Month: October 2020

Lottery joy for Edinburgh projects

Additional support will be made available to Scots recovering from cancer and those who have survived sexual abuse thanks to £3.3 million of National Lottery funding announced today. 

The Beatson Cancer Charity and Edinburgh Rape Crisis are amongst 141 Scottish groups receiving awards from The National Lottery Community Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the funding will help to create a network of support around those who need it most during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre will be able to extend the specialist support it offers thanks to an award of £350,000. 

Its three-year project, ‘Trauma and Counselling Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence,’ will support adult survivors of sexual violence across Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. In particular, the funding will enable the Centre to further develop its ‘Still I Am’ (SIA) project for survivors from Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities aged 16 and over, who have had any form of unwanted sexual experience. 

Over the next three years, The Centre will be able to reach out to many more people like Queen*. Welcoming the funding, she said: “I am very happy and excited that the SIA project got further funding because it has changed my life.

“I do not know what I would have done without this service and without counselling. I feel that SIA has changed not only mine but also my children’s lives because I can be there for them too. I am very grateful, and I would like to thank The National Lottery Community Fund for their decision because that means the SIA service will help more women like me in the future. Thank you so much.” 

Caroline Burrell, Centre Director, Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award from the National Lottery Community Fund. It recognises not only the vital work we have done over many years supporting survivors of sexual violence, but also the very pressing need to continue to provide our life-changing services.

“Sexual violence, which includes rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, devastates lives, and without effective support its impacts can be lifelong. 

“Over the next three years our trauma-informed work will support hundreds of survivors to build a life beyond sexual violence and abuse. In particular this funding will enable us to further develop our SIA project for survivors of sexual violence from Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities aged 16 and over, who have had any form of unwanted sexual experience.” 

This group will deliver specialist trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual violence in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. Survivors of rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse will receive emotional support, group support and advocacy support helping them to move on from trauma, and to build their confidence and resilience.

Two more local ‘winners’ in this round of grants are LifeCare and carers organisation VOCAL, who receive £80,000 and £41,000 respectively.

LifeCare, the older people’s support organisation based in Stockbridge, will use their funding to continue its project matching people over 60 (known as the VIPs) with volunteers, aged from 17-92, to facilitate one to one friendships between the VIPs, volunteers and the larger community they create when coming together as part of the wider Vintage Vibes VIP/Volunteer community.

VOCAL, based on Leith Walk, will use the funding to continue development of their short breaks service for carers which provides respite to people with caring responsibilities. VOCAL will also review their short breaks offer in light of the COVID-19 impact, extend the range of short breaks opportunities for carers and develop a social enterprise business proposal for carer holiday accommodation.

Edinburgh-based organisations Corstorphine Dynamo FC, ELREC, Friends of Saughton Park, Governors of Dean Orphanage and Cauvin’s Trust, Grassmarket Community Project, Leith Civic Trust, Pregnancy & Parents Centre, Prestonfield & District Neighbourhood Workers Project, Thistle Health and Wellbeing and YWCA Scotland received support ranging from £5000 right up to Thistle’s £120,000.

Elsewhere in Scotland, breast cancer survivor Susan McGoldrick, 56, welcomed an award of £269,800 to Beatson Cancer Charity for a three-year programme of therapeutic support.

This programme will help hundreds of people across the West of Scotland who are recovering from cancer to better deal with anxiety and any fears of recurrence they may have following completion of or changes to their treatment. 

Susan, from Lenzie, completed the pilot programme last month following a cancer diagnosis in 2019. She said: “This National Lottery funding will make a huge difference to many people like me. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I joined and with the programme only being six weeks long and virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, I wasn’t sure what I would achieve.

“But I have to say it has been a revelation and I feel like a brand, new woman. I have learned so much and feel transformed and it has even inspired me to make recent radical changes in my life. I would like to encourage many more patients to attend if they can.” 

The six-week programme of therapeutic groupwork will help people to develop their own coping strategies and will work with them as they develop their own personal plans to engage more with day to day life, their families and the wider community. 

