SNP leader Steve stands down

Deputy council leader Councillor Steve Cardownie is to step down from front-line politics. The Forth councillor will stay on as an elected member but has relinquished leadership of the SNP group – and with it his Deputy Council Leader post. Mr Cardownie says he is leaving for personal reasons and to spend more time with his family.

Formerly a trade union official, Steve Cardownie became a Labour councillor on Edinburgh District Council in 1988. Always a colourful and often a controversial figure, Cardownie infuriated many when he ‘jumped ship’ to join the SNP in 2005.

Mr Cardownie was a lonely figure as the sole SNP councillor on the local authority for two years but an upsurge in his new party’s fortunes saw a greatly-increased SNP group share power in successive coalitions – first with the Liberal Democrats in 2007 and then with Labour in 2012. He has served in his current role since 2007 and is widely recognised as the city’s ‘Festival Czar’.

With over 25 years of political experience under his belt the SNP will find Steve Cardownie’s skills as a negotiator and fixer hard to replace. The new group leader is Sandy Howat, but he’ll find the Jambo from Leith a hard act to follow.

Cllr Howat said: ““Steve will still have a large role to play in the group. He has been a very successful politician on many and all levels, and he goes with a great deal of thanks. Honestly, I would have liked him to stay for another year – I thought he still had a lot to offer.”

Steve Cardownie said: “It had been my intention for some time to relinquish the position as leader, but I wanted to ensure the coalition got to the other side of the referendum intact. I have successfully negotiated two coalition deals – first with the Liberal Democrats and then with Labour – which has kept the SNP in the administration for eight years now.

“Having got through the referendum, the coalition is still strong and I felt it was time to give someone else the opportunity to develop their style. I have a ten-year-old son and I want to spend a bit more time with him.”

Have you seen Ian?

Police are appealing for information to help trace a man reported missing since Monday (9 March).

Ian Nelson, also known as Ian Copeland, who is 38-year-old, was last seen around 1.30pm in the Western General Hospital where he was receiving treatment. Staff are concerned that he has missed the dose of the medicine he needs and his health could be affected.

Ian is described as a white male, 5 ft 10, slim build with short ginger hair and a fair complexion. He is believed to be wearing a grey top and dark trousers.

Officers are now urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward. Inspector Allan Symington said: “We are concerned for Ian’s health and welfare and are keen to speak to anyone who can help us trace him. Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Welfare powers: get a move on!

Scottish government says swift action is needed on welfare

Scottish ministers have urged the UK government to deliver Lord Smith’s recommendations for new powers on welfare almost four months after the report’s publication .

The call comes ahead of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare in Edinburgh later today (March 11) that will be attended by Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil and Fair Work Secretary Roseanna Cunningham, and which will focus on future delivery of welfare and employment support services in Scotland .

Mr Neil said: “It has been over a month since the Working Group met for the first time and weeks since the Smith Commission delivered its recommendations. Over that period of time there has been a frustrating lack of progress from the UK government in recognising that its current proposals do not meet Lord Smith’s recommendations.

“We want to see early progress on flexibilities around Universal Credit as well as assurances that the UK Government will deliver the Smith report in full. It’s really frustrating that the UK has refused to make early progress on those flexibilities, although these are technically feasible now. And they have refused to change their draft clauses which fall short of the Smith proposals.

“Just last week both the Welfare Reform Committee and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlighted the scale of the damage inflicted by Westminster’s austerity agenda on people across Scotland.

“With more powers in our own we hands we could build a system better suited to our needs. The Scottish Parliament is best placed to make decisions about welfare policies that affect the people of Scotland.”

Ms Cunningham added: “This Government’s commitment to Fair Work means we believe people should be supported into work, instead of being punished for being unable to secure employment. The UK Government’s current conditionality and sanctions regime isn’t working and the UK Government needs to adopt a positive and proportionate approach to support people, rather than cutting their incomes and having to deal with misguided policies such as the ‘bedroom tax’.

“We await vital information on employment services, such as the Work Programme, to enable the Scottish Government to move forward quickly in re-designing this type of support for Scotland. We are determined to use these powers to deliver seamless, effective support in Scotland that helps unemployed people in Scotland into work and delivers sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

“As we move towards the UK pre-election period, we call upon the UK government to act swiftly on the Smith recommendations to ensure we can bring forward a Bill that is fit for purpose and allows us to take a new approach to tackling inequality.”

Edinburgh leads the world on family nurse partnership

Edinburgh has become the first city in the world to offer the family nurse partnership programme to all eligible women after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that the service will continue on a sustained basis.

Speaking at a reception to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the scheme for first-time mothers, the First Minister said since its launch the programme had provided support and advice to 660 young women across NHS Lothian, with an average take-up rate of 81 per cent among the eligible group.

