Month: June 2019

New support for families of children starting school

Full Best Start Grant package now available

A brand new benefit for low income families is now open for applications.  The £250 School Age Payment is for families with a child old enough to start primary school  this August.

The payment is part of the Best Start Best Grant, a package of three payments for families in receipt of eligible benefits – including Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and tax credits – to help at key stages in a child’s life.

The Best Start Grant package also includes the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, which has been open for applications since December 2018 and the Early Learning Payment, which launched in April.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Covering the costs of a child starting school puts pressure on family finances, and we have created this new payment to help ease that burden, putting more money into the pockets of families at a time when they need it most.

“We are committed to doing all we can to make sure Scotland is the best place for a child to grow up.  We want to increase financial support to families, bringing equality to children by giving them help towards a fairer start.

“We also want to encourage everyone who is entitled to a payment to apply, so will be working with services to promote the benefit to ensure as many people as possible are aware they can access this new additional support.”

  • applications for the School Age Payment open today (Monday 3 June) and will remain open to 29 February 2020
  • eligible families can apply for a payment if their child was born between 1 March 2014 and 28 February 2015
  • there is no requirement to take up a place at school to be eligible for the payment
  • parents who have deferred school entry so their children will start school in August 2020 should still apply in the 3 June to 29 February window
  • Social Security Scotland is using a single application process for these payments so families can apply for any Best Start Grant Payment in one form. Applications can be made online, over the phone or by post
  • parents/carers will be eligible if they live in Scotland, are responsible for a child and receive certain qualifying benefits
  • the qualifying benefits include: Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit
  • the introduction of this benefit means that the Scottish Government is now delivering four new benefits. These are: Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment, School Age Payment and Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
  • Social Security Scotland came into being as an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government on 1 September 2018
  • further information can be found at mygov.scot/benefits or call 0800 182 2222

 

 

Neighbourhood Partnerships, no more: now it’s Neighbourhood Networks

First meeting of new Forth Neighbourhood Network tomorrow

New Neighbourhood Networks are being set up across Edinburgh. They will bring together community groups, voluntary sector organisations and local councillors to identify what matters to their neighbourhood. Continue reading Neighbourhood Partnerships, no more: now it’s Neighbourhood Networks

Zakia’s home in time for Big Lunch!

“I have learned so much from this experience. It has been a real privilege to be welcomed into various communities and invited to see what they do to create connections or make stronger ones. The whole trip has widened my understanding of community spirit and made me discover projects I wasn’t familiar with, like urban community gardens for instance.” 

Continue reading Zakia’s home in time for Big Lunch!

Winners of the 2019 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service announced

A total of 281 organisations from across the UK, including three from Edinburgh, have received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year, it was announced today. Continue reading Winners of the 2019 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service announced

Scottish Government acts to cut disruption on roads and pavements

Communities will face less disruption with new standards to manage road works and speed up the installation of fibre broadband. A national code of practice will see the standardisation of faster and more modern techniques for trench digging for improving utility services.

The development of more compact cables has seen modern techniques, such as requiring narrower holes and less excavation required, increasing the speed of delivery. The technique also safeguards the roads by reducing the need for return visits to repair failed trenches.

As well as broadband cable installation, this will mean shorter periods of disruption for power, water and gas works who use this technique.

Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse (above) visited a Virgin Media dig to see a new broadband installation taking place and discuss the new code with the installation team. He said: “The Scottish Government has listened to the views of companies who tell us that narrow trenching can help companies deliver fibre broadband faster and with less disruption to communities.

“We understand that utility companies operate in a competitive market. They are therefore constantly looking for ways to improve their efficiency and to reduce their costs in order to keep ahead of their competition. This has led to innovation in how infrastructure, such as broadband, is deployed.

“We have updated the code to enable narrow trenching to take place consistently, and in a manner which protects our pavements and road network, and this has the added benefit that will result in the faster deployment of broadband across Scotland and a reduction in the disruption communities face during the roll out itself.”

Julie Agnew, Regional Director for Scotland at Virgin Media, said: “As Virgin Media continues to invest in bringing ultrafast broadband to more areas of Scotland, this new code gives much needed clarity for networks to be built in a fast, flexible and efficient way with minimal disruption.

“We thank the Scottish Government for working with us and creating an environment that encourages and supports broadband builders like Virgin Media.”