Martin Cawley, CEO of Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “We are delighted at the award of this very important grant. The medical treatment process for cancer is difficult enough for people to cope with, but when you add the psychological impact on top, it is especially challenging.

“Even when people have successfully been through their treatment programmes there is always an underlying worry about cancer recurrence. This project supports people to develop their own coping skills, this in turn strengthens their resilience and recovery even further. 

“This grant will help greatly as part of the cancer journey and allow many more patients to become involved over next three years. Everyone at Beatson Cancer Charity is absolutely thrilled. Thank you to The National Lottery players without whom this grant would not be possible.” 

Announcing today’s funding totalling £3,332,722, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “Projects across the country continue to make an amazing contribution the nation-wide response combatting the impact of COVID-19 on communities across Scotland. 

“Today’s funding will help thousands more people like Susan and Queen, whose inspiring testimonies highlight how important it is to have a tailored package of support when you are going through the most challenging of circumstances. 

“The comfort of knowing someone who understands your journey is at the end of the phone or forms part of a group network of support cannot be under-estimated. This is vital work which we are delighted to support, and all made possible thanks to National Lottery players.” 

The National Lottery Community Fund is currently focusing its National Lottery funding in Scotland on those projects which are supporting organisations and communities to respond to the challenge of COVID-19.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk 

*Name has been changed to ensure anonymity 

New research from Zero Waste Scotland and Circle Economy reveals scale of sustainable jobs

More than 200,000 jobs are already contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable Scotland, while thousands more roles could be created through the green recovery post-Covid19, experts have found.

A landmark report from Zero Waste Scotland and Circle Economy published today (Wednesday 28 October, 2020) shows the number of existing Scottish jobs operating within the circular economy, which keeps goods and materials in a ‘loop’ of use to maximise their value and minimise waste and the carbon emissions that causes.

It comes as Scotland’s decision-makers look to grow new ‘green’ jobs as they plan the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Scotland’s circular economy expert organisation, Zero Waste Scotland, helps businesses and consumers reduce waste and emissions to combat climate change. It produced the report – the first national assessment of ‘circular’ jobs and of future requirements for roles and skills in three priority areas in Scotland – working with fellow experts at Circle Economy in the Netherlands.

The circular economy is about making things last: through smarter design, and reusing, repairing and remanufacturing to create new items from old – all to keep products and materials within the economy for as long as possible.

It promises to maximise value from the goods we already have in circulation while relieving pressure on finite natural materials, like oil and precious metals. These resources are in high demand to create new products, yet those products are often thrown away by consumers after only a short amount of time.

Findings from the report, entitled The Future of Work: Baseline Employment Analysis and Skills Pathways for the Circular Economy, show Scotland is in a strong position to benefit from the circular economy, with 8.1% of jobs already linked to the circular economy. That’s on a par with other countries where similar  assessments have been conducted, like the Netherlands and Belgium.

The research also identifies a wide-ranging mix of new circular roles and skills needed to help Scotland Build Back Better by forging a truly national circular economy. It sets out a vision of the future of work in three priority areas – construction, the bioeconomy and capital projects, such as decommissioning energy infrastructure from oil rigs to wind turbines.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Scotland has long been recognised as a leading nation on the circular economy so it’s heartening to see that so many jobs are already operating within circular business models, and we know there is scope for many more.

“As a nation we are preparing to Build Back Better following the coronavirus pandemic – while we’re just 12 months away from some of the most important climate negotiations of recent times in COP26, being held in Glasgow next year¹. What better time to make sure we stimulate growth while respecting the limits of our natural environment.

“The circular economy offers a way forward that can help Covid-hit businesses futureproof their operations, making them less vulnerable to future supply chain issues, while also generating opportunities for inward investment and new ‘green’ jobs.”

Scotland’s Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever that we design a better future and see things put back together differently.

