Month: June 2020

Prime Minister speaks out on Black Lives Matter

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s message on Black Lives Matter:

The death of George Floyd took place thousands of miles away – in another country, under another jurisdiction – and yet we simply cannot ignore the depth of emotion that has been triggered by that spectacle, of a black man losing his life at the hands of the police.

In this country and around the world his dying words – I can’t breathe – have awakened an anger and a widespread and incontrovertible, undeniable feeling of injustice, a feeling that people from black and minority ethnic groups do face discrimination: in education, in employment, in the application of the criminal law.

And we who lead and who govern simply can’t ignore those feelings because in too many cases, I am afraid, they will be founded on a cold reality.

Yes, I am proud to lead the most ethnically diverse government in the history of this country, with two of the four great offices of state held by a man and a woman of Indian origin; and yes, I am proud of the work I began to lead more than ten years ago to recruit and promote more young black people, in the police and other walks of life.

This country has made huge strides. I remember the 1970s, and the horror of the National Front. I truly believe that we are a much, much less racist society than we were, in many ways far happier and better.

But we must also frankly acknowledge that there is so much more to do – in eradicating prejudice, and creating opportunity, and the government I lead is committed to that effort.

And so I say yes, you are right, we are all right, to say Black Lives Matter; and to all those who have chosen to protest peacefully and who have insisted on social distancing – I say, yes of course I hear you, and I understand.

But I must also say that we are in a time of national trial, when for months this whole country has come together to fight a deadly plague.

After such sacrifice, we cannot now let it get out of control.

It is BAME communities who have been at the forefront of the struggle against coronavirus – whether in health care or transport or social care or any of the other essential services that have kept our country going.

And it is BAME communities, tragically, that have paid a disproportionate price.

So no, I will not support those who flout the rules on social distancing, for the obvious reason that we risk a new infection at a critical time and just as we have made huge progress.

And no, I will not support or indulge those who break the law, or attack the police, or desecrate public monuments.

We have a democracy in this country. If you want to change the urban landscape, you can stand for election, or vote for someone who will.

And so I must say clearly that those who attack public property or the police –who injure the police officers who are trying to keep us all safe – those people will face the full force of the law; not just because of the hurt and damage they are causing, but because of the damage they are doing to the cause they claim to represent.

They are hijacking a peaceful protest and undermining it in the eyes of many who might otherwise be sympathetic.

And as a society, we can and must do better.

This month, on the 22nd of June, we celebrate the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948, and we remember the contribution of the Afro-Caribbean workers – in the NHS and across all public services – who helped to rebuild this country after the war.

And today, once again, we face a great task: to relaunch this country after Coronavirus. So let’s work peacefully, lawfully, to defeat racism and discrimination wherever we find it, and let us continue to work together across all the communities of this country, as we put Britain back on its feet.

Newsletter deliveries resume this morning

Volunteers will be hitting local streets once again today to deliver the NEN Coronavirus special edition newsletter across North Edinburgh.

An enthusiastic team of volunteers delivered thousands of newsletters across Drylaw and Telford, Muirhouse, Salvesen, West Pilton, Granton and Royston Wardieburn last week, and a final push will see the last of the newsletters delivered this week.

If you would like to lend a hand – full guidance and protective equipment will be issued – teams will be leaving from the following locations from Tuesday – Thursday this week:

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Groathill Road North at 11am

Fresh Start, Ferry Road Drive at 11am

Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway at 11am

Ainslie Park Leisure Centre car park, Pilton Drive North at 2pm

The newsletter contains helpful information and key telephone numbers to help local people get through the pandemic.

The North Edinburgh Covid-19 Foodshare coalition would like to thank our magnicent volunteers who have done so much to support the community dring these most difficult of times.

Thanks also to the following organisations for their terrfic support:

Funders:

Cash for Kids,

Inspiring Scotland,

North Edinburgh Community Councils,

Muirhouse Housing Association,

Pilton Central Association (PCA),

SCVO,

STV Appeal,

The National Lottery for Communities,

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Cairn Energy

Cramond FC

Edinburgh City Council

Lindsay’s Charitable Trust

Martin Lewis Foundation

Murray Foundation

National Emergencies Trust

Neighbourly Community Fund

Places for People Foundation

Port of Leith Housing Association

Queensberry House Trust

Richardson and Starling

Scottish Government

Stewart Investors.

