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VIVA Awards: Open to Applications
The VIVA (Valuing Involvement and Volunteering Achievements) awards, organised by West Dunbartonshire CVS, will celebrate the unique contribution volunteers make across the authority. Submissions will be assessed by an independent judging panel, with three individuals or organisations shortlisted in each category. The Awards Ceremony will take place on December 2nd at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel.

To find out more and to make a nomination go to our dedicated VIVA Awards page.

SFRS consultation
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is committed to listening to the views of our communities and partners and are now seeking views on its draft Local Fire and Rescue Plan. You can view the draft Plan and complete a short consultation survey using this link This consultation is open until midnight on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Following the close of the consultation, feedback will be carefully analysed, and a summary of the findings will be published, setting out how responses have informed the development of the final Plan. 

Additional funding helping community groups cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions
Community groups that want to install renewable energy projects and decarbonise their buildings will be able to access additional Scottish Government support this year. Funding available from the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) will increase to £15 million this year, meaning more groups will be able to develop their own renewable energy projects such as onshore wind and solar, and cut the energy bills for their buildings by installing heat pumps and solar panels. 
Read the full article here
Read more about the Community Buildings Fund

Fair Funding in Scotland
A new resource outlining the urgent need for Fair Funding for voluntary sector organisations in Scotland has launched. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has launched the Fair Funding in Scotland portal on its website, detailing the reality for organisations on the frontlines across government priorities, sector-wide themes, and areas of work. The webpage gives a voice to those who have experienced the consequences of the current funding environment and recognise the vital the need for Fair Funding for organisations across our essential sector. More than 30 organisations have contributed to the online resource, giving their voice and support to SCVO’s Fair Funding proposals. Access it here

Doors Open Days
Doors Open Days will be back in West Dunbartonshire on Saturday the 12th September 2026. Jeremy Watson of the Lennox Heritage Society in liaison with the Clydebank Local History Society said. “While being one of the smaller Doors Open Day regions, we nevertheless have some great venues spread out from Gartocharn to Balloch, through the Vale of Leven to Dumbarton. From there our regions stretches through Bowling, Old Kilpatrick and up to Clydebank, taking in nearby centres such as Duntocher. This is an area rich in the history of the textile industry, shipbuilding and social change.” More information can be found here

Proposed changes to SSSC registration requirements
Registration and regulation of the social services workforce are long-standing elements of Scottish Ministers’ policy to the delivery of public protection. As the independent regulator for the social services workforce in Scotland, it is the role of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to protect the public by registering and regulating social service workers, setting standards for practice, conduct, training and education. This consultation seeks your views on various proposed changes to registration requirements which will further strengthen the SSSC’s ability to deliver their public protection functions. Find out more and give your views.