CVG column June 2010

CVG update June 2010

Advice point planned for second switchover date

THE second stage of the digital TV switchover in Caithness takes place next week, and CVG will again be on hand to offer guidance to anyone who needs it.
CVG has been working closely with Digital UK and provided advice points in Wick and John O’Groats on the first date of the switchover, June 2. There will again be an advice point at Telford House, Williamson Street, Wick, on Wednesday, June 16 – the second switchover date – and on Thursday 17th. It will run from 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 7.30pm both days.
Following the first stage of the switchover, viewers in our area have lost BBC2 on analogue and from June 16 everyone will have to ensure their TV sets can receive digital services if they want to continue watching. Almost all TVs can be converted with a digital box.
There are various options available, from Freeview boxes to getting Sky, Freesat or BT Vision installed. If you already have a Freeview box then all you need to do is retune on the two switchover dates, and if you have Sky or Freesat then you need do nothing.
The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC and offers help to older and disabled people. You are eligible for the help scheme if you:
• Are aged 75 years or over.
• Have lived in a care home for six months.
• Receive certain disability benefits.
• Are registered blind or partially sighted.
The help scheme offers easy-to-use equipment, home delivery and installation, an aerial check and, if needed, a replacement, a free helpline, retuning advice and a 12-month aftercare service. There is a one-off £40 fee or, for people on certain benefits, it’s free.
For more information or to pick up a leaflet, contact CVG on Wick 609960 or 603453, or alternatively contact 0800 40 85 900.

Two events have been arranged in Thurso to promote National Falls Awareness Week on Thursday, June 24.
A coffee morning will take place from 10am to noon in the Royal British Legion Scotland hall, then in the afternoon there will be an over-fifties’ tea dance from 2pm to 4pm at the same venue. Both events are free.
If you have transport difficulties for the afternoon event, contact Coreen at Caithness Rural Transport on 01955 605588.

NHS Highland’s annual review is being held on Tuesday, June 22 – and interested groups in Caithness can follow its progress without having to travel all the way to the main venue at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage, Oban.
There will be public access via video link in locations across the NHS Highland area, including the seminar room at Caithness General Hospital (from 2pm). The final 30 minutes of the review will be a question-and-answer session when members of the public at any of the locations will be able to ask questions of the NHS board or the Scottish Government’s minister for public health.
Every year the Scottish Government reviews the performance of each health board in Scotland.

Community Food and Health (Scotland) has an annual small grants scheme available for groups and agencies in Scotland that wish to improve take-up of a healthy, varied and balanced diet. Grants from £500 to £4000 are available and recipients are expected to spend their grant money within one year.
This year’s closing date is Friday, July 9, and successful applicants usually receive their grants by the autumn.
The scheme is open to groups and agencies that would like to tackle one or more of the barriers to healthy eating, such as affordability or availability.
To find out more about what will or will not be funded, check the guidance notes at http://www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk
Groups and agencies working with or within low-income communities throughout Scotland are welcome to apply.

Community groups should be aware that in April of this year OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) introduced important changes to the annual monitoring regime. It now fails accounts that do not meet some basic accounting requirements and those where the charity is persistently non-compliant.
This means the accounts are returned to the charity to be prepared again in accordance with the legislation.
For accounting periods ending March 31 this year and later, accounts will fail the validation process if they do not include:
• A compliant receipts and payments account, statement of balances or a Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) and balance sheet.
• A compliant external scrutiny report from an independent examiner or auditor as appropriate.
In addition, where a charity has previously received three consecutive qualified pass letters and a deficiency is noted with the accounts for the current year, the accounts will be failed. Accounts need to contain, as a minimum, the above criteria plus:
• A trustees’ annual report.
• The signature of one charity trustee on behalf of all the charity trustees.
• The Scottish charity number.
• Appropriate information usually contained in the notes to the accounts.
Further information and guidance on the annual monitoring regime is available from the OSCR website, http://www.oscr.org.uk

The WEA Women@Work Project is holding a session on Kundalini yoga later this month in Wick.
Kundalini yoga teaches that women are 16 times more powerful than men. Women are known as “Shakti”, which means “primal creative power”, and are said to contain within them the creative spark of the universe.
You can explore the subject in greater detail, and get an opportunity to try out specific sets of exercises and meditations, during the session at the Norseman Hotel on Friday, June 25 (from noon to 2pm).
The event itself is free, although refreshments will cost £3. To book a place, contact 01463 710577 or e-mail womenatwork? .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Wick and District Gardening Club is holding a Ladies’ Day in the Wick St Fergus Church Hall on Saturday, June 26, starting at 2.30pm. Cream tea and strawberries will be served and Anne Dunnett, Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, will be showing a selection of her hats.
Tickets cost £5 and can be obtained from Christine Scott (Wick 602619) or Virginia Miller (602700).

• For more information on any of the above, contact Caithness Voluntary Group on 01955 603453 or 609960 and speak to Yvonne Hendry or Niall Smith; e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); or pop in to CVG at Telford House, Williamson Street, Wick.