Food, supplies and support have kindly been donated by:

Baillie Gifford, Chand & Co Group,

Edinburgh Academy,

Fettes College,

Mathieson’s the butchers,

Morrisons,

PrepTable Scotland,

Porto & Fi cafe,

Scottish Gas,

Social Bite,

Tesco,

TB McKay Energy Supplies

Investec

Neighbourly Community Fund.

We couldn’t do it without you – THANK YOU ALL !

 

First Minister: ‘We will not forget you’

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House, yesterday (Monday 8 June):

Good afternoon. My update today will be a bit longer than normal as I have important information to convey, including on shielding.

But first I’ll give an update on the key statistics in relation to Covid-19.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 15,639 positive cases confirmed – an increase of 18 from yesterday.

A total of 1,042 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. That represents a total increase of 40 from yesterday, including an increase of 9 in the number of confirmed cases in hospital.

A total of 24 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus. That is a decrease of 1 since yesterday.

I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,799 patients who had tested positive and required hospital treatment for the virus have been able to leave hospital.

And in the last 24 hours, 0 deaths were registered of patients confirmed through a test as having Covid-19 –the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, therefore remains at 2,415.

This is the second day in a row that no deaths have been registered in the preceding 24 hours. This is obviously very encouraging. I can’t tell how much I have longed to report such a development – and I know you will have longed to hear that. 

But even so, we must still exercise caution. We know from previous weeks that fewer deaths tend to be registered at weekends – so it is still highly likely that more Covid deaths will be recorded in the days ahead. But I very much hope we continue to see a steady decline.

As always, I want to stress that the figures I have been reporting over the last few weeks are not simply statistics. They represent individuals whose loss is a source of sorrow to many. My deepest condolences are with everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus.

I also want to express my thanks to our health and care workers for the incredible work that you continue to do in very testing circumstances.

And today I want to convey a special message – from my heart – to everyone watching. I want to take a moment to thank you for the sacrifices you have made in recent weeks.

I know how painful many of these sacrifices have been – not being able to see family, especially grandchildren, or attend funerals of loved ones, or celebrate special occasions.

These are times in our lives that we don’t get back.

And the experience – the worry and the loneliness – of these weeks will live with all of us forever. That is true for everyone – but it is and will continue to be especially so for those in the shielded category who I will address directly in a moment.

I want all of you – shielded or not – to know that I am acutely aware of this in every single decision I take. And there are no words that will ever adequately express the sorrow I feel for all you have gone through – or indeed the gratitude for the way you have borne it.

I also know that as you listen to me report statistics that are now going in a positive direction, you will be asking if these sacrifices remain necessary.

And as you witness some people, even just a minority, not abiding by the rules, I suspect you may be also asking ‘why should I bother?’ I understand all of that. I really do. And I share the frustration at times.

But sticking with it for a bit longer really does matter. These painful but necessary sacrifices have brought us to where we are today – with this virus in retreat.

In retreat, but not gone. And still posing a real risk, especially to the most clinically vulnerable.

And that’s the key point I want to make to you today. This is such a crucial juncture in our battle against the virus. We will either keep going, keep beating it back – or we will give it the chance to roar back with a vengeance.

We must do the former. If we break the chains of transmission even more and drive down the number of new cases to a lower base, the safer it will be to more meaningfully ease the restrictions and speed up our journey back to some normality.

And if we do keep making the progress we have in the last few weeks, I am optimistic that 10 days from now at the next formal review, we will be able to move, at least in part, into the next phase of our routemap out of lockdown, with more individual freedoms restored and more businesses able to open up and operate again.

But that depends on all of us. So please stick with it. Every day we do, brings us closer to getting back to a form of normality. But today I want to thank each and every one of you for all of those sacrifices you have been making.

The main – and difficult – issue I want to talk about today is shielding. I want to give as much of an update as I can for the approximately 180,000 people across Scotland who have been shielding – because we know you are at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from this virus.

Our initial advice in March was for you to shield until the 18th of June and I know you are anxious about what happens next.

This is not an easy update to give – and I know it will not be an easy one for you to hear – but it is important that we set out for you our current expectations at this stage. You will receive a letter from the Chief Medical Officer shortly with the information I am about to give.

The advice for you to shield has been necessary to protect you from harm – and for now it remains so – but I am well aware that such a long period of isolation causes its own harms and distress.

For all of these reasons we want, as soon as we possibly can, to move to a better position where we can give you more tailored advice on the risks associated with your specific condition – and then set out what you can do to mitigate these risks and how we can support you to live more normally.

However to do that properly and safely, we need more clinical and scientific evidence than we have right now. I will say more about that in a few moments.

