?
This session will improve your confidence with using Microsoft Excel in governance roles, and will also cover the use of AI for the development of policies/procedures.
Who’s running it?
The training will be carried out by the Senior Communities and Lifelong Learning Worker at Midlothian Council.
Where will it be?
The training will be hosted in-person, at the MVA Offices in Dalkeith (4-6 White Hart Street, EH22 1AE).
Any more questions?
If you have any questions or access requirements, email us at info@mvacvs.org.uk or call our office on 0131 663 9471.
Join us on Thursday 12 September, 12.30pm at the MVA office (4-6 White Hart Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1AE) for free naloxone training & a chat about drug harm reduction in the third sector.
The training will be carried out by experienced staff from Midlothian Substance Use Service. The session will last around 45 minutes, with extra time for questions at the end.
Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs like codeine, morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, heroin, methadone and buprenorphine.
In the UK it is legal for anyone to administer naloxone to anyone for the purpose of saving a life. Administering naloxone is not a substitute for calling an ambulance, you should always call 999 if you think someone is having an overdose.
You can learn more about naloxone on the #StopTheDeaths campaign website, here.
We’ll also be joining the International Overdose Awareness Day ‘#TogetherWeCan’ campaign on August 31st. You can read more here.
Don’t worry if you missed the session, you can view the recording below:
You can download the slides from this session here.
How does easyfundraising work?
Brands see that easyfundraising has sent you to them, so they pay easyfundraising a commission when you start your shop from the easyfundraising website or app. If you make a purchase, a commission is generated, and they turn that into a donation.
Becky explained that there are over 8,000 retailers who will donate to your charitable organisation every time one of your supporters makes an online purchase through easyfundraising.
How do I sign up?
It is straightforward and free for organisations to register. Easyfundraising will undertake the due diligence and then set up an easyfundraising page on your behalf. They will even provide you with promotional materials and graphics to encourage your supporters to sign up with easyfundraising.
Your supporters can then go onto the easyfundraising page, select the retailer they wish to use, and shop as normal. The donation will be made at no cost to you or them. Supporters can also download the easyfundraising app or browser extension, which will remind them to use easyfundraising when making a purchase.
You will receive a quarterly donation from easyfundraising which is stress-free unrestricted funding. No reporting is required.
Participating retailers include Amazon, John Lewis, Tesco, and Argos. Your supporters can also raise funds when they book holidays, buy insurance, electricity, and office supplies!
ALISS is a digital tool operated by Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The Alliance) that allows groups and organisations to find or share information on local resources, services, groups, and support.
Why should you use ALISS?
ALISS allows you to share services, activities, and resources that help;
Enable social connection
Assist people to self-manage their long-term conditions
Support outdoor or physical activity
Access digital technology
Outside websites and directories pull information from ALISS, these include:
The information they use is automatically updated when it’s edited on ALISS.
How do you use ALISS?
There are different ways to use ALISS:
To search for information
To upload information
For community mapping
For signposting
For creating your own directory/ embedding on your website
When searching for information, it’s helpful to utilise the search filters.
How do I add to ALISS?
There are three main ways to get information on ALISS:
Basic Account – Good for one-off events/ postings, information approved by ALISS
ALISS Editor – Good for posting in bulk, doesn’t need to be manually approved by ALISS
Claimed Organisation – Claim your own organisations information, take responsibility to ensure it is accurate and up to date. Edits don’t need approval from ALISS
ALISS for Alexa
ALISS can now be used on the Amazon Alexa app and voice devices. By using voice commands, like “Alexa, search My Scottish Community for walking groups.”, those with low digital literacy or who may have a physical condition or disability, can stay connected to their communities and access the support they need when they need it most.
For more information, and how to set it up check out these articles:
Lothian 4×4 Drivers are offering winter driving skills training for staff and volunteers, aimed at helping them to be safer and more confident driving in winter conditions. In the past, participants in the sessions have given them a unanimous thumbs up, being educational and entertaining too – and certainly contributing to the safety and confidence of local drivers during the winter months.
This opportunity is a great one to include in your winter planning and preparation. It will be an online session, for obvious reasons. If you are interested in this for your staff and/or volunteers but wouldn’t have 10 people available to participate, get in touch and we’ll try to group more than one organisation together.Â
