• Covid-19

    • Tag: Training

    Naloxone Training & Harm Reduction Session

    placement on 16 July, 2024

    Join us on Thursday 12 September, 12.30pm at the MVA office (4-6 White Hart Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1AE) for free naloxone training & a chat about drug harm reduction in the third sector.

    The training will be carried out by experienced staff from Midlothian Substance Use Service. The session will last around 45 minutes, with extra time for questions at the end.

    ➡️Sign up for the session on Eventbrite

    What is naloxone?

    Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs like codeine, morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, heroin, methadone and buprenorphine.

    In the UK it is legal for anyone to administer naloxone to anyone for the purpose of saving a life. Administering naloxone is not a substitute for calling an ambulance, you should always call 999 if you think someone is having an overdose.

    You can learn more about naloxone on the #StopTheDeaths campaign website, here.

    We’ll also be joining the International Overdose Awareness Day ‘#TogetherWeCan’ campaign on August 31st. You can read more here.

    Free Unrestricted Funding With Easyfundraising

    placement on 29 May, 2024

    MVA hosted an online event today with Becky Coleman at easyfundraising.org.uk.

    Don’t worry if you missed the session, you can view the recording below:

    You can download the slides from this session here.

    How does easyfundraising work?

    Brands see that easyfundraising has sent you to them, so they pay easyfundraising a commission when you start your shop from the easyfundraising website or app. If you make a purchase, a commission is generated, and they turn that into a donation.

    Becky explained that there are over 8,000 retailers who will donate to your charitable organisation every time one of your supporters makes an online purchase through easyfundraising.

    How do I sign up?

    It is straightforward and free for organisations to register. Easyfundraising will undertake the due diligence and then set up an easyfundraising page on your behalf. They will even provide you with promotional materials and graphics to encourage your supporters to sign up with easyfundraising.

    Your supporters can then go onto the easyfundraising page, select the retailer they wish to use, and shop as normal. The donation will be made at no cost to you or them. Supporters can also download the easyfundraising app or browser extension, which will remind them to use easyfundraising when making a purchase.

    You will receive a quarterly donation from easyfundraising which is stress-free unrestricted funding. No reporting is required.

    Participating retailers include Amazon, John Lewis, Tesco, and Argos. Your supporters can also raise funds when they book holidays, buy insurance, electricity, and office supplies!

    There’s really no downside. You can register now at easyfundraising.org.uk/midlothian

    Don’t want to miss any more MVA training sessions?

    Keep an eye on our website, or our Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages.

    ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) Training Recording & Recap

    placement on 12 March, 2024

    We recently held training alongside Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland & Midlothian Council to help organisations in Midlothian learn more about ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) and how they can utilise it efficiently.

    These training sessions were popular, but don’t worry if you missed out! You can watch the recorded training session here:

    ALISS Training session presented by Cameron MacFarlane, ALISS Programme Engagement and Insights Manager at the Alliance.

    We’ve also written up a brief overview, if you need a refresher:

    What is ALISS?

    ALISS is a digital tool operated by Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The Alliance) that allows groups and organisations to find or share information on local resources, services, groups, and support.

    Why should you use ALISS?

    ALISS allows you to share services, activities, and resources that help;

    • Enable social connection
    • Assist people to self-manage their long-term conditions
    • Support outdoor or physical activity
    • Access digital technology

    Outside websites and directories pull information from ALISS, these include:

    The information they use is automatically updated when it’s edited on ALISS.

    How do you use ALISS?

    There are different ways to use ALISS:

    • To search for information
    • To upload information
    • For community mapping
    • For signposting
    • For creating your own directory/ embedding on your website

    When searching for information, it’s helpful to utilise the search filters.

    How do I add to ALISS?

    There are three main ways to get information on ALISS:

    • Basic Account – Good for one-off events/ postings, information approved by ALISS
    • ALISS Editor – Good for posting in bulk, doesn’t need to be manually approved by ALISS
    • Claimed Organisation – Claim your own organisations information, take responsibility to ensure it is accurate and up to date. Edits don’t need approval from ALISS

    ALISS for Alexa

    ALISS can now be used on the Amazon Alexa app and voice devices. By using voice commands, like “Alexa, search My Scottish Community for walking groups.”, those with low digital literacy or who may have a physical condition or disability, can stay connected to their communities and access the support they need when they need it most.

    For more information, and how to set it up check out these articles:

    Connecting communities through voice activated technology – Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (alliance-scotland.org.uk)

    Amazon.co.uk: My Scottish Community: search ALISS for support : Alexa Skills

    Don’t want to miss any more MVA training sessions?

    Keep an eye on our website, or our Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages.

    Winter driving skills for staff and volunteers

    Miriam Leighton on 10 November, 2020

    Cars and lorries on a snowy motorway.

    Lothian 4×4 Drivers are offering winter driving skills training for staff and volunteers, aimed at helping them to be safer and more confident driving in winter conditions. In the past, participants in the sessions have given them a unanimous thumbs up, being educational and entertaining too – and certainly contributing to the safety and confidence of local drivers during the winter months.

    This opportunity is a great one to include in your winter planning and preparation. It will be an online session, for obvious reasons. If you are interested in this for your staff and/or volunteers but wouldn’t have 10 people available to participate, get in touch and we’ll try to group more than one organisation together.