For the moment, despite the progress that has been made in reducing levels of Covid in the community, the virus still poses a very significant threat to you. I am afraid, therefore, that our recommendation at this stage is that you should continue to shield until 31 July.

We are however likely to amend our current guidance so that from next week you can go outside to exercise. I will say more about that shortly.

The support you currently receive will of course still be available. At present, more than 50,000 shielding people receive free weekly grocery boxes, and 46,000 have registered for priority online delivery with supermarkets. That is in addition to the services local pharmacists are providing, and the help given by local authorities and the third sector.  All of those services will continue – and even if you haven’t needed them up until now, you can still access them.

I promise you, and I want to say this very directly and very sincerely to you, I promise you we are not going to forget about you between now and the end of July.

During that period, we will consider on an ongoing basis whether further easing is possible. And if we can bring shielding in its current form to an end earlier than the end of July, we will do so. But we judge it is better to give you the clarity of a backstop date now.

And please be assured that we are working hard to provide a more tailored approach for you – so that from the end of July at the latest, you can enjoy more normality in your life.

We know that not every person who is shielding faces exactly the same risk.

So we are working to develop tools that allow you and your clinicians to take into account your specific condition –  and also other factors, like your age or ethnicity – in order to give you a better sense of the risks you face.

As part of that, we are also looking for ways to help you understand the changing risk of infection in your local area.

Once this evidence is available, we will start providing more specific advice for you, so that you can understand the safest ways to go back to a more normal life. We are working on this with clinicians and scientific advisers across the 4 nations of the UK.

It is worth stressing that some of the issues here are complex – and new clinical evidence is becoming available constantly – however we hope to make this more detailed advice available over the next few weeks.

Before then – for the period from 18 June onwards – we have been considering what steps we can safely take.

We now know that the risk of catching Covid outdoors, if you stay 2 metres apart from other people, is relatively low.

And so we currently expect that from Thursday 18 June, anybody who is shielding, unless they live in a nursing or residential care home, will be able to go outdoors for exercise. There will be no limit to how long or how often you can go out each day.

We hope that this will provide some boost for your quality of life – particularly if you live in a home which doesn’t have a garden, or which has limited space – without greatly increasing the risks you face.

Assuming that this change goes ahead – and I currently expect that to be the case – you’ll be able to go out for exercise; for example a walk, wheel, run or cycle.

However you should stay two metres away from others while you’re out.

We will not recommend yet that you take part in sports such as golf or tennis.

And you should still avoid meeting up with other households, even in a physically distanced setting. I know that that in particular is really  hard, but we want to avoid the possibility of creating additional risks.

For people who live in nursing or residential care homes – I am afraid that any change to the guidance on exercise from 18 June, will not yet apply to you.  We will change our advice for you as soon as we can confidently do so.

In relation to education, we have already published guidance to clarify that children who are shielding should not be expected to return until it is safe. Instead, they should be supported to receive education at home or in a way that best meets their needs

And in relation to work, the starting point for everyone – regardless of whether or not you are shielding – should be that you work from home where possible

But if you are shielding, you are not expected to return to a workplace until at least 31 July. And I want to be clear that employers should do everything they can to help you to work from home safely. Nobody should be penalised for following medical guidance.

Before I finish, I want to acknowledge that the support made available to people who are shielding is only possible because different organisations have worked together. That includes national and local government, the third sector, supermarkets and wholesalers, and the NHS.

And these services depend on a lot of hard work from a lot of people – for example the staff in local authority assistance centres, delivery drivers, volunteers and many others. I want to say thank you to all of them.

I also know that for anyone who lives with someone who is shielding, this has been a very stressful time. I want to particularly acknowledge the support that you will have been providing, in incredibly difficult circumstances.

And of course most of all, I want to say thank you to those of you who are shielding.

I don’t know, from my own personal experience, just how difficult this has been for you, so I’m not going to pretend to you that I do, but I can imagine how difficult this has been.

I know that many of you listening today will be very disappointed that shielding is to continue for some time yet. I want to assure you though that this is not a decision we take lightly – it weighs heavily on all of us, including on me.

But it is for your protection. And I hope that our advice on exercise, should it come into force next week as I expect, will make a difference for many of you.

I also promise that we will ease our guidance again before the end of July  – if we are confident we can do so safely. And I guarantee that in the weeks ahead, you will continue to be absolutely central to our thinking.

I want to conclude just by emphasizing again our key public health guidance for all people outside the shielding group.

