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According to the Charities Aid Foundation, ‘leveraging the resources of an organisation can have a positive impact on the business itself, influencing customer loyalty, recruitment, skills development, as well as benefiting the people and causes that need the most support.’

This may be true of larger organisations which can get the PR wheel in motion to take advantage of the opportunities that community involvement and charitable giving can generate, but what of smaller enterprises and start-ups, what can it mean for your business?

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Article from InCommerce Magazine Mid, East & West Lothian courtesy of Dtech – www.dtechuk.com

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View the consultation.  Consultation closed on 31 July 2012

Lucky postcode PA34 5PA was drawn as the winning Saturday Street Prize postcode. To read the full story go to the Post Code Lottery website

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Argyll and Bute CHP is delighted to announce that it is continuing to fund local health and wellbeing initiatives. Despite ongoing pressure on health budgets a total of £71,556 (which is the same as 2011-12) will be available from May 2012 to be distributed as follows:

Area Amounts are Bute £5,700, Cowal £12,000, Helensburgh £21,80,0 Islay £2,856, Mid Argyll £7,900, Oban and the Isles £15,100, South Kintyre £6,200.

This funding is for activities to improve the health of the population such as increasing participation in physical activity, promoting sensible alcohol consumption and promoting mental health and well-being. Priority will be given to initiatives that can demonstrate they are reducing health inequalities, that means focusing on the people who are most in need, for example deprived communities likely to experience poor health.

Funding can be accessed via the Local Health and Wellbeing Network and completing an application form. NB the Health and Wellbeing Networks were previously called Local Public Health Networks.

There are 7 Networks in Argyll and Bute that give organisations with a remit for health improvement the opportunity to work together to plan joint activities. Audrey Baird, the co-ordinator from Mid Argyll said:

“The grants fund such a diverse range of initiatives – from community based defibrillators and swimming lessons for the under 5s to water walkerz, play equipment and lunch clubs for carers. The fund helps draw people into participating in the Health and Wellbeing Networks, it encourages partnership working among members and provides opportunities to share information about successful projects.”

Alison McGrory, Health Improvement Principal from Argyll and Bute CHP said:

“The Networks are essential in helping us to get as many organisations as possible interested in improving the health of our population. The NHS is committed to health improvement because a healthier Argyll and Bute is in everyone’s best interest.

Argyll and Bute is fortunate in having the ability to provide a Health and Wellbeing Fund and it provides an excellent opportunity for lots of different types of agencies, including voluntary organisations, to access financial support for their activities.”

Contact Alison McGrory     Tel: 01586 552224 ext. 25890 Health Improvement Principal   Email: alison.mcgrory@nhs.net Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership

7 Local Health and Wellbeing Networks

Area Co-ordinators:

• Bute  Liz Marion (interim) liz.marion@argyll.bute.gov.uk
• Cowal Lorna Alquist  lornaahl@aol.com
• Helensburgh Morevain Martin  morevain.martin@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Islay Carol Muir  carol.muir@nhs.net
• Mid Argyll Audrey Baird  audrey.baird@argyll-bute.gov.uk
•  Oban and the Isles Eleanor MacKinnon  emk@argyllvoluntaryaction.org.uk
• South Kintyre Eleanor Sloan  eleanor@homestartmajik.eclipse.co.uk

Join us for a Webinar on May 10  

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/238171526

This interactive session on applying for Big Lottery Funding is at an introductory level.  Previous participants have found it convenient and user friendly and we will start with a brief user guide.  The session will provide an overview of our small grants programmes with a focus on applying to Awards for All.  It is therefore not suitable if you are an experienced fundraiser or looking for funding of over £10,000.
It will be most useful for:
• Groups interested in funding which are not yet formally set up
• Newly set up organisations that have never applied for funding
• Organisations that have applied to BIG before but have been unsuccessful
• People new to fundraising

Title: Beginner applicants – applying to the BIG Lottery Fund
Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM BST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

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