Let there be light …

Council apologises and agrees to ‘up the brightness’

The city council is to improve the brightness of street lighting following complaints from residents. New LED lights have been installed across the city over recent weeks but hundred of people have expressed concern over the quality of the new street lights. Now, following a review, the lights will be turned up next month.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “We’ve been closely monitoring lighting levels in streets where we’ve had a number of complaints about the new LED lights not being bright enough. I held a meeting with the Vice Convener and officers to decide on a course of action and I’m pleased to confirm that after monitoring the situation and taking complaints into account, we’ll be upping the brightness in streets where this appears most needed. This adjustment work will start in April once all the new lighting in this first phase of the rollout has been installed.

“LED street lights are much better for the environment and as they are longer-lasting than sodium street lights and with energy costs predicted to double over the next decade, they could potentially save the city millions of pounds in energy costs. While they are also recommended by police as being safer and better than the old kind of street lights, clearly the brightness has to be set at a level which reassures residents that they can feel safe at night in their street.

“In response to the feedback from the first phase, the rest of the lights due to be installed in various parts of Edinburgh before the end of March will be set at this same increased brightness level. Residents will also receive letters advising them about the new lighting and the reasons behind its installation. I’m aware that there was inadequate communication with residents whose streets were first to get the new street lights and I apologise for this on behalf of the Council.”

Cookery classes at Craigie

One Parent Families Scotland are planning cookery classes for single mums and dads and the kids at Craigroyston Community High School.

The classes will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (10am-12.30pm) from 7 – 16 April.

If you would like to improve your cooking skills while learning how to cook nutritious meals on a budget, contact Tom Carroll on 07814 078139 or email: tom.carroll@opfs.org.uk

Lazarowicz: time for tough action on tax dodgers

‘Paying tax is a basic duty of every citizen to fund the services, the hospitals, schools, we all depend on: tax cheats must not be allowed to escape paying their fair share.’ – Mark Lazarowicz MP

Speaking the day before the Chancellor delivers the Budget Mark Lazarowicz MP has called for tough action against tax dodging and declared his strong support for Oxfam’s campaign for a new Tax Dodging Bill.

The North and Leith MP attacked the Government for failing to take responsibility to tackle the systematic abuse now revealed at HSBC in Switzerland with clients being helped to conceal so-called “black accounts” from tax authorities and collusion with corruption.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “I am calling for tough action and new legislation to tackle tax dodging by individuals or corporations: it can’t just be shrugged off as something everyone does – they don’t, millions of people work hard every day and still pay their fair share.

“The Government has refused to take responsibility for tackling systematic tax fraud of the kind recently revealed at HSBC: simply passing the buck to Revenue and Customs won’t do.

“Tax avoidance by corporations in the world’s poorest countries is shamefully depriving them of vital revenue.

“Here in the UK we will not rebuild trust in politics if tax dodging by the megarich is left unpunished whilst severe benefit sanctions are imposed for often trivial reasons forcing increasing numbers to turn to food banks.

“Paying tax is a basic duty of every citizen to fund the services, the hospitals, schools, we all depend on: tax cheats must not be allowed to escape paying their fair share.”

Mark Lazarowicz spoke in a major debate on tax dodging last month and you can find his speech here. He is pictured at an event outside Parliament today supporting Oxfam’s campaign for an anti—tax dodging Bill. You can find more details of Oxfam’s campaign here.

Brown Owl Susan to receive Tierney Award

Local Brown Owl Susan Jeffrey will receive the Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship at next week’s Drylaw Telford Community Council meeting.

The Tierney Award was launched both to remember local activist Tam Tierney and to celebrate the work carried out by volunteers to improve life in the local community -and with thirty years service with the Brownies at Drylaw Parish Church Susan fits the bill admirably!

Community council chairman Alex Dale said: “We had four very worthy nominations for the Award this time round but Susan was the stand-out choice. To have volunteered with the local Brownies for thirty years shows incredible commitment and dedication. People like Susan help make communities better places to be and we are looking forward to presenting the award next week.”

The community council’s monthly business meeting will be held in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on Wednesday 25 March at 6.30pm and will be followed by the Award presentation and reception.

