What a beautiful spell of weather we have had over the past few days. The sunshine makes us feel so much better, happier and on occasion too hot……..anyway long may it continue.

Welcome to the May blog and in this edition you will hear about:

• The implementation of SLW
• The progress regarding the next SVQ cohort
• New funding
• 30^th anniversary celebrations
• Chief Executive recruitment update

Scottish Living Wage: We have just received confirmation from Glasgow City Council that they are awarding an increase to our social care budget to meet the Scottish Living Wage. The Scottish Living Wage has increased from £8.75 per hour to £9 per hour and Fair Deal are applying this new rate from April 8^th 2019 for the day time hours and night time hours. The Business Support Team are working with payroll provider Alexander Sloan to back date the payment to April 8^th within the May pay run. If you have any questions please contact your line manager.

SVQ level 3 Social Services and Health Care: I mentioned in a previous blog that we would be in touch regarding the next group who are being funded to go through their SVQ level 3. The letters have not gone out yet as we have been working on the allocation of the funding and have just agreed the Fair Deal staff who are being offered the opportunity to achieve their qualification. The letter will be sent to the individual staff within the next 10 days with the first cohort beginning in July. If you have any questions please contact your line manager.

New funding: We have been successful with two funding bids recently.

Connecting Neighbourhoods: The first one is in respect of the work we are involved in regarding the night-time support agenda. We have received, in partnership with SOL Connect, just under £21K from the Scottish Government through their Building Collaboration fund; this is to take forward the collaborative approach to the national night-time support agenda.

If you would like more information please e-mail me: annmariedocherty@fair-deal.org

Connecting You: The second new area of funding was secured from the Linn Area Partnership. At their meeting on Thursday the 9^th of May we secured funding for a 12 week pilot project, working in partnership with the Jeely Piece Club, HYG and Carr Gomm – and our initiative was up and running on Monday the 13^th of May. The 12 week pilot lunch-club is aimed at people over 50 with a view to reducing isolation and improving health and well-being. We are offering a one day a week opportunity for 8 people to come together to meet new people, try out new activities such as therapeutic gardening, cooking, exercising, computing. The session will run between 10 am and 2 pm on a Monday and as well as learning new skills, the participants will be enjoying the company of some of the children from the Jeely nursery, promoting an intergenerational opportunity aimed at keeping everyone young at heart. If you would like more information please contact Lizzie Currie – lizziecurrie@fair-deal.org

30^th Anniversary:

• 6^th of June – we are holding an afternoon tea and people on the invitation list will receive notification next week.
• 25^th of June – we are holding a fun day at Fernhill and tickets will be available by the end of May.

If you would like more information please contact your Line Manager

Chief Executive recruitment: The advert for the Chief Executive post has been running for a few weeks and the closing date is May the 20^th. EVH are managing the recruitment process and interviews will be held in June. The Board will provide an update in due course.

Enjoy the weather!

Ann Marie Docherty

May 16^th 2019