Projekt 42 is hosting a free open day this coming Sunday (27th October), inviting the local community to drop by and take part in a variety of fitness classes, as well as have the chance to speak to their mental health team. Continue reading Projekt 42 to hold Open Day this Sunday
A new report shows 6,038 new episodes of compulsory treatment using the Mental Health Act in Scotland last year – the highest figure since the Act came into force in 2003.
The new data, published by the Mental Welfare Commission, also shows rising figures for young people aged under 25 being given compulsory treatment.
The rates at which detention was used varied considerably across Scotland. Continue reading Concern over record use of compulsory mental health treatment
Scottish stars came out in force yesterday to help launch this year’s Scottish Poppy Appeal and show that when it comes to our Armed Forces, they are behind them. Always.
Among those with messages of support for veterans throughout Scotland are Game of Thrones actor James Cosmo, celebrity chef Nick Nairn and multiple-medal-winning athlete Eilidh Doyle. Continue reading Scottish stars lend support to launch of Poppy Appeal 2019
Up to 18,000 tons to be thrown out by the end of the big day
Hundreds of thousands of pumpkins, single use fancy dress clothes and plastic tat will be thrown into Britain’s bins by the end of the Hallowe’en festivities. Continue reading Halloween waste: Pumpkins and fancy dress heading “straight to Britain’s bins”
Organisers of Edinburgh Diwali have announced the most culturally diverse programme of performers and events in its five-year history.
GP practices will receive more than £9 million of new funding to upgrade their premises and IT systems supporting better services for local communities.
The funding will facilitate improvements to GP practices and enhancements to make the best use of existing space. It will improve internet connectivity and also support the deployment of Attend Anywhere – an online virtual clinic that patients can link into wherever they are.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This is a substantial investment by the Scottish Government which will support GPs, the wider primary care workforce and the communities they serve.
“The upgrades to premises and IT systems will see continued improvements to the delivery of high quality patient care, including the continued deployment of Attend Anywhere in our remote and rural areas.
“This investment is part of a wider commitment to increase general practice funding by £250 million by 2021 as part of an extra investment of £500 million per year for primary care funding. This funding together with our wider reform programme will mean additional staff working in primary care, providing better services for patients and allowing them to see the right person at the right time.”
Scottish GP Committee deputy chair Patricia Moultrie said: “This is welcome funding for GP premises and will allow partners to improve their practices and give much-need updates to IT systems.
“This funding is definitely a step in the right direction in regards to making premises fit for the multidisciplinary teams working within general practice in the future, as we look towards the development of Phase 2 of the GP contract.”
The £9.34 million will be split as below:
– £5 million allocated to Integration Authorities to carry out digitisation of GP paper records and improvements to GP premises
– £0.14 million to NHS National Services Scotland to digitise paper GP records transferring between paper-light GP practices
– £2.2 million of this would be targeted to supporting Boards on their implementation of PCIPs and on their improvements to GP IT in 2019-20 and promoting joint working, including specific support to rural and remote areas.
– A further £1.8 million funding would be targeted to making faster progress on two other key areas of supporting infrastructure investment:
– Internet connectivity
– Staff and patient Wi-Fi in practices.
– £600,000 of the £1.8 million is going to be used to pay for the on-going costs of practices which have already had their internet connection upgraded. This cost wasn’t paid from the Primary Care Fund previously and is a direct result of previous investment to improve internet connections. Around £100,000 is identified for upgrading further practice internet connections.
– The remaining £200,000 would be targeted at supporting the deployment of Attend Anywhere to remote and rural GP practices.
Augmented reality artwork, corrupted selfies, hidden content and an installation hanging from washing lines, a time-lapsed film projected onto the cast impressions of Edinburgh’s Old Town and sound experiments as a playable interface …
These are some of the artworks created by pupils from eight Edinburgh schools which will be on display at Custom Lane in Leith this weekend as part of The Fruitmarket Gallery’s Making Matters and SmART Thinking Schools’ Programmes.
Continue reading Follow in our Footsteps: Fruitmarket Gallery’s Schools Programme exhibition
Recorded sexual offences against children have reached an all-time high, data obtained by the NSPCC has revealed.
In Scotland, there were 5,325 recorded offences including rape, grooming and sexual assault against children in 2018/19. Across the UK, in the same period, there were 76,204 of these offences – an average of one every seven minutes. Continue reading 15 sex crimes against a child recorded EVERY DAY in Scotland
The Next Step programme has announced a great start in realising its goal of fairer work for residents of Edinburgh. Since its launch in April 2019, over 500 people have been offered free advice, training and connections toward more secure and fair employment.
Next Step is a free service delivered by anti-poverty charity Community Renewal Trust, with support from Citizens Advice Edinburgh, One Parent Families Scotland and Bruce Robertson Training. It is funded by City of Edinburgh Council and the European Social Fund through Capital City Partnership.
Since April, it has helped clients with a wide range of employment related requirements including insufficient income, unemployment, training needs, career stagnation and work and personal issues. Community Renewal hosted a special event today to celebrate passing a key landmark.
Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills Jamie Hepburn MSP, attended the event at Out of The Blue Drill Hall and congratulated the project on its success: “It is fantastic to see how well Next Step has taken off since its launch in April – it is now celebrating over 500 participants joining the programme.
“The providers also tackle a range of employability matters including in-work poverty. I welcome this because it helps create fairer work, and also helps people with other employment-related issues.”
CEO – Paul McColgan – described what makes the project stand out: “The project isn’t just about getting people into work or into better work – it is about transforming an individual’s life.
“Our highly experienced Employment Advisers collaborate with each individual and together they identify their needs. We stick with the client offering bespoke advice, one to one support and links with employers until they have achieved the outcome they want.”
One client, Kevin Gibbons, shared his experience of Next Step: “I approached Next Step because I was looking for work. Thanks to their advisers, I have attended digital training and received funding for a book-keeping course.
“Once I got to the stage of applying for work, I also received help with writing my CV and interview coaching. They also helped with personal development such as improving my confidence. In fact I joked with the Minister at today’s event that if the First Minister is looking for a new addition to the team, I would happily interview! ”
Kate Kelman, Deputy Chief Executive at Capital City Partnership, explained why the project was funded: “This service is potentially innovative, providing holistic support, tailored to the individual and ultimately empowering people.
“We have high hopes that the approach adopted by the Next Step project will result in genuine long–term and sustainable improvements to people’s lives.”
Despite currently working with over 500 people, The Next Step team invite even more people to contact Next Step; whatever their requirements.
“We are working with Edinburgh Fuse and a great many other employers and as a result we have helped a variety of people into fair work. Whatever challenges and barriers they have experienced, we have been able to work with them to find a solution.
“We urge anyone who is looking for work or in-work but needing advice or support, to get in touch. Our service is free, and we have offices based all over Edinburgh.”
Anyone interested in Next Step can find out more at the website www.nextstepedinburgh.org or call 0300 365 0025.
Scottish Book Trust has launched Book Week Scotland’s 2019 programme with comic book artist Frank Quitely of DC Comics All Star Superman and Batman and Robin fame.
Book Week Scotland, the country’s biggest celebration of reading and writing, returns for its eight year with hundreds of events taking place all over Scotland from intimate community gatherings to flagship events with well-loved authors. Continue reading Book Week Scotland programme launched
