Along with LAYC staff, Lauren Scott from lawyers Morton Fraser will be outlining some of the legal aspects and Martin Meteyard from the Co-operative Enterprise Hub will be on hand to answers questions around taking a co-operative approach.

This is an informal information meeting and is aimed at both ASC managers and members of committee’s/boards (Edinburgh based only) to hear what the benefits might be, what would need to happen and how LAYC will support those who might want to take this forward.

So if you want to hear some more and get some questions answered then come and join us. For the sake of catering it would be useful to let us know if you intend to get along so please advise either by phone on 667 1828 or email enquiries@layc.org.uk

If you can’t make it but want to be kept up to speed with developments then again let us know and we’ll keep you posted.

 LAYC  made a submission and you can view  that by clicking on this link LAYC response to the Commissioning Consultation.

LAYC is taking steps to make sure that the Care Inspectorate is made aware of the decision to produce these only in an electronic format as in 2007 affiliated groups often faced demands for them to have a hard copy of the Child Protection procedures on the premises .

Groups should still make sure that they and their staff  know where to find the document and any reference on agency policies and protocols should have the correct  address/hyperlink included. Lothian Borders police and NHS Lothian websites will also hold copies of the document .

In the meantime you can access the new CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES  here on the LAYC website

A-Z of LAYC Services is now available to view / download Here

Small Grants for Youth Groups: A Quick Guide

Youth Scotland have produced this 4 page publication which has information about a number of small grant schemes for youth groups which includes a comprehensive list of links on the back page, that voluntary run youth groups and volunteers might find useful.

Download the publication as a PDF

Youth Group Games

Youth Group Games is a website LAYC has just been made aware of… first impressions are that it seems a really useful source of games for youth workers.Games of all sorts – some you might recognise and some that might be new to you (and some which have been given a wee twist ….for example there’s a section on different seasonal twists to games like the Mars bar game or the fancy dress relay and other “New Games Book” standards.It’s all clear and simple with explanations on how to run the games and nice to see the sectionon “Setting up a Youth Group” too! Give the site a visit, give the games a try …and give us a wee bit of feedback here at the LAYC office. What worked particularly well? Maybe you have you a different website you’d like to tell us about?

Spark in the Dark

Spark in the Dark is the provider of LAYC’s ever popular “Games, Games, Games” training session. Founded by Jim Balloch who has considerable expertise and experience in a variety of play settings over a number of years . He is equally at home with face to face work with children of all ages and with tutoring those involved directly in the delivery of play services.

Contact Jim on Tel: 01506 811743 or email : jim@sparkinthedark.org

Website: www.sparkinthedark.org

For those members who use our Law At Work policy service please note we have an updated Paternity Policy which has recently been amended to reflect recent changes in legislation and so if you had adopted the previous version for your organisation please ensure you replace and use this latest version.

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.

Law at Work at LAYC – list of policies.

LAYC is also using a new  improved system for its weekly  email newsletter “E Bulletins” which carries  details of jobs, funding, training courses, events and other items of interest for those involved in youth and children’s work in Edinburgh, the Lothians and South East Scotland. If you are not currently a subscriber and would like to receive our weekly  E-Bulletins then please 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 can include that in a forthcoming issue of our  “FAST Networks”.

Remember  E Bulletins is a FREE service for affiliated groups. If you have a job, 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 to the 1200+ subscribers too for a small fee!)