Midlothian Community Action is bringing together a range of funders to help Third Sector organisations, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Learn about available grant funding opportunities, meet funders face-to-face, and explore ways to support your projects and activities. Funders attending include:
The Post Code Trust
The National Lottery Community Fund
Historic Environment Scotland
The Bank of Scotland
Plus many more!
Why It Is Important to Attend
Attending the Funders Fair is an excellent opportunity to meet funders directly and gain valuable insight into the grants and funding programmes currently available. You’ll have the chance to ask questions about eligibility and application processes, helping you identify the most suitable funding opportunities for your organisation. Whether you’re planning a new project or looking to support your organisation’s future development, the event also provides a valuable opportunity to network with other local groups, share ideas, and build new connections.
Event Details
Date: 17 September 2026
Time: 9.30am-12.30pm
Location: St John’s & Kings Park Church, Dalkeith, 31 Eskbank Road, Dalkeith EH22 1HJ
All Third Sector organisations can apply for Community Benefits which are special conditions in a public contract which require suppliers or developers to make additional contributions to improve the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of the local area. This one-hour session will introduce Community Benefits, explain how how they can help your organisation and demonstrate how you can request them using online portals.
Why It Is Important to Attend
Posting a request for a Community Benefit may result in you receiving goods, services, advice, or other support at no cost to your organisation. Previous successful bids in Midlothian have included a £2,000 donation to improve a community garden, PPE kit for a youth volunteering project, and new play bark supplied and delivered to a playgroup worth £3,000.
The start of the new year is the perfect time to make a positive change, and volunteering is a great way to do just that. The 2026 Midlothian Volunteer Recruitment Fair is the ideal event to explore what’s out there and take the first step.
The fair will take place on Thursday 26 February, from 10am to 2.30pm, at St John’s & King’s Park Church in Dalkeith. This annual event is organised by Midlothian Community Action (MCA) to promote volunteering and encourage conversations between local volunteer-involving organisations and people who want to get involved.
Volunteering can help people build skills and experience, boost their CV, and gain confidence. It’s also a great way to meet new people and feel part of the community. Young volunteers can work towards the Saltire Award, the Scottish Government’s recognition scheme for volunteers aged 12-25.
A variety of organisations from across Midlothian will be attending the event, including:
Marie Curie, VOCAL, Penicuik Storehouse, Gig Buddies with Thera Trust, Midlothian Sport & Leisure Wellbeing Team, St Joseph’s Services, Fostering Compassion, Salvation Army, Dalkeith Citizens Advice Bureau, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS), and Midlothian Sure Start – with more expected to join.
MCA’s Volunteer Support Officer, Sarah Bain, said about the fair, “There’s a volunteering opportunity for everyone, and this event helps people find the one that’s right for them. Every year, I’m inspired by how many step forward to make a difference”.
The fair is open to everyone and there’s no need to book. Drop-in anytime between 10am-2.30pm on Thursday 26 February at St John’s & Kings Park Church, Dalkeith, EH22 1HJ.
Download the poster below to help us spread the word!
This highly valued fund supports people’s mental health and wellbeing while offering opportunities for community connection. It focuses on early intervention and prevention, helping communities create the conditions for good mental health at a population level.
Midlothian Community Action (MCA) has been appointed by the Scottish Government to distribute the funding locally. The fund is designed to be accessible and supportive of grassroots organisations, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, inclusion, and impact.
All grants are aimed at grassroots community organisations to promote mental health and wellbeing and/or protect against the impact of distress and mental ill health within the adult population in Midlothian.
Grant Streams in 2025/26
In Midlothian there will be a total of £249,914.16 available in Year 5. Funding will be distributed across three grant streams:
Micro Grants – up to £2,500
Small Grants – up to £10,000
Large Grants – up to £30,000
To compliment the small and large grant steams, up to an additional £5000 per organisation will also be available for capital spend.
This year, the fund is part of the Scottish Government’s Fairer Funding Pilot, offering multi-year support to help local organisations plan for the long term and deliver sustainable impact.
Year 6 of the fund is not guaranteed and is subject to Scottish Government budget approval, as the grant offer letter states: “The value of the grant payable in year 2 is an indicative confirmation and cannot be taken as a guarantee. All indicative funding commitments are subject to the outcome of any spending review by the Scottish Government and approval of the annual Budget Bills by the Scottish Parliament during this period.”