You should still be staying home most of the time, and you should still be meeting fewer people than normal.

When you do meet people from another household, you must stay outdoors, and you must stay 2 metres apart from them.

Don’t meet with more than one other household at a time, don’t meet more than one a day – and keep to a maximum of 8 people in a group.

Wash your hands often. Take hand sanitiser if you are out and about.

Wear a face covering when you are in shops or on public transport.

Avoid touching hard surfaces – and clean any you do touch.

And if you have the symptoms of Covid-19 you must get tested, and follow the advice on self-isolation.

Above all else, please remember that the decisions you take as an individual, affect the health and wellbeing of us all.

If we all do the right thing, then we will continue to slow the spread of this virus and we will save lives. And we will bring forward much closer that day when all of us can continue to get back to some normality.

So my thanks again to all of you, my thanks in particular to those watching in the shielded category. I know how difficult what I have just reported to you will be, but let me repeat that promise – that we have not and will not forget you.

Lothian MSP praises carers during National Carers Week

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has called on everyone to show their support for carers during National Carers Week (8-14 June).

Carers have an invaluable role in society looking after people who need their support, many of who are unpaid.

The Covid-19 outbreak this year has been very challenging for carers who have not been able to see loved ones in person, to protect the people they are caring for.

The Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson has used the week to call on the SNP Government to recognise the role that many unpaid carers play on a daily basis and ensure that they have the resources to provide financial and wellbeing support to relatives and loved ones.

Carers work at this time should never be forgotten and MSP Miles Briggs says everyone owes them a huge debt of gratitude.

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs campaigned with Amanda Kopel to pass Frank’s Law in Scotland and ensure under 65s have access to free personal care.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “Carers are integral to our communities and look after those people who are most vulnerable in our society.

“The Covid-19 outbreak has been incredibly challenging for carers, with care homes being particularly affected by Covid-19.

“National Carers Week is an opportunity to highlight the hard work of carers across Edinburgh and the Lothians and the sacrifices they have made during this pandemic.

“SNP Ministers must ensure that resources are in place to support all carers who have taken on unpaid roles caring for relatives and friends during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I will continue to push the SNP Government for greater support to be given to carers throughout Scotland.”

Clever tech roll out helps vulnerable people during pandemic

Vulnerable customers of an Edinburgh housing and care provider are being able to keep in constant contact with friends and family – and where necessary their carers – during the Coronavirus lockdown thanks to its pioneering technology.

Blackwood has provided its customers with tablets complete with accessible care technology and wifi access to help keep them more digitally connected at all times, despite most being currently ‘shielded’ in their homes.

It has already led to a remarkable 800% increase in the function that allows customers to contact friends and family.

And with visits from care staff being impacted because of social distancing and virus protection measures, the technology is ensuring customers do not feel isolated as they can also keep in touch with carers via video calls, even those who use Blackwood’s night-time support service.

Each tablet gives customers access to CleverCogs™, Blackwood’s own bespoke care system, which enables people to stay in touch with friends and family through video chat, while also allowing them to catch up on their favourite tv shows, access information and receive calendar reminders of care visits and medication.

The system allows customers to attend GP appointments through the NHS service, Near Me, which is linked with more than 30 GPs across Scotland.

CleverCogs™ is personalised to each customer meaning they will be able to easily access their interests, whether it’s music, sports or movies. The system is designed to only take users maximum three taps of the tablet to access any of its features.

Blackwood – which operates across Edinburgh as well as 28 other local authorities, providing housing and care support to people with a wide range of care needs – is also fronting a new campaign #ImInAwe to showcase the work of front-line social care workers during the pandemic crisis.

Anne Jenkins, Blackwood’s Innovation Delivery Manager, said: “As an organisation we understand and appreciate how uneasy and stressful the current lockdown situation is for many of our customers and their families.

“CleverCogs™ gives our customers and families some peace of mind in that they can stay fully connected throughout this, so reducing feelings of loneliness, anxiety or isolation.

“In fact where previous there was a reluctance to use CleverCogs™ as a communication tool, now customers are freely using it to keep in contact with friends and families.

“We personalise every CleverCogs™ device, which has had huge impacts on our customers’ lives. Being digitally connected really has the opportunity to change people’s lives – it opens their horizons to a whole new online world.

“In the current circumstances, it’s even more important that we facilitate every measure possible to ensure our customers have access to the required care and communication to allow them to continue living a fulfilled life as independently as possible.”

