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Edimburgh & East of Scotland Deaf Society
A long established (since 1835) voluntary organisation and registered charity providing a range of services to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people, their families and carers. (Further information at http://www.deafsociety.org/).

Edimburgh Volunteer Exchange
The site includes a database of voluntary work in Edinburgh, and information on volunteering and for ovlunteer organisers. (See http://www.edinburghvolunteers.org).

Education Achievement Zone
Government programme where groups of schools in neighbourhood renewal areas get funding to work together to raise standards and achievement.

Education Action Zone (EAZ)
EAZ 'allow local partnerships - schools, parents, the community, businesses and local authorities - to find radical and innovative solutions to their problems'. (Visit their website at http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/eaz/).

Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence, or EI is the ability to understand your own emotions and those of people around you. The concept of EI, developed by Daniel Goleman, means you have a self-awareness that enables you to recognise feelings and helps you manage your emotions.

On a personal level, it involves motivation and being able to focus on a goal rather than demanding instant gratification. A person with a high emotional intelligence is also capable of understanding the feelings of others. Culturally, they are better at handling relationships of every kind.

Just because someone is deemed 'intellectually' intelligent, it does not necessarily follow they are emotionally intelligent. Having a good memory, or good problem solving abilities, does not mean you are capable of dealing with emotions or motivating yourself.

Highly intelligent people may lack the social skills that are associated with high emotional intelligence. Savants, who show incredible intellectual abilities in narrow fields, are an extreme example of this: a mathematical genius may be unable to relate to people socially.

However, high intellectual intelligence, combined with low emotional intelligence, is relatively rare and a person can be both intellectually and emotionally intelligent.

Both emotional and intellectual problems are more easily resolved when in a good mood, which to some extent depends on emotional intelligence. Self-motivated students tend to do better in school exams.

On the negative side, low emotional intelligence can affect intellectual capabilities. Depression interferes with memory and concentration. Psychological tests show feelings of rejection can dramatically reduce IQ by about 25%. Rejection increased feelings of aggressiveness and reduced self-control.

It is this quality of self-control, rather than being impulsive, which is regarded as necessary to perform well in IQ tests. So a low emotional intelligence may limit intellectual performance.

Endorsement
LEGAL. A provision added to an insurance policy, usually at additional cost, to provide coverage for a risk not otherwise covered.

Endowment
FINANCE. Assets accepted subject to a requirement that the principal be maintained intact and invested to create a source of income for the benefit of an organization.

Equal Opportunities
The elimination of discrimination in our society. It involves the breakdown and removal of discriminatory structures, biased policies and prejudicial practices in organisations, and the provision of equal access for all in services and employment opportunities.

Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)
The leading agency working to eliminate sex discrimination. (Visit their website at http://www.eoc.org.uk/).

EQUAL Progamme
European Union funded initiative to help combat discrimination in the labour market. (The EQUAL program for the UK is available at http://www.equal.ecotec.co.uk/).

Ethnic Minority Foundation (EMF)
Created to support the Minority Ehtnic Voluntary Sector (MEVS), and currently depedent on short term funding, EMFs role is to become one source of funding specifically dedicated to support the MEVS on a long term basis. (See MEVS, CEMVO and EMFs website at http://www.ethnicminorityfoundation.org.uk/).

European Commission (EC)
See http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
See http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l60015.htm.

European Social Fund (ESF)
'An important source of funding for activities to develop employability and human resources. It is used to add value to policies introduced to make a reality of the Government's objective of promoting employment opportunities for all in an inclusive society. The ESF will support five key activities between 2000 and 2006: Active labour market policies; Equal opportunities for all and promoting social inclusion; Improving training and education and promoting lifelong learning; Adaptability and entrepreneurship; And improving the participation of women in the labour market'. (See http://www.esfnews.org.uk/).

European Structural Funds (ESFs)
The main funds that come from the European Union to its member states to help them tackle social and economic problems. (An overview on the EU Structural funds in the UK at http://www.dti.gov.uk/europe/structural.html).

European Structural Funds Voluntary Organisations Northern (ESFVON)
The North East of England's specialist regional development agency for organisations accessing or seeking to access European Funding. (See their webpage at http://www.esfvon.org.uk/).

European Union (EU)
See http://europa.eu.int/.

Evaluation
The systematic process of determining the worth, value or meaning of something. It involves gathering information about how members or your organisation or audience feel about the services you provice. It is not about catching people out! (See VAN briefing no. 25)