Latest News from PKAVS
The Walled Garden Open Day - Summer
Sizzler
PKAVS Walled Garden is hosting its annual open day
on Saturday 21 August in the grounds of Murray Royal Hospital. The
family fun extravaganza offers a chance to enjoy live music, a
barbeque and see the stunning gardens in full bloom. Visitors and
supporters of the project are welcome to drop in anytime between
12noon and 4pm (entry by donation). The Summer Sizzler event also
includes various charity information and fundraising stalls and the
chance to browse the Walled Garden's many products for sale including
plants, vegetables, garden furniture, artwork and refreshments from
the cafe.
Andy Gray to take the stage at PKAVS Charity
Ball
Scottish actor Andy Gray announced
his return to PKAVS Charity Ball this year, as he fronts up the Perth
800 Charity Ball hosted by PKAVS in partnership with Perth & Kinross
Council. The spectacular charity event will take place in Perth
Concert Hall on Friday 3 September and will bring together supporters
from across Perth & Kinross for an evening of dinner, dancing and
charity fundraising.
PKAVS Voluntary Action Perthshire
team launches new website
PKAVS VAP Team launched Perth & Kinross' brand new
community web portal in July 2010. The new website
www.vaperthshire.org
will offer a one-stop-shop for local charities and community groups to
access information relevant to the Sector, advertise events and
opportunities, and take part in discussions via an online forum.
Funded by the Rural Tayside LEADER Programme, the new site aims to
particularly reach out to voluntary organisations in rural areas of
Perth & Kinross.
Unsung Heroes recognised at "Volunteer of
the Year" Awards
Over 130 charity representatives and volunteers of
all ages attended Perth & Kinross' Volunteer of the Year
Awards event on Friday 28 May in Perth's Salutation Hotel. Hosted by
PKAVS community engagement department, Voluntary Action Perthshire,
the glitzy event celebrated the outstanding achievements of
individuals and groups of volunteers giving their time across Perth &
Kinross. Seven awards were given for significant contributions to
volunteering, including recognition for youth volunteering and long
service awards. BBC's River City star and
Perth-based actress, Lorna Craig, joined Councillors Liz Grant
and Bob Ellis to present awards to the deserving winners.
PKAVS launches new logo
Following a period of strategic review in autumn
2009, PKAVS took steps to redesign its logo and strap-line. Our new
visual brand and corporate colours were launched in April 2010 and our
strap-line Making the Difference is already helping spread
the word of PKAVS' impact on the community of Perth & Kinross.
"The Most important people in the World:
Honesty"
‘Not equal to but better than’ is a phrase often used by Photographer
Graham Miller over the last year. In his first personal project
Graham has been photographing workers who are recovering from severe
and/or enduring mental illnesses in PKAVS Walled Garden Project.
Through the project ‘The Most important people in the World: Honesty’
Graham is seeking to address the stigma attached to mental illness
while reminding those affected of their importance to society. "In the
recent past we’ve all been reminded of the importance of honesty" says
Graham "And the people I’ve worked with have that characteristic in
abundance".
The work, which consists of striking large scale portraits printed,
unusually, on an aluminium composite material, was first exhibited
at the Birnam Arts and Conference Centre in Perthshire from July 3rd
to 31st 2010. Plans are already in place to publish a book which will
be designed by the workers.
Graham now hopes that the photographs will attract sufficient interest
to be be exhibited further afield and he added "The more people who
look into the eyes of those featured and who are encouraged to think
again, the more I will feel that I have created something of value". A
sample of the images can be seen at
www.gilmar.turnpiece.net .
Voluntary & Community Sector Conference 2010
"The Perth & Kinross Voluntary Sector Conference
has a reputation as one of the best events in the Scottish voluntary
sector calendar" says keynote speaker at this Friday's annual
Conference, Norman McAskill, Head of Rural Policy at SCVO. PKAVS
Volunteer Centre and CVS teams have once again joined forces to host
the ninth Voluntary & Community Sector Conference for Perth & Kinross
in Crieff Hydro Hotel. Delegates, exhibitors and presenters from a
wide range of local charities will come together to network, increase
their knowledge of issues affecting the sector, and share ideas and
best practice. PKAVS is delighted to be joined by Annabel Goldie,
Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, to open the conference.
Perth's Salutation Hotel tops £3,500 for
PKAVS
Staff and customers at The Salutation Hotel in Perth
successfully raised £1,100 for PKAVS through their 2009/10 Christmas
and Valentine's Party Nights. A series of special raffles saw hundreds
of tickets sold in support of PKAVS, bringing the local hotel's
fundraising total for PKAVS to an impressive £3,500 since 2007.
Carers knowing their Rights
In conjunction with National Carers Rights Day on
Friday 4 December, The Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre (Perth &
Kinross) offered carers the opportunity to raise issues of concern
with local MPs, Pete Wishart and Gordon Banks and local councillor
Peter Barrett. The event was one of nearly 1,500 taking place across
the UK to raise awareness of carers' rights and entitlements amongst
professionals and policy makers.
Laing O'Rourke builds support for charity
Following 12 months of fundraising, construction
firm Laing O'Rourke has raised over £1,000 for PKAVS. The proactive
team, based at Loch Leven Community Campus in Kinross, called upon
sub-contractors to assist with a series of charity raffles offering
star prizes. The fundraisers presented a cheque for £1,049 to PKAVS to
tie in with "The Big Weekend" in November - three days of community
celebrations marking the opening of the new Campus.
Big Lottery Fund supports local Minority
Ethnic Communities
PKAVS was delighted to be awarded £259,569 from the
Big Lottery Fund to develop a new project that will support Minority
Ethnic Communities in establishing, developing or adapting their lives
in Perth & Kinross. The Minority Ethnic Access Development (MEAD)
Project is a joint initiative between Perth & Kinross Council, PKAVS
and the Community Health Partnership in collaboration with local
Minority Ethnic communities and MECOPP (the National Development
Programme funded by the Scottish Government Equalities Unit). The
project aims to give the expanding migrant population support to play
a full and active role in their community while helping service
providers to respond more effectively to their needs. Funding will
support the project over 3.5years and January 2010 will see the
project go live from a new office base in Perth.
Annual Meeting between Politicians and
Voluntary Organisations
CVS Perth & Kinross hosted
the annual meeting between Perth & Kinross Voluntary Sector and
Politicians, creating an opportunity for over 50
voluntary sector delegates to take part in an open discussion about
issues of concern. The 'question and answer' panel session was
preceded by the premier of two short films created by young volunteers
at Strathmore Centre for Youth Dialogue (SCYD) which highlighted the
diversity of voluntary organisations within Perth & Kinross.
Represented on the panel of politicians were John Swinney MSP, Pete Wishart MP, Councillor Ian Miller and Councillor Peter Barrett.
Day Club Volunteers recognised at
Appreciation Dinner
Nearly 50 staff and volunteers from The Princess
Royal Trust Carers Centre enjoyed an appreciation dinner at the Isle
of Skye Hotel on 3 September. The event was in recognition of the hard
work and commitment of the Carers Centre's many volunteers who take on
vital roles helping in four day centres across Perth & Kinross.
Volunteers received certificates marking various lengths of service to
their volunteering roles.
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