Currently the system features include information about Care, Safety, Housing, Home Automation, Information, Digital Inclusion as well as Health & Wellbeing.

CleverCogs™ has also been implemented across all of Blackwood’s care services, as well as being the ‘hub’ for each of its Blackwood Houses. Within the Blackwood Houses, CleverCogs™ enables customers to control lights, heating, doors and blinds.

Blackwood’s #ImInAwe campaign aims to shine a light on the important front-line role care employees are playing, to encourage businesses and individuals to look at ways they can show gratitude.

It’s estimated up to 150,000 staff work in the social care sector, providing care to people in care homes and retirement developments as well as care-at-home services. The social campaign is spreading online with the hashtag #ImInAwe to show collective support.

Blackwood customers are at the heart of shaping its future. With over 1500 properties across 29 local authorities, it is the largest provider in Scotland and helps the transform customers’ lives on a daily basis – at a time when funding is becoming increasingly tighter.

For more information, please visit: https://www.blackwoodgroup.org.uk  

£300,000 for Scotland’s young carers

Carers Week launched with additional support.

£300,000 from the £350 million communities funding to support people and communities affected by COVID-19 is being given to support young carers across Scotland.

Young Scot will receive £200,000 to provide online subscriptions and e-vouchers for young carers. Meanwhile £100,000 will go to expanding the Time To Live small grants scheme.

The additional funding comes as National Carers Week begins.

Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe FitzPatrick said: “There are an estimated 29,000 young carers in Scotland making an invaluable contribution to society. However, many of them don’t get the same opportunities as their peers, due to having more responsibility and less free time.

“Many of those young people may be under even greater strain than usual, and not had a chance to take a break from caring due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

“That’s why we are providing this funding to support as many young carers as possible to access opportunities such as e-vouchers, subscription packages and short breaks that can help improve their quality of life during this time.

“This is in addition to our Young Carer Grant of £305 per year. Anyone aged between 16 and 18 years old who spends more than 16 hours per week caring for a person in receipt of certain disability benefits can apply – and I would encourage them to do so.

“And young carers can access these new opportunities via the Young Scot website and their local carers centre.”

A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 (or 18 and still at school) who provides or intends to provide care for someone else. 

The Young Scot package is available to all young carers aged 11-18 and can be applied for via the Young Scot website.

The Time to Live small grants are available to young carers of any age through their local delivery partner – usually a local carers centre. Carers can find out where their nearest delivery partner is via the Shared Care Scotland website.

Eligible young carers can apply for the Young Carer Grant via the Social Security Scotland website.

 

 

A fridge too far!

Despite costing hundreds of pounds more than their standard counterparts, smart appliances could be rendered obsolete after as little as two years as manufacturers stop providing vital software updates, according to a new Which? investigation.

The consumer champion calculated that, on average, customers pay £855 more for a smart fridge-freezer than a standard one, £259 more for a smart dishwasher and £190 more for a smart tumble dryer.

Which? research has found that dishwashers and washing machines typically last for 10 years before they’re replaced due to faults or poor performance. Fridge-freezers and tumble dryers typically last for 11 years.

When Which? asked its members how long they thought a smart appliance might last, 69% per cent said they would expect it to last the same length of time as a non-smart equivalent.

But many manufacturers are failing to give clarity about the length of time their products would be supported with important security updates – without which they would potentially be rendered a security risk.

Smart appliances come with a range of useful features that allow users to control them remotely using a phone, save money by improving efficiency, or send alerts to engineers when a fault is connected.

However, without regular security and software updates, they could lose smart functionality and leave all the data on the owner’s home network open to hackers – raising the environmentally disastrous prospect of expensive machines that still work being replaced before their time and even ending up in landfill because they are not supported or secure.

When Which? asked major manufacturers about how long their products would receive vital software updates, it found most were not being transparent, and one suggested that it could even stop providing security support after only a couple of years.

The majority of manufacturers claimed they would offer updates for what they termed ‘the life of  the product’ – but refused to say how long they would expect that to be.

Samsung said ‘a minimum of two years’. Hoover/Candy claimed an appliance’s lifetime depends on factors like regularity of use and whether the appliance is loaded or maintained correctly.

BSH (which makes Bosch, Neff and Siemens appliances) said that it is difficult to provide a specific length of time for updates across its smart products but reiterated that it would provide updates for the lifetime of the product. Whirlpool stated that it does not have a timeframe for updates.

LG said that if issues are detected, updates can be rolled out to consumers, but it did not confirm any timeframes for the duration of support. Beko said ‘a maximum of 10 years’.

