As you’ll see from all our public pronouncements, electronic and print, they will proudly display our new status as  ‘LAYC  as a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation’ with our retained Scottish Charity number SC009193. This means that LAYC is able to provide more protection for committee and members against liabilities that may occur in the future, own Dunford House in our own capacity and have a constitution that is more robust and fit for purpose.

From committee conception through to approval by members and negiotation over the likes of pension liabilities and OSCR approval, it has taken 9 months which is properly appriopate given the final ‘labour’ pains as we edged closure to the conversation date. However, LAYC is proud to be one of the early converts to the new legal entity which is a SCIO and we hope that if any members are considering such a move we can offer at least some first hand experiences that might be helpful.

Finally, we would like to thank Mike Crerar, our independent examiner at Geoghagen’s who helped convince us of the merits of such a move and to Lauren Scott of Morton Fraser, who has efficiently and legally, guided us through the SCIO maze with an eye for the detail that was much needed.

 Now to the refrain of Yellow Submarine, all together now………

‘We all live in a shiney new SCIO,
shiney new SCIO, shiney new SCIO
We all live in a shiney new SCIO,
shiney new SCIO,  shiney new SCIO.

And our friends are all aboard,
Many more of them live next door,

Full speed ahead, LAYC , full speed ahead!

The two year project, based at the Citadel Youth Centre in Leith, won the brand new national Youth Worker of the Year (Intergenerational) award and the Overall Winner award sponsored by Education Scotland. Trophies were presented by Aileen Campbell MSP, Minister for Children and Young People.The Overall Winner Award is given to an organisation or team, chosen from across the individual award category winners, that showcases the very best and innovative youth work practice while the Intergenerational Award goes to the group for work which has” consistently demonstrated that they have used creative and innovative approaches to bring young people and other generations together to share their skills and experience and to work to improve community cohesion in the area in which they live”.

Willy Barr, Manager at the Citadel said:

“I’m used to getting surprises in this job but nothing has had as big an impact on me, my colleagues, the young people and the organisation as a whole as the New Spin Intergenerational Project when it started two years ago. The energy, enthusiasm and spirit that the intergenerational group bring to the Citadel has transformed how we think and describe our work….. and there is no going back. Intergenerational work is good for young and old people alike, and is essential for communities. I am delighted that the New Spin has come first in the Youthlink National Awards”

(Photograph courtesy of YouthLink Scotland)

Dona Milne, Chair LAYC said

“It is great to see two local projects, who are both members of LAYC, working together for the benefit of local communities and there have clearly been huge benefits for the young and not so young people involved. Building relationships between different people within our local communities is such an important part of youth work and The Citadel and Pilmeny have done an excellent job. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

Commenting, Chief Executive of YouthLink Scotland Jim Sweeney said:

“In the current, difficult economic situation and against a backdrop of high youth unemployment, there has never been a more important time to recognise and celebrate the fantastic contribution that youth work makes to individuals and communities across Scotland.”

Congratulations also go to Bob Hope who recently stepped down from his long involvement with Friends of the Award/ Duke of Edinburgh’s Award who received the Fellowship of Youthlink Scotland – the Lifetime Achievement Award and to Scott Walker from North Brerwick Youth Cafe in East Lothian (another LAYC member group) who was nominated in the Youth Worker of the Year (full time).

(Photograph courtesy of YouthLink Scotland)

But we need to do more. As part of a joint exercise with Youth Scotland we are carrying out a Membership Survey (2012) which seeks members views on all services (LAYC and Youth Scotland’s) and ways you think we can improve our services to you. Other colleagues in other parts of Scotland are also involved.

Most of the questions are tick box and it should take about ten minutes to complete.

We would be very grateful if you could take that time to help us help you better in the future and make sure the services you get are as good as they can be.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YouthScotlandLAYCsurvey

We appreciate your input.

To see the programme and access the on line booking click on this link.

As you’ll see the programme has the usual array of old reliable and new courses so get looking and booking!

We have also been advised by Law at Work to remove the Retirement Policy from our portfolio of policies as it no longer applies given the legislative changes in respect of age discrimination. There is not a replacement policy as these matters are already covered under the Equal Opportunities policy. So again if you adopted this policy please remove it from your suit of policies with immediate effect and advise staff that this policy was removed as it no longer applies given the change in the law but is now covered by the Equal Opportunities policy.

Our training calendar for the winter term (Feb – Easter) is available to view, so please download and book but please note that a number of courses such as first aid, childprotection and food hygiene are now over subscribed.

For further information about any of the above please contact LAYC on 667 1828 or enquiries@layc.org.uk

Law at Work at LAYC.

LAYC is also using a new (and hopefully improved) system for its weekly  email newsletter “E Bulletins”.

If you are not currently a subscriber and would like to receive our weekly  emails then please subscribe using the form on the right.

If you are a subscriber to our current mailing list and have not received your regular E bulletin email from us then please  re-subscribe using the form on the right.

LAYC is always keen to include news and features on the good work of affiliated groups so please keep us posted with what your group has been up to recently and we will include that in a forthcoming quarterly “FAST Networks”.

Remember  E Bulletins is a FREE service for affiliated groups.If you have a jobs, training course or event  to advertise please use the appropriate form on the E-Service section of the website; the jobs form is here.

NON AFFILIATED GROUPS CAN ADVERTISE JOBS, TRAINING COURSES, EVENTS – CONFERENCES ETC TO THE 1100+ LAYC E BULLETINS SUBSCRIBERS FOR A SMALL FEE.