Dumfries and Galloway College

Dumfries and Galloway College pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Colin Turnbull, Principal.

1st Commitment

The College will offer free breakfasts, five days a week to all of our students (Full time and Part time) in both of our campuses (Dumfries and Stranraer). We believe that everyone should have a good start to his or her day and that having a good breakfast will assist learning and remove some of the barriers to come to college faced by our students.

Geographical location of impact: South West Scotland (Dumfries DG1 4FD and Stranraer DG9 7AL)
Contact details: Andy Glen, Vice Principal (01387 734005)

2nd Commitment

Open up Sports Facility for Disabled Sports, ie Boccia Disabled Sport

The College will continue to grow its engagement with Dumfries and Galloway Disability Sport following the successful hosting of recent Regional Boccia events. We have an accessible facility with the required resources to host a wide range of sporting events and clubs whilst ensuring participants are welcomed into a hospitable environment.      

Geographical location of impact: South West Scotland (Dumfries DG1 4FD)
Contact details: Laura Webster, Curriculum Manager (01387 734126)

  3rd Commitment

We will encourage community groups to use our extensive Facilities for events, meetings, innovation days and conferences. Using our facilities would ease the burden of cost for a lot of community groups who are often under great financial pressure.

Jog Scotland

Charity Bike Rides

Dumfries Half Marathon

Cross Country Running Club

Classic Car Club

Indoor Hockey Club

Dumfries Baton Twirlers

College Basketball

Sports Scotland Athletes

Princes Trust

Developing Young Workforce (DYW)

Scottish Short Mat Bowling Association

Tag Rugby

Education Services

NHS

International Womens Day

Scottish Prison Service

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership

Police Scotland

Dumfries Community Wardens 

Geographical location of impact: South West Scotland (Dumfries DG1 4FD and Stranraer DG9 7AL)
Contact details: William Currie, Facilities Manager (01387 734174)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Terry A'Hearn CEO, March 2018.

1st Commitment

Engagement with schools to inspire pupils to excel

We will aim to inspire young pupils through three pledges under one commitment:

1. Introduce a programme of targeted mentoring of up to 20 disadvantaged pupils per year in socially deprived areas to help them achieve their real potential. This mentoring will be a combination of face to face meetings and remote communication and will include a visit to a SEPA office. Pupils will be selected through close cooperation with local authority educational officers and target schools.

2. Continue to progress ‘Foundation Apprenticeships’ to help aspiring pupils from schools in an area of high social deprivation, linked to Scottish Government priority areas and thus help them unlock the first steps towards their future. Target area for the first year is North Lanarkshire. We will work with 5 schools to hold a competition with the prize of a ‘foundation apprenticeship with SEPA’ for one pupil from each school. The apprenticeships will consist of focussed mentoring over one year, culminating in a 4 to 6 week in-house work experience suited to the need to the apprentice (apprenticeships in Science, IT and office management).

3. Develop and roll out a ‘water lab in a box’ that enables schools in rural areas and
   areas of high social deprivation, that do not have the facilities or equipment, to carry out great environmental experiments. The stand-alone kit will provide all that is needed to carry out the experiments and compare results with other schools and SEPA’s environmental monitoring network. The kits will be supported by appropriate SSERC methods and STEM training.

Geographical location of impact: Areas where there is high social deprivation and rural areas
Contact details: Carol Gillespie Human Resources Adviser / Jennifer Russell Head of Human Resources

2nd Commitment

Step change in our new Volunteering Commitment

We will aim to increase uptake of SEPA’s newly-launched Employee Supported Volunteering Scheme, with the specific purpose of proactively promoting engagement with communities local to SEPA’s offices, and actively support the social aspects of our purpose.

We will focus on targeted social enterprises to work with, where their aims align well with our purpose and where we can help them make an impact. We will achieve this through engagement with Social Investment Scotland and Social Enterprise Scotland, to explore opportunities where we can add value to social enterprises.

In our engagement we will aim to encourage uptake of environmental outcomes in projects, alongside social and economic outcomes.

Engagement will enable our people to increase their understanding of the social need and drivers within a community and the social enterprises and charities working to achieve them.     

Geographical location of impact: In locations adjacent to our offices across Scotland, linked to our staff’s existing connections and may include targeted communities of interest.
Contact details: Catriona Gow Human Resources Adviser / Jennifer Russell Head of Human Resources

3rd Commitment

Challenging our environmental performance on single use plastics

We will challenge our own behaviour in terms of single use plastics and find alternatives where we can. We will do this through reviewing procurement contracts, especially with respect to catering.

We will join community initiatives such as the final straw campaign to show our commitment to reducing our plastic use. We will deliver change through our Greening SEPA network by embedding this commitment into their delivery plan.

Geographical location of impact: Initial focus bigger SEPA offices (Stirling, EuroCentral, Edinburgh)
Contact details: Fiona Wallace Greening SEPA / Grant Stewart

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

CEO, March 2018

1st Commitment

Through our extended Schools Ambassador programme we will offer the opportunity for work placement or mentoring here in the SCQF Partnership.

