Day: August 30, 2014

Expecting? Congratulations – new leave rights for parents

285,000 working couples eligible for shared parental leave

newborn2Couples finding out now that they are expecting a child will be among the first parents eligible to take advantage of new shared parental leave rights.

The new rules, which apply to couples whose babies are due from next April, will allow parents to choose whether they want to share the mother’s maternity leave. Shared parental leave can be taken at the same time so a couple would be able to be at home together for up to half a year following the birth of their child.

There are expected to be around 285,000 working couples that will be eligible to share the leave from April 2015. The changes in how maternity leave can be used will kick start a culture change in workplaces where fathers feel more confident to talk to their employers about taking time off for childcare.

Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson said: “Any couples receiving the happy news that they are due to have a baby from 5 April onwards can now start planning ahead safe in the knowledge that they have the option to choose to share the care of their child and time off work in the way that suits them best.

“Introducing shared parental leave is a significant step towards changing workplace culture, making it just as normal for fathers to take on childcare responsibilities as mothers.

“From April next year mums and adopters will have real choice about when they return to work, dads will have more time to bond with their children and employers will benefit from lower staff turnover and having a workforce that is more flexible and motivated.”

Acas Chair Brendan Barber said: “Many employers recognise that they can retain talented staff by offering a flexible approach to work and a healthy work life balance can help business success and growth.

“Shared parental leave will enable working parents to share maternity or adoption leave to allow both parents greater involvement with their child’s first year whilst employers have the potential to remain productive by agreeing new arrangements that works for their organisations.

“As workplace experts, we have published a new free online guide on shared parental leave to help employers understand how the new changes will affect them. We are also working on detailed guidance to help employees and employers manage SPL requests fairly.”

The government is introducing shared parental leave and pay for employed parents which will make the current system for maternity and paternity leave much more flexible. Families currently have very limited choices about how they can share leave and pay and often struggle to balance competing demands at work and at home.

Under the new system a pregnant woman will continue to have access to 52 weeks of maternity leave and 39 weeks of pay as she does currently. From April 5 2015, for the first time ever, working families will have the opportunity to share the leave much more equally and flexibly.

Eligible couples can take shared parental leave when the mother opts to end her maternity leave and pay (or maternity allowance) early. The remainder of her statutory leave and pay may be shared between the mother and her partner as shared parental leave and pay.

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Case study:

Hannah is a Senior Project Manager in the e-learning industry and her husband Chris works for the Civil Service. When their son Euan was born they decided to split their leave entitlement. Hannah returned to work on a 4.5 day week when Euan was 8 months old at which point Chris took 7 weeks of additional maternity support leave to look after Euan. Both Hannah and Chris feel that sharing leave has been a very positive experience for themselves and their son.

Hannah said that knowing Euan was at home with Chris was very reassuring when she returned to work: “Chris and I felt that this would be one of the few opportunities we would get to spend an extended period of time with Euan before he started school. Going back to work it was nice for me to know that Euan was with Chris rather than going straight into childcare and when I returned to work we were able to meet up for lunches as a family which was great. Sharing leave is something we’ll definitely do again.”

Chris said that having father and baby time together during the period of leave he took was very special: “During the 7 weeks I had with Euan we were able to take part in a range of activities like swimming, music and baby sensory sessions. It was brilliant to have that father and baby time together. It’s something very special and I felt that both Euan and I gained a lot from it. I’d really recommend it to any other dads-to-be.”

JASSing it up at Muirhouse

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Junior Award Scheme for Schools (JASS)

Muirhouse Community Centre is pleased to confirm that the four Junior Award Scheme for Schools(JASS) clubs will start back on Monday (1 September) – see below for details. This is a joint venture with the City of Edinburgh’s C.L.D.

Each club has space for up to 16 young people in P4-P7.  The young people in P4-5 will get the opportunity to start developing skills required to complete the JASS programme in P6. The P6-7 will have the opportunity to achieve the JASS programme in P6.  The P6-7 will have the opportunity to achieve the JASS Bronze Award which is nationally recognised certificate. 

The award is divided into 4 sections: 

Group

Time

Begins

Venue

Monday JASS Group

P4-7 Girls

6.00-7.30pm

1st September

MCC Youth Annexe

Tuesday JASS Group

P4-7 Girls

6.00-7.30pm

2nd September

MCC Youth Annexe

Monday JASS Group

P4-7 Boys

6.00-7.30pm

3rdt September

MCC Youth Annexe

Thursday JASS Group

P4-7 Boys

6.00-7.30pm

4th September

MCC Youth Annexe

 

 Reminder to the parents and boys and girls: The groups are free!