MCA will welcome applications from both one and two yearlong projects.
Key Dates
Applications open: Friday 19 September 2025
Applications close: Friday 31 October 2025.
To support applicants, MCA will host 1:1 online appointments on Monday 22 September. Email magdalena.clark@mca.scot to book a slot.
Join Midlothian Community Action on Monday 23 June, 9.30 -12.30pm for our FREE ‘PVGs – Don’t Panic!!’ session.
With the recent changes to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, PVGs have become Mandatory for all staff and volunteers in Regulated Roles, but do you know what to do when conviction information is disclosed on a PVG?
Delivered by Access to Industry, this session will provide reassuring information to your organisation which ensures fair & safe recruitment of volunteers and/or Staff to Regulated Roles.
The session will cover:
Conviction information on a PVG – what does it mean?
Weighing up Risk
Understanding spent and unspent convictions
Legalities of PVG and criminal records when recruiting to Regulated Roles
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
Making reasonable adjustments
Disclosure Records
Where will the session take place?
This session will be held in-person at Midlothian Community Action’s Volunteer Hub (8 White Hart Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1AE), please email volunteering@mca.scot if you have any questions or access requirements.
This Volunteers’ Week, we are excited to share findings from our first-ever Midlothian-wide Volunteer Satisfaction Survey. This survey was created to better understand the impacts of volunteering on volunteers themselves, to enhance volunteer support and help organisations better demonstrate their impact.
This year is our first iteration of the survey, and as such was only shared for a limited time with a hand full of Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs). We were please to receive 68 responses from volunteers across Midlothian, sharing their reflections on how volunteering has shaped their wellbeing, skills, confidence, and connection to their community. The responses paint a powerful picture:
99% said volunteering helped them achieve their goals
98% said volunteering has helped them make a difference in others’ lives.
93% of weekly volunteers feel more connected to their community
“Life-changing. Astounded by the skill of the staff and other partners to provide inclusive opportunities. Proud to be a part of my project and I feel my contribution is well valued.”
Many spoke about the joy of feeling useful, learning new things, and making real connections across generations. These insights help shine a light on the often-unseen personal benefits of volunteering—and why creating good volunteer experiences matters.
“Volunteering has been a really positive experience for me mentally, physically, and socially.”
We plan to build on these insights by running the survey every year and opening it up to even more volunteers and organisations. Thank you to everyone who took part—and to the volunteers who continue to support our communities to thrive.
It was a wonderful chance to highlight the impact of the fund on a variety of projects across Midlothian. Thank you to everyone who joined us and took part in celebrating these incredible projects. Presentations from the day are available to download below.
Edinburgh Community Yoga
Edinburgh Community Yoga is a not-for-profit social enterprise working to make yoga and its many potential physical, mental, and social benefits more accessible to those who may benefit the most. ECY aim to minimise the financial, attitudinal and accessibility barriers that may prevent someone from attending a public yoga class by prioritising inclusivity.
ECY received a small grant for their programme of yoga on social prescription, where they partner with GP practices and local agencies to offer (by referral) onsite trauma-informed yoga in areas of social and economic deprivation.
Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project (Y2K) was set up by the local community to provide universal youth work services using an informal, service-user led approach.
Y2K received a large grant for their Thriving Transitions project to support young adults during their transition to adulthood and greater independence.
Dalkeith Petanque Club received a micro-grant for necessary equipment for their Piste in Dalkeith. Their story highlights the brilliant partnership working in Midlothian and how community groups can make a huge impact with a little support.
Home Link received a large grant, working in partnership with Midlothian Sure Start to run a weekly wellbeing support group for parents with children who have additional support needs.
Women”s Aid East and Midlothian received a continuation of their Year 2 large grant, plus capital. This went towards implement Green Recovery of Women (GROW), a social green prescribing method, into their service delivery.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Meet the Funder event without the funder. We were thankful to be joined by the Wellbeing & Prevention Unit Communities Team from the Scottish Government Mental Health Directorate, who provided more details about the CMHW Fund provision so far, and an overview of what’s to come.
Join us at our Third Sector Innovation Morning on Tuesday 27 May 10am at St John’s & King’s Park Church, to learn practical ways you can embrace AI tools safely, securely, and ethically.
AI is here to stay and has the potential to be a valuable tool to support and enhance the work of third sector organisations and save valuable resources.
