Briggs welcomes new Minor Injuries Unit

A new minor injuries unit at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh will help reduce long waits for patients at A&E and direct people to the most relevant care for their needs.  The new facility has been welcomed by Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs MSP. Continue reading Briggs welcomes new Minor Injuries Unit

Parking at a premium at Western General

The Western General has launched its latest programme of site improvement works and drivers have been warned to expect ‘some parking challenges’. NHS Lothian says the building work will bring welcome benefits to patients and staff, but while it’s underway there will be times when fewer parking spaces are available. Continue reading Parking at a premium at Western General

Nice LIFT: local project secures funding to tackle child poverty

Vulnerable families are set to benefit from new funding to support households in financial hardship – and North Edinburgh’s L.I.F.T is one of seven projects aimed at tackling child poverty to receive a share of the new £450,000 fund.

LIFT (Low Income Families Together), based in Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre, will receive over £70,000.

The money is a part of the Every Child, Every Chance Innovation Fund, which is jointly supported by the Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation.

The fund aims to support innovative approaches which could have an impact on reducing child poverty by 2030. The projects range from job training and a befriending service, to school-based mentoring and support for lone parents.

One of the successful projects is Stepwell, a social business based in Inverclyde, which provides support to people in the local community with health and finance issues as well as training and employment opportunities.

At a visit to meet staff and service users, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We are committed to tackling child poverty and are always looking for new ways to support households and families in financial hardship. No child or adult should have their chances limited by poverty.

“It has been great to hear about the approach being taken by Stepwell to tackle child poverty in Inverclyde. Their method aims to get to the root cause of any hardship and through encouragement, support and training, families can begin to change their lives.”

Steven Watson Chief Executive Officer at Stepwell, said:  “Stepwell is absolutely committed to tackling child poverty in Inverclyde.  Through our Whole Life approach, we focus on providing person-centred support, offering vocational and accredited training and ‘real’ business work placements within our social businesses.

“We are so grateful to The Hunter Foundation and Scottish Government for partnering with us.”

The Innovation Fund is a joint fund between the Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation, each contributing £5 million and £2.5 million respectively over the life of Every Child, Every Chance.

The below table details the organisations awarded funding for 2018/19

New organisations via application Award – 2018/19
Clyde Gateway £9,900
Covey Befriending £11,994
L.I.F.T £70,177
MCR Pathways – Scottish Mentoring Programme £97,000
Midlothian Sure Start £121,914
North Lanarkshire Council £41,000
Stepwell £99,900

 

Total £451,885

An update on all actions committed to within the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan will be published by the end of June 2019.

 

 

 

Capital rents increase by over £100 per month over last year

Rents in Edinburgh have reached a record high as the Scottish capital re-enters the top 50 most expensive cities in Europe, according to the latest housing report by global mobility expert, ECA International (ECA).

The average cost of a three-bedroom home in Edinburgh has risen by £101 per month, up to £1,529, the highest in over four years. Continue reading Capital rents increase by over £100 per month over last year