James McGinty, Muirhouse Community Centre

Fans First! Greens set out plans for fan-owned football

Hearts were on the brink, there’s deep disquiet about investment at Hibs and the mighty Rangers are in trouble once again. All is far from well in the world of football finance, so can the Scottish Greens score with Fans First?

IbroxThe Green MSPs have confirmed long-standing plans to bring changes to land reform legislation to give football fans the right to buy their clubs. 

The proposals were set out in a consultation response to Holyrood’s Local Government and Regeneration Committee, which is about to start consideration of the Scottish Government’s Community Empowerment Bill.

The submission also sets out plans by Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who is leading the Greens’ “Fans First” campaign, to broaden the 2003 Land Reform Act to include intangible community assets, not just land, in line with the general principles of the Scottish Government’s proposals. This would help communities to take on and run vital services like pubs, local cinemas, and even public transport.

UnityAlison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, said: “The time has come for the Scottish Parliament to give fans the power to take on their clubs when they come on the market or when they go into administration, or possibly even at any time for a fair price.

“We’ve always argued that fans will tend to be the best custodians of the clubs they love, and that the long-term security and strength of Scottish football requires a move towards the kind of community ownership common elsewhere.

“Scottish Ministers have set up a working group under Stephen Morrow to look at this issue, which we support. However, the group will report after this legislation has been considered, so it’s vital that this legislative opportunity shouldn’t be missed. The changes we’re proposing will still mean fans’ trusts will require Ministerial signoff, just as is already the case with land reform, so the only risk would be if Parliament rejects our proposals, leaving fans with no prospect of progress any time soon.

“So we’re encouraging all the trusts in Scotland to make their views known. Do they want to cross their fingers and rely on the current slow move to fan ownership, or do they want Parliament’s support to put them in the driving seat?”

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Have your say on 20mph proposals

Hinds: ‘a very important step in our journey towards a culture change in the Capital’

20mphA consultation is now live to help draw up plans for new 20mph speed limits across the Capital. Members of the public are encouraged to take part in the consultation via the Council’s website or by attending one of the planned public meetings, roadshows and drop-in sessions being held across the City over the coming weeks.

The consultation at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/20mph asks for feedback on a map of proposed 20mph limit streets.

Following a successful pilot in South Edinburgh, a 20 mph speed limit is now proposed for the City Centre, main shopping streets and residential areas.

Recent market research and consultation in Edinburgh has shown strong support for more extensive 20mph limits. The Edinburgh People’s Survey in 2012 showed a sizeable majority in favour of 20mph limits in residential areas, shopping streets and the City Centre. And 67 per cent of people supported a 20mph limit for all city centre streets, while just five per cent opposed such a limit, with 29 per cent uncertain.

One of the key priorities of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Local Transport Strategy 2014-2019, approved earlier this year, is to consult on detailed proposals for the citywide 20mph network. Consulting “with a view to extending the current 20mph traffic zones” is also one of the Capital Coalition’s pledges.

20mph speed limits encourage more considerate driving, leading to safer streets for all road users, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The lower speeds reduce the risk and severity of road collisions.

Reducing traffic speed helps make people feel more confident about being on their local streets and helps children and elderly people to travel independently and safely. Calmer road speeds also help to make walking and cycling more attractive options, contributing to less traffic congestion, better health, less noise, more social interaction, an improved environment for local businesses and stronger communities.

20mph zone

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “This consultation is a very important step in our journey towards a culture change in the Capital regarding speed limits and we want to make sure as many people as possible have had the chance to comment on the proposals.

“A couple of things it’s worth pointing out are that to reduce speeds, we’ll concentrate mainly on signage, although physical measures like pedestrian islands may be required on some residential streets where speeds don’t fall sufficiently with a signs and paint only approach.

“I also want to stress that speed humps will not be used on any main streets – ie those most likely to have bus services on them – which move to a 20mph limit. And the nature of the busier roads on which a 20mph limit is likely to be taken forward – the city centre, shopping streets and other roads with high numbers of pedestrians – means that impacts on bus journey times are expected to be very limited indeed.”

Councillor Adam McVey, Vice Transport Convener, said: “Lower speeds in residential areas and shopping streets are not just good for safety and environmental reasons. Slower traffic makes streets more attractive to residents, pedestrians, cyclists and children, improves the environment for business and enhances quality of life. Don’t miss your opportunity to help us draw up the map of 20mph streets – check out the consultation online, visit the public exhibition or drop in to one of our many information sessions and have your say.”

