Rural Community Gateway

Is your project a leader in regeneration?

Does your project represent best practice in regeneration? Or maybe a project in your community excels in this area?

The BURA Awards for Best Practice in Regeneration 2007 are open for entries now, and you have until the 29th June 2007 to submit your entries online. These awards recognise projects across the UK on a variety of scales.

They were established in 1992 and have been praised by previous recipients for their absence of commercial sponsorship and projects being judged on merit alone, not geographical distribution. The awards are also unique in the fact they are supported by Government agencies in all four countries of the UK.

You can find assessment criteria, entry guidance notes and submit an entry online here. If you would like more information on the awards email kate@bura.org.uk.

Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network Conference

The Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network (ABSEN) will be holding a conference in Tarbert Arts & Leisure Centre on 14th June 2007.

This conference is run by social enterprises for social enterprises and ABSEN are delighted that Antonia Swinson from SSEC will speak and Graham Bell, Chief Executive of Kibble Education and Care Centre will give a keynote address and run an afternoon workshop with colleagues on funding and marketing your social enterprise.

ABSEN have also confirmed a one year funding package for a Training and Development Officer and the successful applicant will be introduced to members at the conference.

The new ABSEN website, which will become a key tool for members, will also be unveiled.

Places are still available at the conference, though priority will be given to social enterprises from Argyll & Bute. Thanks to support from Communities Scotland the conference is free this year. If you would like a registration form please email chris.rogan@nhs.net or call 01546 600 462.

More opportunities from Volunteer Cairngorms

Volunteer Cairngorms have announced two new volunteering opportunities for young people, one with the Cairngorms Ranger Service and one with Explore Abernethy and RSPB Abernethy.

The Volunteer Cairngorms project was set up by BTCV Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park Authority. They work with ProjectScotland to offer a diverse, flexible and innovative volunteering package for people aged 16-25 within the Cairngorms Park area.

Placements are being created allowing young people the opportunity to build their skills, participate in the John Muir Award and make a difference to their environment. ProjectScotland participants receive a subsistence allowance of £55 per week and travel expenses are reimbursed.

The Cairngorm Ranger Service opportunity will include general rangering work, footpath maintenance, answering visitor’s questions, visitor interpretation and litter collection.

The Explore Abernethy and RSPB Abernethy opportunity will see participants split their time between the two organisations and will include visitor centre cover, site maintenance, supporting guided walks and a variety of practical conservation tasks.

You can get more information about Volunteer Cairngorms opportunities or about hosting a placement by contacting Jenny Adams on 01786 479 697. You can also apply for opportunities online at the ProjectScotland website.

Keep up to date with post office news

Postwatch Scotland have recently published their Summer 2007 newsletter, which leads with an article on the Government’s confirmation of post office closures and the criteria that Post Office Ltd must use.

In May, Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, confirmed that 2,500 post offices throughout the UK will close in the next 18 months.

In the newsletter you will also find news on how the regulator fails Scottish customers, a new look mobile post office in Caithness and how the post office ruined a Norwegian wedding.

To receive a hard copy of the newsletter send your details to Scotland@postwatch.com or you can download a copy from the Rural Gateway documents library.

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