Month: June 2019

Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans plan peaceful protest in Edinburgh

Hundreds of motorcyclists, their pillion riders, scooters, mopeds, historic military vehicles plus many supporters on foot from all across Britain, are taking to the streets of Edinburgh this Friday (7th June 2019). 

Continue reading Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans plan peaceful protest in Edinburgh

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

Landlords could hold the key to reducing homelessness

   

A new partnership to unlock access to the private rented sector for homeless people across the city has been launched with national homelessness charity, Crisis.

Help to Rent Edinburgh will provide a range of services for tenants who the Council have assessed as homeless to widen their rental options beyond social housing, which often has long waiting lists. This will allow people to move on from temporary accommodation more quickly. 

Support will include advice in navigating properties available for rent and entitlement to local housing allowance. The service will also provide help with budgeting, leases, inventories, arranging viewings and finding flatmates where necessary. 

The scheme will also include a deposit guarantee provision for landlords so that people who would struggle to pay this expense up front are not excluded from renting. Similar to a cash deposit, this gives landlords peace of mind by providing protection against any damage or arrears and is guaranteed to be paid by the scheme if problems arise. 

Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing and Economy Convener, said: “Because of the pressures on social housing in Edinburgh homeless households are having to spend too long in temporary accommodation while waiting for a permanent home. We have to help people find ways out of homelessness that don’t just rely on social housing and that has to include the private sector. 

“Crisis have a wealth of experience in housing and homelessness, so it’s good to have them working in partnership with us to deliver what will be a transformative project. This is about the public and third sectors working with private sector landlords who understand that they can play an important role helping us to tackle homelessness. 

“And it will also make it easier for many households and families at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, to find a permanent, settled home. If you are a landlord in Edinburgh I would encourage you to find out more about Help to Rent as, if you do, you will absolutely play a part in improving people’s lives in our city.” 

Grant Campbell, Skylight Director for Crisis in Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Council to provide this much-needed service.

“So many people across the city are currently struggling to leave homelessness behind, in part because the costs of renting can make finding a stable home hugely challenging. Landlords who agree to let their properties to homeless individuals, couples or families are playing their part in supporting people into settled housing and allowing them to move on with their lives more quickly. 

“I would encourage any landlord with a property to think about joining Help to Rent, not only will it genuinely help more people out of homelessness but you will also get the security of a named contact for the duration of the tenancy and support in finding new tenants making the process easier for you to manage.”

Crisis is employing two new staff members to manage the scheme and prospective tenants will come through the Council’s Housing services. The initial aim is to secure 40 tenancies within the first year of the three-year contract.

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