The public consultation closes on Friday 17 October 2014. 

As well as the roadshows, public meetings and drop-in events, an exhibition of the proposals will be  the Central Library, George IV Bridge from 1 – 14 September.

Maps of the proposals will also be available in the following local libraries from 1 September: Piershill, Northfield, Gilmerton, Morningside, Wester Hailes, Drumbrae Hub, McDonald Road and Muirhouse.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

A series of drop-in sessions and public meetings has been organised through the Neighbourhood Partnerships. Council officers will be available at these events to answer questions.

West: 
Drop-in session on Tuesday 26 August, 4.30 to 6.30pm, Drumbrae Library Hub followed by a presentation on 20mph proposals at the Western
Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting at 7pm.

Drop-in session on Monday 8 September, 2 to 4 pm, South Queensferry Community Education Centre, Kirkliston Road.

All-day roadshow on Sunday 21 September at Gyle Shopping Centre, Gyle Avenue.

North:
Drop-in session on Wednesday 3 September, 10am to 1pm, North Edinburgh Local Office. 

South West:
Drop-in session on Thursday 18 September, 2 to 4pm, Edgar Hall, Stenhouse St Aidan’s Parish Church.

Drop-in session on Monday 22 September, 2 to 4pm in Oxgangs Library.

East:
Public meeting on Wednesday 10 September, 7pm, Portobello Town Hall.

City Centre:
Public meeting on Tuesday 16 September, 7pm, City Chambers.

Roadshow on Thursday 25 September, 10 – 1pm, St James Shopping Centre.

South:
Public meeting on Tuesday 3 September, 7pm, City Chambers.

Leith:
Drop-in session on Wednesday 24 September, 6pm, Business Centre, McDonald Road Library.

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Football tournament kicks off World Suicide Prevention Week

Choose-Life-TournamentTHE recent suicide of the much-loved actor Robin Williams highlighted how suicide can affect anyone. Sport can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, so a five-a-side football tournament will kick off World Suicide Prevention Week in Edinburgh next Saturday (6 September). 

The Choose Life Challenge Cup will run from 9.30am until 12.30pm at Gracemount Leisure Centre on 2 Gracemount Drive with sixteen teams from Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian and Dundee taking part. Among this particpants are two ladies teams from Edinburgh who will be copeting in the tournament for the first time.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will be there to present the trophy and other prizes.

Choose-Life-Tournament2Event organiser John Murphy, a project worker with Scottish charity Health in Mind, believes the Choose Life Challenge Cup is a fantastic event as it offers a comfortable space for guys to get together, reduces isolation and promotes a sense of belonging.

John said: “So many young men find it hard to talk about their feelings and in 2013, there were 795 suicides recorded in Scotland, with the rate for men more than three times that of women.”

John said the event provides a great opportunity for people to find out about the issues and the services available locally. “If there’s someone you know who you think might be considering suicide; ask them and be willing to listen and encourage them to get help – you could help save their life. Alternatively if you are feeling suicidal, don’t hide it; find someone you trust and talk to them.”

The Choose Life Campaign is part of the national strategy and action plan to prevent suicide in Scotland.

The partners supporting the Choose Life Challenge Cup – Lothian Five-a-Side Football Tournament are NHS Lothian, East Lothian Council, The City of Edinburgh Council, Midlothian and West Lothian Councils.

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MP attends Food Project’s Open Day

Mark Lazarowicz MP at Edinburgh Food Project open day - 29 August 2014Mark Lazarowicz MP visited Edinburgh Food Project yesterday to meet staff at its new warehouse operation and learn more about how it is helping people who are struggling to put food on the table.

Edinburgh Food Project runs two of Edinburgh’s five Trussell Trust foodbanks covering the North West and Central areas of the city.

The local MP said: “I was extremely impressed by the hard work of all the staff at Edinburgh Food Project who are providing a vital service to people in the community in food poverty.

“People come to their two food banks for a range of reasons, some because of delays in benefit claims or sanctions but there are people as well who are in work but are still struggling to meet ever increasing basic bills.

“The Government refuses to see this for the tragedy it is and whilst I can’t praise the staff highly enough I also hope to see the day when people aren’t forced to turn to food banks.”

Since opening in November 2012 Edinburgh Food Project has fed over 5,500 people in crisis with food packs covering at least three days – the equivalent of 50,000 meals.

As part of the open day they held a ‘Tinned Sponge Pudding Pyramid’ which was built with donations.

foodbank-logo-Edinburgh-NW-logo

 

For more information about Edinburgh foodbanks go to

http://edinburghnw.foodbank.org.uk