Month: December 2015

High noon: Union plans Tuesday protest at RBS

Banks urged to insist their contractors pay a living wage

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GMB Scotland is to hold a protest demonstration outside Royal Bank of Scotland HQ in St Andrew Square on Tuesday to step up the campaign for them to pay a living wage to members employed by G4S and ISS to provide security and cleaning at RBS buildings across Britain. Continue reading High noon: Union plans Tuesday protest at RBS

Putting a CAP on credit at Christmas

Charity offers top five frugal festive tips!

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Christians Against Poverty’s (CAP’s) three Edinburgh debt centres in Tollcross, Edinburgh North and Wester Hailes have joined forces to release their top five ways to have a perfect Christmas without resorting to credit.

The team have compiled the advice so families can avoid seasonal slip-ups that can result in a miserable New Year where debts can spiral.

Edinburgh North CAP Centre Manager Claire Baggaley said: “We’ve put out this advice because we know what huge pressure there is to buy lots at this time of year and we want to be a voice saying that it’s OK not to spend loads – especially if money is already tight.

“None of your family and none of your friends want you to struggle through January and February with essentials like paying your household bills because you spent lots on them.

“If you are thinking of a Christmas loan or maxing out the credit cards or overdraft, please re-consider and take action to avoid worry in 2016.”

Wester Hailes CAP Centre Manager, Margaret Farquhar added that if anyone is already struggling with debt to seek help from one of the free debt agencies.  CAP is one of these and can be contacted on 0800 328 0006.

  1. Talk to friends and family as soon as you can. Set a limit on what you spend, agree to do a family secret Santa where you all only buy one thing or agree to buy just for the children. If a child has their heart set on one big present, see if relatives will club together with you.
  2. Be bold if you’re doing the cooking this year and ask family if they would contribute something. Ask, “Can I leave you in charge of bringing the Christmas crackers/cake/pudding/drinks?”
  3. If there are people you really want to thank with a gift, consider making them something: Christmas biscuits, tablet, mince pies or home-made decorations for the tree. A home made gift and a thank you card will go a long way.
  4. Gift your time or talents in the form of a home-made voucher promising to bake their favourite cake on demand, do an hour’s ironing, babysitting, car wash or winter car check.
  5. Grasp every free activity going in your local community. Be there for the local Christmas lights switch on; attend the nativity at your kids’ school; see what your local church has on offer. See what you can do to help others and share the Christmas spirit.

 

Childcare Academy places available

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We still have places available for our Childcare Academy Information Sessions on: 

Wednesday 16 December @ 1.30pm

Thursday 14 January @ 10am

Wednesday 27 January @ 1.30pm

If you would like to book a place to come along and hear more about the Academy, ask any questions and take away an application pack, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below or Barbara Webster on 0131 311 6926.

Audrey O’Neill
Training Administrator, North Edinburgh Childcare
Telephone: 0131 311 6931

Follow us on Twitter @NEChildcare

Like our Training Services on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Edinburgh-Childcare-Training-Services/664092880377307

One million acres

Community Land Ownership: government sets ambitious target

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A strategy to significantly increase the amount of land in community ownership has been published today.

The report by the one million acre short life working group recommends a number of proposals to deliver the one million acre target by 2020 and spread the benefits of community ownership, including:

  • stimulate demand for community owned land through raising awareness
  • build capacity of communities to take land ownership projects forward
  • improve access to support services and develop a network of support providers
  • address issues around the availability of land and barriers to the supply of land

The report identified 480,000 acres of land already in community ownership, which has recently been increased to over 500,000 acres by the acquisition of land by The Pairc Trust since the report was finalised.

Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Aileen McLeod said: “I welcome this report from the one million acre short life working group, which looks at ways to reach our target of one million acres of community owned land by 2020. This ambitious target has the potential to transform the fortunes of communities across the country.

“I would like to thank the group for all their hard work and I look forward to considering the recommendations in this report alongside current land reform legislation to help ensure we empower communities with practical powers as well as support sustainability.” Continue reading One million acres

Charter heralds a ‘new dawn’ for recycling in Scotland

Scottish Government and COSLA announce agreement on new consistent recycling systems across the country

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Scotland’s Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead was joined by COSLA spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability, Councillor Stephen Hagan earlier this week to announce a new consistent approach to recycling in Scotland. Continue reading Charter heralds a ‘new dawn’ for recycling in Scotland