Addressing the event at Edinburgh Castle, the First Minister – who launched the pilot programme in NHS Lothian in 2010 – confirmed that the resources and staffing were now in place for every eligible young mother in the city to be offered a place on the programme.

Ms Sturgeon said the positive experience in NHS Lothian was now being replicated across Scotland with teams already in place across eight health board areas – Lothian, Tayside, Fife, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley and Lanarkshire – and plans for expansion into Borders and Grampian later this year.

The First Minister said: “It’s now five years since the Family Nurse Partnership pilot project was established in Lothian. In that time it has been such a success that it now operates in seven other health board areas across the country. It will be established in two more – Grampian and Borders – over the course of the summer.

“In total, more than 2,000 mothers have already benefited from the programme – more than 600 of them here in Lothian.

“It’s one of the best investments we can make as a society – we give young mothers the support they need, we help children to get the best possible start in life, and we reduce public spending further down the line, because we have better health, education and employment outcomes.

“That’s why I’m delighted to announce today that Edinburgh has become the first city anywhere in the world, to offer the family nurse partnership to every first-time mother aged 19 and under. That will make a huge difference to mothers and children across the city, and it’s a testament to the success of the partnership so far.”

Kate Billingham, Senior Adviser at Nurse Family Partnership International said:
“On behalf of the programme’s founder, Prof David Olds I congratulate Scotland and all they have achieved for young parents and their children.

“To have the first city in the world to reach 100 per cent coverage for teenage mums – along with high levels of quality – is an amazing achievement. Today we are recognising the leadership in Scotland, the skilled and dedicated nurses and the parents who have worked hard for their children and their own futures.”

Melanie Johnson, Executive Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said: “We are particularly pleased and proud in NHS Lothian that Edinburgh has become the first city in the world to be able to offer care to every client who requires it under the Family Nurse Partnership.

“The service first began as a pilot project in January 2010 in Edinburgh and since then it has gone from strength to strength. It has also made a real and lasting impact after it was rolled out across the rest of Lothian and also Scotland.

“We are honoured that the First Minister attended our event because she was at the first launch event in 2010 and was able to meet some of the original parents, who were the first to graduate from the service, and their children, most of whom will start school in the summer.”

Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has welcomed the news that the pioneering family nurse partnership is to be continued and replicated across Scotland.

Mr Keir said: ‘This is great news for first-time mums in NHS Lothian, giving them the support they need and helping to give children the best possible start in life. I’m delighted that Edinburgh has become the first city in the world to offer this service to every first-time mum aged 19 and under. I welcome the news that this pioneering initiative has been such a success that it is being replicated and rolled out across Scotland.’

Habitats for Happy Ageing

Is there such a thing as a habitat for happy ageing? How does where we live affect our mood? Why is it so important to get outdoors in later life?

Come along to our FREE event on the UN International Day of Happiness to hear from experts in happiness and place, take a mood test, browse photos of people’s
‘happy places’ and see how Edinburgh has changed over time.

Friday 20 March 2.30 – 4pm

Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square

To book your FREE place:

Phone 0131 651 5834 or email OPENspace@ed.ac.uk

#happyplacesUN

Habitats for Happy Ageing 20 March 2015

Cocktails and cupcakes at LOOPS event

Monday 30 March 4 – 6.30 pm

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh, 24 Torphichen Street

Fresh Start is Lothian Buses charity of the year

FRESH START, the Pilton-based charity that helps people who have been homeless get established in their new home, has been announced as Lothian Buses’ Charity of the Year for 2015.

Throughout 2015, Lothian Buses and Fresh Start will work together on a number of projects including a special bus wrap advertising the work the charity do, visits for the charity’s families to the bus depots, fundraising through staff events and the opportunity for the company’s 2000+ staff to volunteer with the charity.

Tony Depledge, Chair of Lothian Buses said: “Supporting a local charity every year is really important to us. This year we decided to choose a charity that was significantly different to previous years and Fresh Start is exactly that.

“Homelessness can affect anyone and its great that we can highlight the important work that they do.

“We look forward to working with the Fresh Start team over the course of 2015, helping to raise the profile of the charity in our local community whilst having fun raising funds for this fantastic cause.”

Since 2012, Lothian Buses has appointed a Charity of the Year in order to help the organisation benefit from focused fundraising and awareness activities. The Yard, another project based in North Edinburgh, was Lothian Buses’ chosen charity last year and previous recipients include It’s Good 2 Give and Lothian Austistic Society.

Keith Robertson, Fresh Start’s Managing Director said: “This is a great opportunity for us. For a local charity like ours working in the Edinburgh & Lothian area, it will raise awareness of what we do and what homelessness means. Being homeless can have a devastating effect on families and individuals. They lose not only their belongings, but their confidence and self-esteem. We help them to settle in their new home and back into the community. This partnership with Lothian Buses will enable us to reach more people than ever before.”