Brown Owl Susan (seated) is pictured with her current Brownie pack

Healthy interest grows in college community gardens

Edinburgh College community garden provides opportunities to adults with complex learning needs

Adults with complex learning needs are using one of Edinburgh College’s community gardens to develop their green fingers as well as social and education skills.

The students, who are all users of the adult day services at Fisherrow Community Centre’s Fisherrow Hub in Musselburgh, have been visiting the community garden at the college’s Milton Road Campus since May 2014. After spending the summer helping out weekly at the garden they registered for the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s (RCHS) Recognition of Individual Achievement in Horticulture Award (Caley Award), and are now working towards achieving this.

The award recognises the achievement and learning experience of individuals with complex learning needs in a garden environment. It encompasses a mix of seven core horticultural activities including cultivation, composting, plant-care and harvesting.

It is hoped that students who achieve the Caley Award will go on to a second level of the scheme, which is currently under development by RCHS.

The nine students have been split into two groups, and visit once a week for a few hours. Each group has their own growing space in the garden where they grow vegetables that they can take either back to Fisherrow to use in a cooking activity or home to share with their household.

The award also includes a personal learning plan, where students identify self-improvement goals such as improved timekeeping, teamwork or learning a social skill. Individuals progress at their own pace, encouraged and inspired by the achievement of others. Achievement is assessed through compiling a portfolio and recording of evidence, which are formally verified by the RCHS.

The Milton Road Community Garden was established in September 2012 to transform an area of previously unused land into a green space for staff, students and the local community to grow plants, vegetables and fruit. The project has been so successful that Edinburgh College now has a second community garden at the Sighthill Campus.

Colin Jeffrey, Fisherrow Hub manager, said: “The community garden at Edinburgh College has provided people who use the service at Fisherrow in Musselburgh an invaluable opportunity to undertake practical gardening tasks, which they are now learning and developing in order to undertake the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Award, or Caley Award.

“This is a fantastic new opportunity for the involved individuals, which is developing their practical skills in horticulture as well as supporting skills development in other areas, geared towards individuals’ specific personal goals, included as part of the award.

“At Fisherrow, we are continuing to work with Edinburgh College, to further develop joint working initiatives and new opportunities for people accessing services from our resource and to work together on a partnership agreement, to establish this working relationship and continue to support our ethos of promoting meaningful, structured activities for the service users at Fisherrow in new, exciting and inclusive ways with other organisations.”

Severine Monvoisin, community garden coordinator at the college, said: “The Caley Award is about recognising achievement. Far more importantly, it also gives individuals with complex learning needs opportunities for learning new skills and achieving in an inclusive environment. The gardening activities and knowledge are a medium to progress in their life by increasing the social interaction with others, learning to express their feelings, developing a better understanding about the environment, increasing confidence and self-esteem, learning to work together, increasing their abilities.

“For all the garden’s participants, coming to the garden is strongly linked to improved emotional health: they learn and exchange views about the importance of healthy eating and healthy lifestyle, are active in an outdoor environment, build social contact in a safe and relaxed environment and, importantly, become part of a community.”

World Autism Awareness Day: 2 April

EVENTS IN EDINBURGH

Information and activities for people with autism and their supporters

World Autism Awareness Day is 2nd April 2015. One in a hundred people in the city have autism. A range of events are being planned across the city:

Giant Book Group Event: The Curious Incident Of The Dog in The Night-Time

Thursday 2 April, 6.30pm-8pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge.

To enjoy the event fully you are advised to read ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ beforehand so that you can participate in small group conversations prior to the panel discussion.

To book a place: www.edinburghreads.eventbrite.co.uk

For further information: libraries@edinburgh.gov.uk

Dance Back to the Future

Thursday 2 April: Electric Circus, Edinburgh, 10pm – 3am. Tickets £5

Scottish Autism are celebrating World Autism Awareness Day by dancing back to the future in this club night which will take audiences through the decades of dance from the hits of the 60s to the present day.

For further details: www.scottishautism.org/get-involved/autism-awareness-month/whats-on-in-april

PASDA at Ocean Terminal

Thursday 2 April and Friday 3 April, Ocean Terminal, 10am -5pm.