The Code of Practice comes into force immediately.

 

 

 

Open Streets: Old Town roads closed to traffic again this afternoon

Enjoy exploring Edinburgh’s Open Streets today from 12 noon to 5pm. This is the second Open Streets event and follows the first phase of the programme, which aims to create a people friendly route around the Old Town and includes the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, Grassmarket and Cockburn Street. 

Activities and areas to visit:

Activity Time Location Further information
Just Eat bike hire 12pm- 5pm City Chambers, High Street
Hoola hoop extravaganza 12pm to 2pm West High Street This drop-in workshop will have you hoola hooping in seconds. No experience required, hoola hoops provided, everyone welcome.
Edinburgh all-ability bike trials 12pm to 4.30pm West High Street A range of adaptive bikes to help people to cycle regardless of age, background or ability.
Spokes stall 12pm to 4pm West High Street Promoting safe active travel with a focus on cycling and maps for Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Street games 12pm to 5pm High Street Connect 4, chess and badminton.
Play on pedals 12pm to 3pm Grassmarket Fun learning for p3 to p5-aged children.
Literary walking tours 12pm to 5pm John Knox House, Canongate Explore Edinburgh’s Netherbow area – pick up your self guided tour from the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Arts for all 12pm to 4pm Canongate The Cranny are holding a pot luck picnic, inviting local residents in the Canongate to bring some baking or a dish to chat about the new community centre and ideas for gardening and arts projects.
Children’s crafts 12pm to 4pm Chessel’s Court Come and make tissue flowers and chalk a butterfly selfie.
Reading havens 12pm to 5pm Sandeman House Garden; Chessel’s Court Garden; Old Tolbooth Market; Canongate Free books on offer in a quiet reading haven.
E-bike trials 12pm to 4.30pm Victoria Street/Grassmarket Come and try and e-bike with Hart’s Cyclery.
Hip-hop dance performance 1.15pm to 1.35pm West High Street Display by youth company House of Jack followed by a chance to join in and learn some hip hop.
Circus skills 2pm to 4pm Canongate Free circus skills for all ages, including spinning, twirling and juggling.
Tai Chi Display and Taster Sessions 3pm and 4pm Parliament Square, High Street Free to join in – bring something comfortable to wear.
Royal Mile walking tours 2.30pm and 3.30pm City Chambers, High Street Meet at the City Chambers in the quadrangle for the free tours, approx. 50 minutes.
Yoga sessions 2.30pm to 3.30pm Canongate Come and have a go – free sessions. Bring something comfortable to wear – 4 x 15 minutes.
Swing dancing 3.30pm to 4.30pm West high Street Get inspired and join in.

Streets closed on 2 June

The following streets will be closed to cars and other vehicles from 12pm to 5pm, except for blue badge holders and bicycles.

There will be barriers in place for everyone’s safety. Events staff will manage access to the area for emergency vehicles and blue badge holders.

Additional bike parking will be available across the area.

  • Grassmarket (pedestrian zone between West Bow and King’s Stables Road)
  • West Bow
  • Victoria Street
  • Lawnmarket
  • High Street
  • St Giles’ Street
  • Cockburn Street
  • Niddry Street
  • Blackfriars Street (between High Street and New Skinner’s Close)
  • Canongate (between St Mary/Jeffrey Street and the west side of Reid’s Close) Cranston Street
  • New Street
  • Old Tolbooth Wynd

For more information, email the Open Streets team on openstreets@edinburgh.gov.uk.

 

 

More of Scotland’s bathing waters rated ‘excellent’ but Porty’s just ‘sufficient’

  • More bathing waters (32%) have been rated as ‘excellent’ than since the tighter standards first came into force in 2015.
  • Fewer bathing waters have also been rated as ‘poor’ – and partnership projects are currently underway to maintain progress and further improve bathing waters including the 10 rated as ‘poor.’
  • Overall 88% of Scotland’s designated bathing waters have met the strict environmental water quality standards for 2019.  
  • Water quality information is available by 10.00 am every day during the season for 31 bathing water locations at sepa.org.uk/bathingwaters, via Beachline and live electronic beach signage.

Continue reading More of Scotland’s bathing waters rated ‘excellent’ but Porty’s just ‘sufficient’