For more information visit:

http://www.freshstartweb.org.uk

www.lothianbuses.com

May date set for Spartans’ sports day

Hundreds of local primary school children will be taking part in a major sports event being organised by Spartans Community Football Academy Event at Ainslie Park in May.

SCFA Youth and Community Worker Jamie Tomkinson said: “The Spartans Community Football Academy Sports Day will be held on the 20th of May. Eight local primary schools are involved – we reckon that will be around 350 P7s over the course of the day!”

Twelve different sporting activities will be delivered by local agencies on the day: Kabo boxing, Edinburgh Judo, Edinburgh Leisure, Fet-Lor, Granton Youth Centre and MY Adventure will all be supporting the programme – and Keith Cook, who is a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, will share his fencing skills. NEN, North Edinburgh’s community newspaper, has been invited to cover the event.

“Lorna Cruikshank, one of our young volunteers, will deliver a hockey station and we have a local samba band coming along to create an atmosphere and do a show for the opening ceremony!” Jamie added. “Many organisations have come on board to support the day – Ainslie Park Leisure Centre are letting us use one lane of their pool for the triathlon and Nike, who were a major part of last year’s success, will be volunteering throughout the event.

“There’s a lot of organising to be done and we are putting the finishing touches to the programme but the Sports Day is going to be a lot of fun – we’re all really looking forward to it and I’m sure the P7s are too!”

EU jobseekers barred from claiming Universal Credit

‘Universal Credit is a new benefit that will make work pay and help lift people out of poverty and it is already transforming lives’ – Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith

New EU migrants who have arrived in the UK will be prevented from claiming benefits until they have started work. The new regulations, introduced yesterday, mean that under Universal Credit no EU households will be able to access means-tested benefits in the UK without having worked here first.

Action has already been taken to halve the amount of time EU jobseekers can claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit and means that if they don’t have a job after 3 months they will lose their right to reside in the UK. New migrant jobseekers are also now unable to claim Housing Benefit.

These tough new rules are part of the government’s long-term economic plan to protect the benefits system and ensure EU migrants come to this country for the right reasons and to contribute to the economy.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith (above) said:

“Universal Credit is a new benefit that will make work pay and help lift people out of poverty and it is already transforming lives.

“As part of the government’s long-term economic plan we have led the way with a series of measures to tackle abuses, tighten immigration routes, and toughen up the rules on access to UK benefits – and we have seen other European countries follow our lead and take similar action.

“Our new rules for Universal Credit will ensure we have a fair system where people cannot claim means tested benefits until they have worked.”

The department is abolishing 6 existing income-related benefits:

Jobseeker’s Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credits

The Westminster government has introduced a number of measures to make sure that the benefit and tax credit system for EU migrants is increasingly focused only on those who contribute through work:

all EU jobseekers need to live in the country for at least 3 months before they can claim income-based JSA, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit
after 3 months, jobseekers have to take a stronger, more robust Habitual Residence Test if they want to claim income-based JSA
after 3 months on Jobseeker’s Allowance, they have a ‘genuine prospect of work’ test – if they do not have an imminent job offer they will lose their benefits and their right to reside in the UK as a jobseeker
new migrant jobseekers from the EU are no longer able to claim Housing Benefit
migrants from the EU who claim to have been in work or self-employed in order to gain access to a wider range of benefits now face a new robust test to decide whether they should be considered a worker or ex-worker with a minimum earnings threshold.

Scotland’s Adoption Register – new website launched

Families found for vulnerable children

Vulnerable children are finding adoptive families faster thanks to an improved system for matching prospective parents with youngsters from across Scotland. The new improved website for Scotland’s Adoption Register was launched yesterday.

Innovations to the site – which is run by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government – will help to involve prospective adopters and social workers more directly in the process of finding families for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children.

The website will build on the progress the register has already had in matching children and prospective adopters. The number of referrals to the register is continuing to grow – and more importantly the number of confirmed matches is increasing at an accelerating pace.

The milestone of 150 matches made was passed in January.

By sharing information more effectively the website will make an important contribution to the process of quickly finding the right match for the children who need adoptive families.

Robin Duncan, Scotland’s Adoption Register Manager said: “There are frustrations about how long the adoption process can take and of how difficult it can be to find families for all the children who need them, but we are very excited by the opportunities the re-launched website brings and the innovations to the Scottish Register will help speed up the matching process to find families for all the children who need them.”

Fiona McLeod, Acting Minister for Children, said: “These improvements to the new website reflect the growing success Scotland’s Adoption Register has had in finding secure, stable and loving homes for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children.

“The website will arm prospective parents with the information and advice they need to go forward. It is also a great practical resource for social workers who are key in helping to make placements between children who are suitable for adoption and prospective adopters in Scotland.

“When you are dealing with something as deeply personal and life-changing, it is so vitally important to have the necessary information available and in a format as straight forward as possible. This website will enable this to happen as well as assist social workers to provide all the necessary support required.”