Geographical location of impact: G2 2LW
Contact details: a.ponton@scqf.org.uk

2nd Commitment

We will offer up our boardroom free to a wider range of small local community groups

Geographical location of impact: G2 2LW
Contact details: a.mcdade@scqf.org.uk

  3rd Commitment

We will provide an opportunity for a 12 month internship for a graduate

Geographical location of impact: G2 2LW
Contact details: a.ponton@scqf.org.uk

Community Justice Scotland

Community Justice Scotland pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Karyn McCluskey, Chief Executive, February 2018

1st Commitment

Volunteering

To volunteer with Barnardo’s based at HMP Edinburgh to assist with family visiting time. Volunteers work as Play Workers doing Arts and Crafts with the children that are visiting HMP Edinburgh. By volunteering for Barnardo’s we can increase the positive impact for the children visiting their parents.

There is a regular commitment required involving volunteering 2.5hrs on Sundays and take part in 2.5 days training.

Geographical location of impact: HMP Edinburgh – reach covers families that are currently incarcerated at HMP Edinburgh so therefore geographical location could potentially impact Scotland wide.
Contact details: Nina Rogers, 0131 244 7102 or Leonee Moorhead, leonee.moorhead@barnardos.org.uk.

2nd Commitment

Fundraising and donations

To support the two local foodbank based in Broomhouse by offering fundraising financial support, collecting food internally to donate, and facilitate our team to volunteer if they wish to.

Geographical location of impact: Broomhouse local community and Edinburgh North West
Contact details: Nina Rogers 0131 244 7102, https://edinburghnw.foodbank.org.uk/contact-us/

  3rd Commitment

To seek out local charities such as the Y People and the Broomhouse Centre – who work with, provide personal, social and community development opportunities for disadvantaged groups of people in and around the South West Neighbourhood Partnership area in the areas of: education, training, community care, health, inclusion and outreach.

Geographical location of impact: South West Edinburgh Neighbourhood
Contact details: KatNina Rogers 0131 244 7102

http://www.broomhousecentre.org.uk/about/management-of-the-broomhouse-centre/

http://www.ypeople.org.uk/services/service-locations.php

Additional Information

Other commitments:

Community Justice Scotland will take part in regular activities for Scottish Based charities such as collecting underwear for the homeless.

Members of the team will offer up their skills to volunteer for other organisations such as Street Fit http://www.streetfitscotland.org/ where we can provide our time and skills. Nina (also a fitness instructor) will volunteer once a week to provide Street Fit with a Zumba class.

We have a commitment to employ three modern apprentices in 2018. 

Glasgow Prestwick Airport

Glasgow Prestwick Airport pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Stewart Adams, Chief Executive, February 2018.

1st Commitment

To reduce our impact on the environment, we aim to reduce our overall waste by 30% and increase our recycling waste to 50% by the end of 2019

Geographical location of impact: South Ayrshire
Contact details: jmcafferty@glasgowprestwick.com

2nd Commitment

We will organise and host an event in early 2018 to gain insight from disabled people/organisations on how we can make Glasgow Prestwick Airport more accessible to those with disabilities, including hidden disabilities.

Geographical location of impact: Ayrshire
Contact details: Jane Thomson jthomson@glasgowprestwick.com

  3rd Commitment

Our Employee Charity and Fundraising Committee will organise fundraising activities during 2018 and donate all funds raised to one nominated local charity.

Geographical location of impact: Ayrshire
Contact details: Moira Kelly mkelly@glasgowprestwick.com

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Neil Stevenson, Chief Executive, February 2018.

1st Commitment

To allow our Board room to be used in evenings to host Board Meetings and/or Graduate Group events of the Scottish Charity (SC045519) Changing the Chemistry which aims to support diversity of thought on Scottish public, private and third sector non-exec Boards. To provide volunteer staffing to ensure health and safety and security during these events. To allow the use of catering facilities. To allow use of ‘dial in’ conferencing to widen geographic impact.

Geographical location of impact: EH1 3EG – with wider impact Scotland wide (central belt and Inverness in particular)
Contact details: neil.stevenson@scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk

2nd Commitment

To allow our Board room to be used in evenings to host rehearsals of Bel Canto community choir. To provide volunteer staffing to ensure health and safety and security during these events. To allow the use of catering facilities.  

Geographical location of impact: EH1 3EG - Central Belt
Contact details: David.Buchanan-Cook@scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk

  3rd Commitment

To take on our first ever Apprentice, to deliver that apprenticeship, and to assess whether there may be a longer term ability offer apprenticeships every one to two years to offer non-graduate roles in the organisation for school leavers.

Geographical location of impact: EH1 3EG but likely to recruit from Lothian, Borders and Fife
Contact details: Caroline.robertson@Scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk

Additional Information

The SLCC is a relatively small public body and receives no government or public funding, instead raising a statutory levy from the legal sector to pay for the cost of complaints about lawyers and the delivery of our other statutory responsibilities. Our legislation is clear that we can only apply a levy to meet our expenditure on our functions.