Only Miele was definitive. It said from the outset that it would support its smart appliances with 10 years of security updates, matching Which?’s research that shows how long these products typically last.

It tends to reserve smart functionality for its higher-end products, often costing more than £1,000, and they sometimes have 10-year parts and labour guarantees too.

Which? wants manufacturers to be transparent about how long customers will receive the adequate updates and support needed to ensure the functionality of smart features when they buy an appliance.

Currently, none of the manufacturers Which? spoke to have published a length of update policy in their terms of use.

Most of these products should work without an internet connection but it might not always be the case. Losing the smart features could mean that customers have rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which requires products to be “of satisfactory quality”, “fit for purpose” and “as described”.

Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that in Which?’s survey six in 10 people (61%) who do not already own a smart appliance said they would not consider buying one.

A new EU directive could make it clearer where owners of smart appliances stand. If adopted in the UK, the directive would mean consumers have more protections with digital elements of appliances, including an obligation to guarantee the smart functioning of a product (through updates, for example).

The UK government has also set out plans for legislation requiring smart appliances to meet certain security standards. These proposals would oblige manufacturers to state the minimum length of time the device will receive security updates.

Which? will closely scrutinise the development of legislation around security standards to ensure it  works to prevent security-risk products ending up in people’s homes and will continue to put pressure on manufacturers to give their customers the transparency they need to make informed decisions about buying smart products.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: “’Being able to check the contents of your fridge from your smartphone or having your dishwasher order itself more salt when it starts running low may seem appealing, but with some appliances costing up to an extra £900, these smart features don’t come cheap.

“Until manufacturers are clear and upfront about how long they will support these products for, consumers could be better off avoiding smart appliances that might turn ‘dumb’ after only a few years and stick to more reliable and significantly cheaper non-smart alternatives.”

BPS advice on supporting each other at work following the death of a colleague

Grief at any time is difficult and painful and even under normal circumstances the death of a colleague can be challenging and represent a significant loss.

The realities of Covid-19 means that there are additional challenges for people mourning the death of a colleague due to the lack of access to support from friends, family and colleagues.

The British Psychological Society’s Covid-19 bereavement task force has launched a new document, ‘Supporting each other following the death of a colleague’, to help people understand their feelings and reaction if they do lose a colleague during this time.

Professor Nichola Rooney, chair of the task force, said: “Sadly, many people have been bereaved during the Covid-19 pandemic, with some grieving the death of a colleague.

“We spend a lot of time at work and often form close bonds with people we work with, so losing a colleague at a time when we may not have our usual support networks can be particularly difficult.”

The booklet gives advice on how to cope with returning to work following the death of a colleague and encourages employees to take advantage of the support that is available to them and allowing for the fact that work may be affected by the grieving process.

It encourages people to take the opportunity to consider marking the death through a memorial at either at work or at home, if that is someone’s current workplace, but also to plan for other remembrance activities in the future once the current crisis abates.

The guidance is part of a suite of resources produced by the BPS’s Covid-19 bereavement task force, aimed at helping people manage their grief during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Supporting each other following the death of a colleague

Council cracks on with Spaces for People programme

Work to deliver a package of measures supporting walking, cycling and wheeling in Edinburgh is continuing apace, as more than 1,700 residents share their own suggestions for improvements.

The council has begun implementing two temporary segregated cycle lanes on Old Dalkeith Road and Crewe Road South, providing safer routes as traffic increases for essential workers travelling to the city’s main hospitals, the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Western General.

The next set of interventions will focus on supporting economic recovery, as and when businesses begin to reopen, in line with the Scottish Government’s phased approach to lifting lockdown.

Temporary changes will target the city centre and local high streets, helping people to visit these areas while maintaining physical distancing, without having to resort to private car use. We are aiming to introduce the first changes by the end of next week, which include:

  • The partial closure of Waverley Bridge at the junction with East Market Street, helping pedestrians and cyclists travel safely while meeting physical distancing requirements
  • Footway widening at junctions and a bus, cycle and taxi gate on North Bridge to improve pedestrian routes and aid cycling and public transport provision
  • Footway widening and a bus, cycle and taxi gate on East Princes Street and South St David Street

Each of these measures is currently undergoing an agreed five-day notification period with ward councillors, transport spokespeople, community councils and stakeholders including Living Streets, Spokes, the Edinburgh Access Panel and RNIB.