“It is vital that we draw on our experience of coronavirus – the things we’ve learned about how we work, travel and live – and apply this to our approach to Scotland’s green recovery, and to achieving net-zero.

“A thriving circular economy will play a critical role in ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change, and we must all – government, businesses, industry and individuals – be a part of driving this – and to ensuring our journey to net-zero is fair for everyone.

“I welcome the Future of Work report, which shows we are well on our way to evolving jobs that help drive our net-zero ambitions while ensuring we deliver a fairer economy in which everyone in Scotland can thrive.”

The study has been launched alongside a Circular Jobs Monitor tool from partner Circle Economy. This online tool enables users to see how many of a country’s existing jobs are associated with the circular economy, and how it compares to other nations.

Scotland’s figure includes directly circular jobs – such as those in the repair sector, design-related fields like architecture, or renting and leasing activities – as well as indirectly circular jobs, such as teachers, which provide services to primary circular activities.

The study shows that most circular jobs in Scotland are concentrated in southwestern and eastern regions, together accounting for more than 75% of all circular Scottish jobs – although in relative terms, all regions show a similar circular share of employment of between 7% and 9.8%.

Further information about regional circular jobs can be found on pages 18 to 23 of the report.

Mr Gulland continued: “For Scotland to maximise the benefits of a more sustainable economy we need to work towards all jobs being ‘circular’. It’s important to ensure we overcome Covid-19 and end our nation’s contribution to the climate crisis by 2045.

“Our landmark report identifies how we can do that, highlighting gaps which we need to fill and exciting new job opportunities in three key sectors. The circular economy is an opportunity for all parts of Scotland, urban and rural, to benefit from forward-looking jobs that are less susceptible to market pressures and help preserve our environment at the same time.”

The Future of Work: Baseline Employment Analysis and Skills Pathways for the Circular Economy is available on the Zero Waste Scotland website.

Focus on strength and resilience for Scottish Family Business Week

A free event dedicated to Scottish family businesses, hosted by Royal Bank of Scotland, has kicked off this week, exploring how a strong and resilient business can be built in the current climate.

With a mix of live panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions and a variety of supporting thought leadership materials and podcasts being shared virtually, the Scottish Family Business Week: Strength and Resilience in an Ever Changing World is set to welcome over 250 businesses.  

Together with Institute of Family Business (IFB) and KPMG, Royal Bank of Scotland moved the annual conference online, giving local family firms the opportunity to explore together fresh insights, strategies, and solutions to current business questions.

With speakers including Arnold Clark Automobiles’ Adam Clark (above), and Iain Anderson of GAP Group, the event will cover key themes, such as: next generation and succession; diversity and female leadership; purpose and culture; innovation and entrepreneurship, and more.

The conference, which runs until 30th October, is free to attend and will allow family businesses to connect with peers to share experiences and knowledge through a series of daily online events.

Charlie Serafini, Relationship Director at Royal Bank of Scotland said: “This year, we have worked closely with many families to understand their needs and, where required, provide financial support to help them trade through these exceptional times.

“Whilst the pandemic has thrown many curveballs, we have found family businesses to be more resilient, adaptable, and agile. With an acute awareness of the role they play as employers within local communities, many have pivoted and diversified to create new revenue streams as a result of the pandemic.

“With family businesses representing 85% of privately owned Scottish companies, we feel it’s essential for these businesses to come together to connect, listen, learn and discuss the issues which matter to them most, to ensure a strong recovery.”

For more information, and to register, visit: https://www.ifb.org.uk/events/scottish-family-business-week.

Events will be recorded tor businesses which are keen to attend, but unable to join on the day.

Recycling: ‘a real Scottish success story’

  • Carbon impact of waste down 1.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent from 2011
  • Less than 1 million tonnes of household waste sent to landfill for the first time
  • Plastic and glass recycling increase, paper and cardboard continues downward trend
  • Total household recycling rate 44.9%
  • Scottish households generated the equivalent of 0.44 tonnes of waste per person in 2019

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) statisticians have published Official Statistics today (27 October 2020) which provide detail of Household Waste collected across all Local Authorities during 2019.