We’ll be joined by AI expert Dr Louise Drumm, Associate Professor in Digital Education at Edinburgh Napier University, to give practical advice and help us understand good practice. AI is a current and contentious issue, and we will cover the big topics such as:
Data Protection factors to consider when using AI.
Join Midlothian Community Action on Wednesday 21 May, 10am at St John’s & King’s Park Church for our FREE ‘Disclosure Scotland PVG’s – Regulated Roles’ session.
With recent changes to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, PVG’s are mandatory for all staff, board/trustees and volunteers in Regulated Roles…but what is a regulated role?
The session will cover:
What is a regulated role?
What is the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 and how it affects you?
A Q&A with the Compliance and Training Officer from Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services.
Please email volunteer@mca.scot if you have any questions or access requirements. If you are not able to attend please do in get touch for more information.
Midlothian TSI are delighted to confirm that free Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership for Qualifying Voluntary Organisation (QVO) volunteers will continue.
This announcement follows Disclosure Scotland’s consultation over PVG fees last year. We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the consultation, and in doing so, influencing this decision. There was a great national response and consistent messaging from across the third sector.
As well as continuing the fee waiver for QVOs, fees for the new Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures will remain at their equivalent levels in 2025. Further details of the announcement can be found on Disclosure Scotland’s website.
The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 will begin implementation on April 1 2025, with the first key change being that PVG membership for those in Regulated Roles will become mandatory.
Some changes are already in effect, while others will be introduced in phases. This blog focuses on the most significant updates and how charities in Midlothian can prepare. You can read more about the changes on OSCR’s website or checkout a detailed summary from SCVO.
What Has Changed Since April 1, 2024?
The first set of changes came into effect in April 2024:
Enhanced Inquiry Powers: OSCR can direct charities to take specific actions, appoint interim trustees, and investigate former charities and trustees.
Removal from Register: Charities that fail to submit accounts or engage with OSCR may be removed from the Scottish Charity Register.
Connection to Scotland: Charities are required to demonstrate a meaningful connection to Scotland.
Simplified Processes: Reduced notice periods for certain charity changes, like mergers and name updates.
Interim Trustee Appointments: OSCR will have the power to appoint interim trustees.
Record of Removed Persons: A searchable database of disqualified individuals has been published to help charities vet prospective trustees more easily.
What’s Coming in 2025?
The following updates will roll out in mid-late 2025, to give charities time to prepare:
Schedule of Charity Trustees: OSCR will hold an internal record of trustees and publish all names of trustees to the Scottish Charity Register.
Publishing Charity Accounts: All charities will be required to submit accounts to OSCR each year – these will be publicly available.
Extended Disqualification Rules: The list of offences for automatic disqualification will be extended and will also apply to staff or volunteers who undertake a senior management function for a charity.
Register of Charity Mergers: OSCR will create a register of charity mergers and, where a merger is recorded, the new charity will be entitled to any legacies bequeathed to charity that has merged with it.
Other technical changes: Read OSCR’s summary for details on other small amendments.
What Won’t Change?
Does not replace the 2005 Act.
OSCR’s regulatory role and existing powers.
General duties of trustees.
The Charity Test and purposes.
Accounting and reporting requirements.
What Can You Do to Prepare?
Update Trustee Records: Ensure all details are accurate and up to date.
Audit Your Accounts: Prepare them for public scrutiny by correcting inaccuracies or removing sensitive details.
Refresh Governance Policies: Review and update induction packs/ due diligence processes.
Regulated Roles: Current ‘Regulated Work’ will become ‘Regulated Roles.’ If you’re in a Regulated Role, you legally need to become a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
New Responsibilities: Both the organisation and the individual are now responsible for ensuring PVG membership if in a Regulated Role. This means if your organisation mistakenly says you don’t need a PVG when you actually do, both parties could face legal consequences.
New Roles Added: Some roles that weren’t previously covered by the PVG scheme, like football agents, talent scouts, and certain hospice positions, now require it.
What You Need To Do:
Check if You’re Doing or Providing a Regulated Role: Identify if your role or your staff/ volunteers’ roles are classed as Regulated Roles.
Get PVG Membership if Required: If your role qualifies, make sure you join the PVG scheme before April 1 2025.
Stay Updated: Check out Disclosure Scotland’s website at www.disclosure.gov.scot for full details of the upcoming changes.
