Congratulations to the 22 young interns aged 16-29 who graduated from the Edinburgh Project SEARCH programme this week.
Each intern has successfully completed nine months of work experience at the City of Edinburgh Council or NHS Lothian to improve their employability and skills confidence. Project SEARCH is a transition programme for individuals aged 16-29 years who have additional needs when they are beginning new careers. Continue reading Celebrating Project SEARCH
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Negroni cocktail, CAMPARI – the iconic Italian aperitif – will launch N100: Cheers to the Count – seven dedicated parties across the UK, each championing the impressive cultural impact this iconic cocktail has had over the last 100 years … and one of them is in Edinburgh. Continue reading Cheers to the Count: celebrating one hundred years of the Negroni cocktail
The Scottish Government is seeking views on plans to introduce a legal duty on Scottish public authorities to notify Police Scotland about suspected human trafficking and exploitation victims. Continue reading Tackling human trafficking and exploitation
Not spending enough quality time with family and friends is having a negative impact on our mental health, according to a new report from smart home service provider, Hive. Continue reading Father’s Day: We’re spending less quality time with loved ones than 5 years ago
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, is calling for a “skills revolution” across Lothian. He wants to make it clear that a vocational education is every bit as valuable as an academic one. Continue reading Miles Briggs calls for a “skills revolution”
Young British nationals travelling to Majorca will receive tips on how to avoid exploitation as part of an annual Border Force operation designed to safeguard holiday makers. Continue reading Border Force helps holidaymakers avoid summer nightmare
Two new recipients of a scholarship fund set up in memory of MND campaigner Gordon Aikman (above), have been announced. Continue reading New Gordon Aikman Scholarship Projects announced
Two carers have been convicted of murdering a 19-year-old woman whose death they covered up for 20 years. The body of Margaret Fleming, who had learning difficulties, has never been found. Continue reading “A Living Hell”: the tragic life and death of Margaret Fleming
First step to set up new Assembly to help shape Scotland’s future.
The process of establishing the new Citizens’ Assembly to explore some of the major challenges facing Scotland has begun.
A contractor is being sought to randomly select 120 members of the public to serve on the Assembly. The individuals will be broadly representative of Scotland’s adult population in terms of age, gender, socio-economic class, ethnic group, geography and political attitudes.
The Assembly will consider three broad issues:
* what kind of country should be
* how can Scotland best overcome challenges, including those arising from Brexit
* what further work is required to enable people to make informed choices about the future of Scotland
Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell said: “This is the first time a Citizens’ Assembly has been used in Scotland and will bring together a wide range of ordinary people from across our country in a genuine attempt to reach consensus on the issues that we face. Similar models have been used successfully in countries including Ireland, Canada, Australia and Poland.
“It is a bold idea and one I hope everyone, whatever their political view, can embrace. I believe we all want the best for Scotland and if we have learnt anything from Brexit it is the need to make space for people to engage with information and to exchange different views.”
The Citizens’ Assembly is one strand of the Scottish Government’s three pronged approach to chart a distinctive course for Scotland. The others are the establishment of a legal framework providing the option for a referendum and cross-party talks to identify areas of agreement on constitutional change.
The Scottish Government’s approach is based on lessons learned from a range of Citizens’ Assembly initiatives.
Members will be identified by early September, with the Assembly meeting on six weekends between the autumn and Spring 2020.
Assembly members will receive a gift of thanks of £200 per weekend to recognise their time and contribution. Travel, accommodation and other reasonable costs, such as child care, will also be covered.
MSPs, MPs, MEPs, councillors and members of the House of Lords, political party staff, public appointees and senior public and civil servants will be ineligible to sit on the Assembly, as will representatives and officials of relevant advocacy groups.
An announcement on the convenership of the Assembly will be made by Constitutional Secretary Michael Russell shortly.