Pasda support families of adults with autism. PASDA are supporting World Autism Awareness Day by holding an information stall over two days at Ocean Terminal. Come along to find out more about Pasda, autism awareness and information about other autism services in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

For further details visit www.pasda.org.uk

Edinburgh Autism Champions

Various dates and locations across the city from 30 March – 2 April.

Edinburgh Autism Champions are celebrating World Autism Awareness Day by hosting a number of information stalls at a variety of locations across Edinburgh. Come along to find out more about autism and a range of autism specific services in Edinburgh:

Gilmerton Library, 30 March 2pm – 4pm

Moredun Library, 31 March 2pm – 4pm

Morningside Library, 1 April 2pm – 4pm

South Neighbourhood Office, 2 April 10am – 12 noon

Edinburgh University Library, 2 April 10am – 4pm

Drumbrae Hub, 2 April 10am – 2.30 pm

ASDA, Slateford 2 April 10am – 1 pm.

A is for AUTISM

April is World Autism Awareness Month and we want to get as many people talking about autism as possible which is why we are asking you to support ‘A is for Autism’.

The idea is simply to make a letter A shape, whether it’s a cake baked in the shape of an A or an A created out of your favourite things, we need you to get creative and share your A! Once you’ve completed your masterpiece text AUTT15 £2 to 70070 to make a donation and then nominate a friend to get creative. Remember to share your A pictures with us by sharing it on our Facebook page or tag us in your photo so that we know. Alternatively you can email it to

fundraising@scottishautism.org

and we will add them to our Facebook Album – the one with the most likes will win a prize!

By sharing your A picture with us you are helping to raise awareness of autism, and hopefully encourage people to take some time to really understand the condition. As an organisation we strive to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism, to enable them to lead full and enriched lives in their community. Part of this involves promoting greater public understanding. Just remember, the A you make carries an important message so get creative and join in today!

For further information visit www.scottishautism.org

Circle website’s ‘scot’ to change!

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What?

Our website will change from www.circlescotland.org to www.circle.scot and emails will change to firstname.lastname@circle.scot

Why?

We know that there is sometimes confusion with regard to the name of our organisation, due to our website and email addresses. The name of our organisation is Circle (not Circle Scotland). By changing our website and email addresses to circle.scot, our branding will be more consistent and recognisable.

When?

The change will be made on Thursday 2 April. There may be some disruption to the website and emails over that weekend. Following that, there will be a changeover period whereby the current website address will be redirected to the new one. Similarly, emails will be redirected from the old email addresses for a period of time, after which the old email addresses will become obsolete.

Food bank fear factor: Holyrood committee ‘surprised and saddened’

‘It is a sad state of affairs when vulnerable people are frightened to engage with the very system that is supposed to offer them support and care.’ – Michael McMahon MSP

Evidence that shows the link between the UK Government’s welfare reform and an increase in the use of food banks has been sent to Scotland Office Minister David Mundell MP by the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee.

This follows a call from Mr Mundell to show him evidence of the impact of these policies after he expressed doubt that an increase in food bank use was as a direct result of welfare reform.

Much of this evidence has now been forwarded to UK Ministers and the Department of Work and Pensions – but many benefit claimants declined to send in their cases for fear that they might be subject to unfair treatment and reprisals from the DWP if their identity is revealed.

Committee Convener Michael McMahon MSP said: “The Welfare Reform Committee has amassed a growing volume of evidence documenting the impact of welfare reform on Scotland’s communities. We have now sent a further batch of evidence to Mr Mundell and the DWP. However, what we discovered during the course of our enquiries has surprised and saddened us. It is a sad state of affairs when vulnerable people are frightened to engage with the very system that is supposed to offer them support and care.”

Deputy Convener, Clare Adamson MSP said: “UK Government ministers continue to turn a blind eye to the appalling impact that their welfare policies are having on some of the most vulnerable members of society. We have now provided Mr Mundell and the DWP with irrefutable evidence that benefits cuts and sanctions are driving people in ever greater numbers to seek the assistance of food banks and other charities.”

The Background:

Committee’s letter to Rt Hon David Mundell MP.
David Mundell MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, gave evidence to the Committee on 3 February 2015 link to official report.
The Committee first evidenced the link between welfare reform and food bank use in its report, published in June 2014.
The Committee has submitted a file of evidence to Mr Mundell and the DWP. To protect identities, this information is not being published. The Committee received evidence from a number of housing and third sector organisations acting on behalf of their clients, and MSPs on the Committee also brought forward case studies involving their constituents. Evidence includes benefits recipients who have been sanctioned and individuals whose benefits payments has been subject to delay, all of which has led to an increased demand on food bank services.