If you are unsure about the changes or have any questions, contact Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services (VSDS):
Midlothian Third Sector Interface published the following press release this week:
Midlothian charities are calling on the UK Government to ensure that support is provided to cover costs brought on by the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs).
Recent announcements from the UK Budget have raised extreme concern over the impact on charities and community groups across Midlothian. The increase in employer’s NICs from 13.8% to 15% is a further financial burden coming at a time when many organisations are already teetering on the edge of financial crisis. Without support from the UK Government to mitigate the impact of these increases, there is significant threat of redundancies and service closures across the voluntary sector.
For charities in Midlothian, the impact is already being felt. One Midlothian charity explained,
“It will cost us close to £100,000 extra per year in increases to NI contributions and the real living wage.”
Another local charity echoed this concern,
“The increase in national insurance contributions alone will cost us over £10,000 annually. We are already struggling to meet growing demand for our services.”
Charities in Midlothian do not operate in isolation; they complement and support public services, from mental health support and social care to youth services and food banks. The loss of these vital third sector services will not only be detrimental to the communities they serve but also to the public sector, which will be further strained, leaving people with nowhere to go.
These announcements come on top of Midlothian Council’s recent savings proposal consultation, which outlines potential cuts and reductions to public services across the county as the council seeks to lessen its budget shortfalls.
Unlike the public sector, which has been assured support to offset NIC increases, the voluntary sector has yet to receive any such commitment. We are calling on the UK Government to extend this support to employers in the third sector.
Do you have Microsoft Excel on your CV but don’t really know how to use it? You’re in luck – we’re hosting two free in-person training sessions all about Microsoft Excel.💻 Sign-up here!
This session has been rescheduled to Wednesday 30 October. If you have already registered, this remains valid.
What will we cover?
The specific focus of this session will be determined by feedback prior to the session, but is likely to include the use of Excel spreadsheets for budgeting for full cost recovery, and the use of AI to support day-to-day work.
Who’s it for?
This training is targeted at management staff/ development workers in third sector organisations across Midlothian.
Who’s running it?
The training will be carried out by the Senior Communities and Lifelong Learning Worker at Midlothian Council.
Where will it be?
The training will be hosted in-person, at the MVA Offices in Dalkeith (4-6 White Hart Street, EH22 1AE).
Any more questions?
If you have any questions or access requirements, email us at info@mca.scot or call our office on 0131 663 9471.
Midlothian TSI staff members recently took part in a bespoke Think Carer training session, delivered by VOCAL Midlothian.
VOCAL – Voice of Carers Across Lothian – is a charity that supports and empowers unpaid carers through individual support, information, training, and access to services. VOCAL work in partnership with employers across all sectors, supporting their ambitions to upskill managers and become a carer friendly workplace.
Think Carer Training Recap
The Think Carer training provided us with valuable insights into the role of unpaid carers and how to better support them. The session offered a chance to reflect on how carers are identified and the impact caregiving can have on their health & wellbeing. We explored practical tips for ensuring carers feel recognised and supported, while also considering the benefits this brings to those they care for.
Overall, the training highlighted the importance of acknowledging and supporting unpaid carers, offering tools and insight into the range of services VOCAL offers.
Supporting Carers in the Workplace
Caring responsibilities are often a hidden issue in the workplace, making it challenging for employees to seek support. In fact, one in five carers leave their jobs because balancing work with caregiving becomes overwhelming.
As the number of people with caring responsibilities continues to rise, it’s increasingly important for workplaces to create supportive environments where carers feel valued and can access the help they need to balance both roles effectively.
To address this, VOCAL partners with employers across sectors to help managers develop carer-friendly workplaces. In collaboration with VOCAL, we are hosting an Identifying and Supporting Carers at Worktraining session, specifically tailored for third sector leaders in Midlothian.
Join us online on Tuesday 5 November, 11:00 to increase your awareness of working carers, and how you can best support employees juggling work and care.
During this session, managers will reflect on the hidden impacts of caring and learn how to identify and support unpaid carers within their organisations.
#ProtectUnpaidCarers Campaign
The Scottish Government recently made the decision to not include unpaid carers as an eligible group for the COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland. We support VOCAL’s campaign to advocate against this decision and ensure the Scottish Government recognises the crucial role of unpaid carers. Read more about the campaign and learn how you can get involved here.
Contact
For further information on the training and support VOCAL can provide, please contact employers@vocal.org.uk.
See all of the support & services VOCAL provides on their website: www.vocal.org.uk