Feedback will help the development of final, detailed designs and will inform refinements as appropriate once measures are implemented. This was the case on Crewe Road South, where the council says they have worked to change cycle lanes from advisory to segregated in response to feedback received.

A dedicated team is now working through their remaining programme of measures, along with suggestions received, using an assessment framework of 16 scoring criteria. By applying weighted criteria, the council says it is making sure it prioritises improvements that will deliver the greatest overall benefits within the short timeframe available.

Transport and Environment Convener Lesley Macinnes said: “We’re working quickly to deliver an ambitious package of measures to help people continue to walk, cycle, wheel and use public transport as we navigate our way out of this unprecedented situation.

Of course, we want to get these interventions on the ground as quickly as possible and there’s a lot of work going on to deliver temporary changes within tight timescales. But we’re also involving stakeholders in that process, including active travel and equality groups, to get designs for local schemes right, which takes a little bit of time.

“It’s clear that there’s a lot of interest in and support for our plans, demonstrated by the many suggestions we’ve received via email and the Commonplace tool. I’d like to thank everyone who has had their say so far – our dedicated team will continue to work through these ideas, building on them where we can.

Transport and Environment Vice Convener Karen Doran said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to the measures we’ve already implemented across the city, which have made residents and their families feel safer strolling or cycling from their homes.

“Today we begin installing two segregated cycle lanes to help essential workers cycle safely to our main hospitals. Next up, we’ll be implementing significant changes in our key shopping streets to encourage people to spend time there on foot, bike or wheelchair as businesses begin to reopen.

“These interventions, paired with our Paths for Everyone campaign encouraging physical distancing on off-road paths, are essential to help encourage active travel as we return to a sense of normality.”

Dave Keane, Infrastructure Manager, Sustrans Scotland, added: “The City of Edinburgh Council has shown great ambition to make it easier for people to get around safely on foot, by bike or wheelchair as we transition out of lockdown.

“We hope people living in Edinburgh will engage with the Commonplace mapping tool – it’s really simple, clear and easy to give feedback. Most importantly, it will help the council get a clear picture of what people think of the temporary measures already put in place and where other interventions are needed most.”

The Commonplace tool, launched recently with Sustrans, lets people highlight barriers to safe physical distancing and suggest improvements on an interactive map. Since then we’ve received over 1,500 suggestions, which are in addition to around 200 suggestions already received via email. Feedback will be taken on board as much as possible – for example, measures proposed at East Princes Street and North Bridge directly respond to a number of concerns raised around narrow pavements and traffic volumes.

While we welcome every response, we won’t be able to deliver all the improvements suggested, with any work dependent on available funding, procurement of materials and the availability of contractors.

This week, the notification process begins on the next phase of city centre measures, which will be implemented during week commencing 15 June and include:

  • Widened footways and segregated cycleways on George IV Bridge to allow people to access shops, bars and restaurants safely
  • Widened footways and a segregated uphill cycleway on the Mound and Bank Street for access to local businesses
  • Reduced through traffic and widened pavements on South Bridge for better pedestrian access
  • Introduction of a short section of segregated cycleway on Forrest Road, leading towards George IV Bridge

From 15 June we will also be notifying stakeholders of plans for footway widening and servicing arrangements in local town centres. These include: Morningside, Bruntsfield, Tollcross, Gorgie/Dalry, Newington/Southside, Portobello, Corstorphine High Street and Queensferry High Street.

Aligning with future phases of the Scottish Government’s lifting of lockdown restrictions, later stages of the Spaces for People programme will support sustainable travel on key arterial routes and subsequently will focus on measures to make journeys to places of education as safe and sustainable as possible.

Several improvements are already in place across the city, with the first set of schemes aiming to facilitate safe and accessible routes to green spaces and local amenities. These have included partial road closures in Portobello, Warriston, Silverknowes and Leith and have been welcomed by communities, creating safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Find out more about the Spaces for People programme and share your suggestions on the Council website.

Millions have to use annual leave for caring duties

  • 4.4 million people have to use annual leave for caring duties – Phoenix calls on Government to accelerate legislation to provide greater support for employed carers
  • 3 in 5 working carers (60%) in the UK had to take annual leave to carry out caring duties in the last year, taking on average 6 days from their annual leave allowance
  • 2.5 million[ii] employed carers say their employer does not support carers’ needs for additional leave
  • 3 in 10 UK workers (30%) may have to give up their existing job due to unsupportive employers
  • 7 in 10 people (71%) support a statutory carer’s leave
  • Phoenix CEO and Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers, Andy Briggs, calls for current Government proposals for a statutory right to 5 days unpaid Carer’s Leave to have accelerated implementation, and for employers that can, to offer these days as paid.