Scottish households generated the equivalent of 0.44 tonnes of waste per person in 2019, with 0.20 tonnes recycled, 0.14 tonnes sent to landfill and 0.11 tonnes diverted through other means such as incineration, composing and anaerobic digestion.

The total volume of household waste generated in Scotland remained largely the same as 2018, up 17,000 tonnes (an increase of 1%) from 2.41 million tonnes in 2018 to 2.42 million.

CARBON IMPACT OF SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD WASTE CONTINUES TO DECREASE

The Scottish carbon metric measures the whole-life impact of resources. A measure of national performance, the metric takes a holistic view, from resource extraction and manufacturing emissions, through to resource management emissions.

Measuring the true impact of waste and waste management is most accurate when viewed in terms of emissions. This is measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This provides a more accurate picture than merely looking at tonnage (glass weights a lot more than paper), and takes into account the emissions created when waste is disposed of, whether through recycling, incineration, composting, anaerobic digestion or being sent to landfill.

The 2019 metric shows a continued downward trajectory since 2011 in Scotland’s household waste carbon impact. This is largely due to increased recycling rates – particularly for high impact waste materials – as well as reductions in waste generated and reduced landfilling of biodegradable waste.

The carbon impact of household waste generated and managed in 2018 was 5.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – which is 1.0 tonnes per person. This was a decrease of 94,000 TCO2e from 2018 and a decrease of 1.1 million from 2011.

LESS THAN 1 MILLION TONNES OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE SENT TO LANDFILL FOR THE FIRST TIME

2019 saw a further decrease of household waste sent to landfill – falling below 1 million tonnes for the first time – down 26% or 273,000 tonnes from 2018. This is the eighth consecutive decrease in household waste landfilled since 2011 – and for the third consecutive year there was more Scottish waste recycled (1.1 million tonnes) than landfilled (0.76 tonnes). Waste recycled included reuse and composting.

The total amount of Scottish household waste managed by other diversion from landfill was 577,000 tonnes, an increase of 93% from 2018 – 369% from 2011. Most was managed by incineration (78%, 454,000 tonnes), followed by other treatment (16%, 91,000 tonnes) and non-certified composting/digestion (6%, 32,000 tonnes)

PLASTIC, GLASS, PAPER AND CARDBOARD

Plastic recycling rose by 1,000 tonnes (1%) to 57,379 tonnes in 2019, continuing the trend of increasing each year for the last eight years. Glass remains the second most recycled material, with 107,000 tonnes, similar to 2018.

Paper and cardboard as a whole remains the largest volume of material recycled at 192,562 tonnes.  However, there has been a general downward trend of paper and cardboard wastes recycled –in 2018 was down 17,000 tonnes (8%) – a 48,000 tonne (20%) reduction since 2011.

Within this mix, segregated paper waste is in continual decline – while cardboard and mixed paper and cardboard wastes have remained constant or increased over time. This may be partly due to replacement of segregated paper collections with mixed paper and cardboard collections.

It is also likely that a move away from print media to electronic media has decreased paper waste, while cardboard wastes have not decreased on the same scale, which could be a result of increased packaging materials as consumer habits move online.

HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING RATE 44.9%

Scotland’s overall household waste recycling rate was 44.9%, an increase of 0.2 percentage points from 2018 and 5.4 percentage points up from the 39.5% achieved in 2011. Data for every one of Scotland’s 32 local authorities are available on SEPA’s website.

WASTE DATA COLLECTION

Data on waste are collected to monitor policy effectiveness, and to support policy development, particularly commitments in the Scottish Government’s Making Things Last – A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland.

Further details on the methodology used to produce the figures are provided in the “Household waste” section of the annual Waste Data Quality Reports.

The figures are accurate at the time of publication, however data may be updated if further revisions are necessary. Normally these revisions will be published concurrent with the next official release.