We approached the Social Impact Pledge with a desire to ensure each year we considered and improved our wider contribution to society, whilst ensuring that activities did not generate any additional costs, nor prohibit any savings, which could be seen as inappropriate by our stakeholders/funders.

Scottish Social Services Council

Scottish Social Services Council pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, February 2018.

1st Commitment

Our employees support a range of voluntary work and community-focused activities that benefit the local area. For example, we raise funds for local and national charities through sponsored walks and bake sales. We will continue to actively promote, encourage and enable our staff to undertake these activities.

We will also encourage staff to identify further ways of supporting their community, for example participating in activities that benefit the wider community and area for team development events. We will continue to build on our previous commitments, for example allowing Children’s Hearings to hold recruitment interviews in Compass House at the weekend.

Geographical location of impact: Scotland, particularly Dundee and surrounding area
Contact details: communications@sssc.uk.com

2nd Commitment

We will continue to promote and undertake recycling as part of our operations and move towards a more digitally enabled organisation. We do this in a manner that supports the environment and promotes supported employment. We work with a social enterprise that provides meaningful and sustained employment for vulnerable and disadvantaged adults to repurpose and recycle our IT equipment.      

Geographical location of impact: Scotland, particularly Dundee, surrounding area and Glasgow
Contact details: businessimprovement@sssc.uk.com

  3rd Commitment

As part of our annual planning process, we have committed to introducing a more systematic approach to involving people in the planning and delivery of our work. To further our commitment to young people in particular, we will support and increase youth employment by offering high-quality work placements to young people in the local area.

Geographical location of impact: Dundee and surrounding area.
Contact details: HR@sssc.uk.com

Angus Council

Angus Council pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Signed by Margo Williamson, Chief Executive, February 2018.

1st Commitment

Deliver a programme of activity which promotes and supports the contributions of our young people under the banner of ‘the year of young people’.

Review our procurement practice to support young people to develop new learning and skills.

Launch a new Partnership strategy for engaging young people in planning and decision making.

Co-design and implement a participatory budgeting process for young people linked to Locality Plans.

Geographical location of impact: Angus
Contact details: Jennifer Miller, Communities Manager Arbroath, Angus Council

2nd Commitment

Further develop our arrangements for community asset transfer across Angus to enable communities to take forward their own aspirations for their people and their places.

Design and implement a participatory budgeting process in all four Angus Community Planning Partnership Locality areas creating a direct opportunity for citizens to be involved in taking decisions about improvements to their communities.

Lead a (health and social care funded) participatory budgeting initiative in Montrose focussed on improving health and well-being.       

Geographical location of impact: Angus
Contact details: Ian Lorimer, Head of Finance, Angus Council

  3rd Commitment

Develop a food growing strategy which has a clear focus on tackling inequality.

Geographical location of impact: Angus
Contact details: Alison Smith, Strategic Policy & Economy, Angus Council

Scottish Public Pensions Agency

Scottish Public Pensions Agency pledges to:

Challenge ourselves to increase the positive impact we make on our local community and make better use of our assets – our buildings/grounds and our people.

In the next six months we will do at least three things that we don’t do at the moment to improve our social impact.

Signed, Penelope Cooper, Chief Executive, February 2018.

1st Commitment

Provide defibrillator facilities to the wider public by installing a new device on the outside of the building.

We recently completed a year of fund raising for HART Scotland and were subsequently asked by them to consider installing a defibrillator on the outside of our building. We have investigated and are keen to go ahead with this as soon as possible. Good community involvement and may save a life.

Geographical location of impact: Tweedside Park, TD1 3TE – Tweedbank and surrounding area
Contact details: Brooke Robertson or Steven Noble https://pensions.gov.scot/contact-us

2nd Commitment

Encourage Youth employment in the area working closely with schools to highlight opportunities and build on our already successful MA recruitment.

This will include:

• Work with Borders College offering our grounds for their students to work in.

  Meetings are booked in with the College to discuss the possibility of students building a small garden area in our grounds, which would be mutually beneficial; both for the work the students will be doing within their courses and for SPPA staff to enjoy.

  Horticulture students will consider the options available to us and improve the outside space we have available to our people.

• SPPA MA day during MA week in early March

  Representatives from schools, Developing the Young Workforce, Skills Development Scotland, Learn Direct all providing support.

  Holding subsequently open afternoons for pending school leavers, encouraging pupil work experience, recognising our corporate parenting responsibilities and supporting looked after children.

  Offer job application workshops and mock interviews.

Geographical location of impact: SPPA, Tweedbank and Borders College, Netherdale
Contact details: Janet McDougall or Sally Paterson https://pensions.gov.scot/contact-us

 3rd Commitment

Offering our grounds and meeting facilities to charitable organisations within the local community.

Space was offered in December with Radio Borders, who didn’t require room at the time however may do so later in 2018. We will continue to offer space as appropriate. Contact local charities and other networks (Brownies/Guides).

Geographical location of impact: Tweedbank and surrounding Borders area
Contact details: Brooke Robertson https://pensions.gov.scot/contact-us