In the last year, 4.4 million employed carers took annual leave specifically to care for someone else, taking on average 6 days out of their annual leave allowance, research from Phoenix Group today reveals.

While the UK Government is currently consulting on the introduction of working carer’s statutory rights which notably includes five days unpaid leave, Phoenix Group, a leading savings and retirement business, is calling for the new legislation to be brought forward and for employers who can, to offer the five days leave as paid without delay.

Andy Briggs, Chief Executive Phoenix Group and Government Business Champion for Older Workers, explains; “Employed carers should not have to decide between continuing to work and caring for loved ones. 

“Just like working parents, working carers face ongoing challenges as a result of their commitments and need specific support. As we recognise the important role of all carers this national Carers Week and the additional pressure many face due to the pandemic, we call on the Government to accelerate legislation on statutory leave for those carers who want to continue to work, while caring for someone who depends on them.”

Worryingly, when asked, three in ten UK workers (30%) believe they might be forced to give up their existing job due to an unsupportive and inflexible employer if they needed to help care for a dependent or relative, which is heightened among working carers with almost two thirds (63%) agreeing.

As today marks the start of Carers Week, an entire week dedicated to raising awareness of caring, it is poignant that only one in five (19%) UK workers say their employer currently supports carers’ needs for additional annual leave.

Just over half the UK workforce (52%) admit they would really struggle to afford to give up work and care for a loved one, but without greater flexibility and support in the workplace, it’s clear that many feel they may be forced down this route, giving up their financial security in order to care for a loved one. Just over a quarter (27%) would need to go part-time or reduce their hours.

The research also shows that people in the UK are advocates for employed carer’s rights, with the majority (76%) stating that businesses should support those who have carer responsibilities. Seven in ten people (71%) approve of statutory carer’s leave, which would be unpaid in line with statutory parental leave, while over two in five of us (43%) support statutory paid carer’s leave.

COVID has shone a spotlight on the importance of carers, yet over half of UK workers (57%) believe that their company is no more or less likely to support employees who need to manage caring responsibilities in the future.

A recent report from Carers UK shows that almost a fifth (17%) of working carers reported either having lost or given up their job or being unable to work because of the social distancing rules.

Carers UK estimates that paid carers leave of at least five days a year could save the UK economy around £3.5bn a year.

Briggs, who is calling for all businesses that can to offer at least five days paid carers leave, said: “Rights for employed carers have long needed to be formalised.

“COVID has served to heighten awareness of the support required as many are struggling to balance work commitments with caring responsibilities. We know from our research that time is sacred to carers, with 59% saying they consider more flexible working hours a fair employee benefit.

“The proposed statutory changes will provide a healthier work-life balance for unpaid carers and employers will be able to retain valuable members of their workforce.

 “We are calling on all employers that are able, to offer a minimum of five days paid carers leave, to relieve some of the pressures employed carers face, enable them to continue in current employment and ensure annual leave remains sacrosanct.”

Anne Willmot, Age at Work Director at Business in the Community, adds: “This research from Business in the Community member Phoenix Group makes both a compelling case that the introduction of Carers Leave for working carers is both urgently needed and has widespread support.

“Our own research shows that while 90% of Line Managers feel confident in responding to the needs of carers, employees report that line managers often lack awareness of what is possible and how to implement policies.

“The quality of support from line managers often relies on their personal experience of caring responsibilities.  We strongly encourage employers to offer paid carers leave and this will particularly help those on lower incomes to continue to balance their work and their caring responsibilities.”

Madeleine Starr MBE, Director of Business Development and Innovation at Carers UK, said: “This pandemic has shone a light on the huge number of people trying to juggle their work with caring responsibilities – for some, a new caring role they have taken on since the start of the pandemic.

“As carers begin returning to work, it has never been so important that Government and UK employers recognise the challenges they face juggling work and care. For some it becomes too much – every day, 600 people give up work to care. Many more reduce their working hours or turn down a promotion because of their caring role, which has a significant impact on their finances and wellbeing.

“It is crucial that employees with caring responsibilities get dedicated support and we have long campaigned to get them a right to at least 5 days of care leave, ideally paid. This would support the economy: helping to keep more people in work, and ensure carers’ health and wellbeing is also looked after.”

Carers Week runs from 8th – 14th June 2020.