Jo Zwitserlood, Head of Materials at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “Recycling is a real Scottish success story and is a simple daily step we all can take to build a more sustainable Scotland.

“Reducing the amount of waste we generate, and keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible through re-use and recycling, will help Scotland tackle the climate emergency. This is reflected in the household waste data published today, that shows the reducing carbon impact of our waste.

“The most successful countries in the 21st century will move from a traditional ‘take, make and dispose’ model to a resource efficient, circular economy where materials that would have been waste, are now valued as a useful resource. It is therefore extremely encouraging to see a continued increase in the amount of household waste recycled, and the amount of waste going to landfill at its lowest since records began.   

“With its globally ambitious circular economy strategy and investment in infrastructure that will extract maximum value from materials through remanufacturing and recycling, Scotland is well placed to realise the environmental and economic opportunities for our nation and its people.”

The Expert’s Guide to Immune Health this Winter

As the temperature drops and the days become darker, it can be easy to eat more, do less and go into ‘hibernation’ mode. But being proactive about our health is key to feeling great and supporting your immune system.

The UK’s leading nutritional advisors share their expert advice, on why now, more than ever it is important to invest in yourself, as well sharing their top tips to keeping healthy, naturally:

Ben Brown, Director of the Nutritional Medicine Institute:

Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Immune Function

“With winter we typically see an increase in viral infections from colds and flu. Vitamin D deficiency increases dramatically in winter, affecting over 40% of people in the United Kingdom and can increase susceptibility to infection. Take vitamin D through winter if your blood levels are low, or you have a risk factor such as darker skin, older age, or overweight.

Tip: Most micronutrients help support a healthy immune system so a good multivitamin and mineral is a simple, safe and cost-effective bit of health insurance.

Angela Dowden, Nutritionist:

Go to your local high street health stores for personalised advice

There’s always an uptick in respiratory infections in winter – one theory is that colder air rushing into the nasal passage weakens the local immune response there. So being as healthy as you can be going into the cooler months is going to up your chances of getting through with your health unscathed.

Tip: Keeping wearing that COVID mask as it keeps you from inhaling aerosolized germs. Make sure you cover your bases with a healthy wholesome diet including fruits, veg, whole grains, nuts, protein and some diary or plant-based equivalents. Properly trained staff in a local high street health food stores can give one-on-one advice it’s hard to get any other way.

Find your local health food store here: https://healthydoesit.org/fi

Suzie Sawyer, Clinical Nutritionist:

Gut health is key to good immune health

“There is a lot of emerging research particularly relating to vitamin D and C. However, what is really heartening is that there is an acknowledgement that nutrition and specific nutrients may be able to play a key role in treatment strategies for COVID.

Tip: Whilst vitamin D and C are two key nutrients needed to support immune health, others are also important including zinc, selenium and vitamin b6; always best taken in a balanced formulation rather than as individual nutrients.

Additionally, supporting gut health is key to good immune function, therefore, I would take a probiotic which includes some of our bacteroid and lactobacillus, and increase intake of fermented foods, especially natural yoghurt.

Jamie Christie, Nutritional Biochemist:

Positive thinking leads to positive action

“Immune health often comes to mind when the colder season approaches for two reasons; there is an increased pooling of people with children back to school and seasonal increases in coughs and colds. The truth is, immune health is important all year round, as people all over the world have discovered.”

Tip: Remember that immune health is not governed by one or two simple switches rather a combination of factors which might include stress, diet, exercise, genetic predispositions, exposure to allergens, infections or environmental irritants for example.

Positive thinking leads to positive action. We are living in hard and unusual times. Keep buying good food, getting out in fresh air and supplementing with vitamin D, as has been recommended by government (10 micrograms a day).

Jayney Goddard, President of The Complementary Medical Association: 

Go plant-based, exercise and practise good sleep hygiene

“I always tell my patients “The choices you make today, predict your health tomorrow – choose well.” 