Minimum wage to rise to £6.70

The government has announced that the National Minimum Wage will increase by 3% to a new rate of £6.70 per hour, effective from October – the largest real-terms increase in the National Minimum Wage since 2008. Over 1.4 million of Britain’s lowest-paid workers are set to benefit but critics say the increase doesn’t go far enough.

The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have also announced that the National Minimum Wage for apprentices will increase by 57p an hour to £3.30. This is the largest ever increase in the National Minimum Wage for apprentices and will halve the gap with the National Minimum Wage rate for 16 to 17 year olds, which will be £3.87 an hour from October 2015. The government will also launch a consultation with businesses on the future of the National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices.

The government is also putting employers in control of the funding for apprenticeships by introducing a new digital apprenticeship voucher.

Apprenticeship vouchers will further simplify things for employers and give them the purchasing power over the government contribution to apprenticeship funding. The employer would register their details on a system being developed by the Skills Funding Agency including their type of business, the details of the apprentice and the apprenticeship standard being signed up to.

The discounted rate, which could be up to 100% for 16 to 18 year olds, at which employers can purchase training would be calculated and the employer would be able to pass on the voucher code to the provider that is delivering the training for their apprentice. The provider would then reclaim the value of the voucher from the Skills Funding Agency.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “At the heart of our long-term economic plan for Britain is a simple idea – that those who put in, should get out; that hard work is really rewarded; that the benefits of recovery are truly national.

“That’s what today’s announcement is all about – saying to hardworking taxpayers: this is a government that is on your side. It will mean more financial security for Britain’s families; and a better future for our country.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: This is just one of the many ways in which we’ve created a fairer society whilst building a stronger economy. If you work hard, this government is behind you all the way. Whether you’re on low pay or starting your dream career through an apprenticeship, you will get more support to help you go further and faster.”

However some feel the help to Britain’s lowest paid doesn’t go far enough.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said minimum wage workers will be hit by the Chancellor’s cuts. “For the low paid to get a fair share of the recovery, this was a year in which we could have had a much bolder increase in the minimum wage,” he said.

“With one in five workers getting less than a living wage, this is nowhere near enough to end in-work poverty. Britain’s minimum wage workers should be very fearful of the billions of pounds of cuts to government help for the low paid that the Chancellor is planning if re-elected.

“Apprentices will welcome the increase to their minimum wage, which will reduce the shortfall in their minimum pay relative to 16 and 17 year-old employees. But there really shouldn’t be a gap at all. The TUC will continue to call on the Low Pay Commission to recommend a future increase that will match the apprentice rate to that for 16 and 17 year-olds.”

Labour’s shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: “This 20p rise falls far short of the £7 minimum wage which George Osborne promised over a year ago. Ministers have misled working families who have been left worse off. Under David Cameron we’ve seen the value of the minimum wage eroded – we need a recovery for working people.”

Labour has promised the minimum wage would rise rise to £8 an hour over the course of the next parliament if it wins in May.

This latest announcement – coming on the back of positive news about pension annuities yesterday and before a likely rise in personal tax allowances is announced tomorrow – makes one thing pretty clear: the economy will be the government’s chosen battleground in May’s general election.

The Chancellor’s statement this week may not quite be a giveaway budget – but it certainly won’t be a takeaway one either. And if the economy really is the number one priority when voters go to the polls in May, the government is giving itself a fighting chance of re-election. ‘Not a political budget?’ – we’ll see!

The National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2015, as recommended by the Low Pay Commission. (LPC) will be:

a 20p (3%) increase in the adult rate (from £6.50 to £6.70 per hour)
a 17p (3%) increase in the rate for 18 to 20 year olds (from £5.13 to £5.30 per hour)
an 8p (2%) increase in the rate for 16 to 17 year olds (from £3.79 to £3.87 per hour)
The National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices will increase by 57p (20%) from £2.73 to £3.30 per hour. The LPC recommended an increase of 2.6% to £2.80 in the apprentice rate.