 Tip: I support the people; I look after them by teaching them how to harness the power of optimal nutrition by eating plant-based whole food diet. I also help them to take appropriate amounts of exercise, practise good sleep hygiene and manage their reactivity and stress response, with approaches including “The Relaxation Response”; pioneered by Dr Herbert Benso.

For more expert advice or to learn more about how you can support your health and wellbeing this Autumn, visit: https://healthydoesit.org/

Edinburgh College launches new English for Business course with Hainan University

Edinburgh College has secured an exciting new partnership with Hainan University in China that will see the College play a key role in teaching English for Business to students over the next five years.

The first cohort of fifty students will begin online study with Edinburgh College lecturers this week as part of the five-year contract with Hainan University’s College of Foreign Languages.

The course will be delivered using a blended learning model, with subsequent course modules delivered both online, and face-to-face in Hainan.

The Business English course is designed to provide Hainan University students with greater fluency and confidence in English in business settings, and will include preparation for Cambridge English qualifications in Business English.

Edinburgh College courses will be embedded in the four-year undergraduate programme, giving enhanced career opportunities for students on graduation.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “We’re honoured to enter into this prestigious partnership with Hainan University, and to be teaching a very dedicated and committed group of students.

“This partnership is testament to Edinburgh College’s ability to provide high-quality training around the world, and empower students to achieve even greater success in their future careers with an international education.”

Edinburgh College Head of Commercial Development Jane Grant said: “Teams from Hainan University and Edinburgh College have worked collaboratively to develop this course, which is aimed at cultivating high-quality graduates with excellent career prospects. We wish all the students taking part in this course the best of luck.”

The partnership is the latest addition to the College’s growing international portfolio, providing bespoke training programmes and courses to students and workforces across the world.

The #BigClimateDebate

November is Climate Debate month at ELREC

Dear Friends,

Hope you are well.

The #BigClimateDebate has now arrived. Join the most important discussion of our time. The Big Climate Debate is YOUR opportunity to influence climate change policies. 

Each evening, an elected representative will give a short presentation on their parties’ policies and actions. You will hear their achievements and proposals to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. We will then open the session to audience’s questions.
 

Join Sarah Boyack Labour MSP on Monday 2nd November 5-6pm: https://bigclimatedebate.eventbrite.co.uk

Join Finn Carson Conservative MSP on Tuesday 3rd November, 5-6pm: https://climatedebate3.eventbrite.co.uk

Join Patrick Harvie Green MSP on Wednesday 4th November 5:15-6:15pm: https://climatedebate1.eventbrite.co.uk

Join Christine Jardine Liberal Democrat MP on Thursday 5th November 5-6pm: https://climatedebate2.eventbrite.co.uk

Join Deidre Brock SNP MP on Monday 9th November, 5-6pm: https://climatedebate4.eventbrite.co.uk


Following these sessions, we will be honoured to gather all speakers and Government Minister together for a panel discussion on November 18th, 5PM where they will debate questions asked by YOU. More details to come.

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Kind regards,
Foysol Choudhury MBE
Chair
Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council 
14 Forth Street, Edinburgh EH1 3LH
(T) 0131 556 0441
(E) foysolchoudhury@aol.com
(W) www.elrec.org.uk

Stop Driving like a Wee Baaam!

Gran returns with a clear message for young drivers on country roads

The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have launched a new #DriveSmart campaign targeting young male drivers (20-29) urging them to prepare for the unexpected and slow down on country roads.

The campaign features the return of the cheeky straight-talking Gran character, who was a central feature of a number of highly-successful campaigns over the past year.

Inappropriate speed leading to loss of control is the biggest cause of deaths on country roads. The campaign launch includes a humorous and thought-provoking video, highlighting speed and other potential hazards on country roads that can turn even a familiar journey into a potentially fatal one.

Gran appears from a young man’s crashed car to give him the appropriate dressing down following a lucky escape.

Country roads account for 60% of casualties on Scotland’s roads with latest figures highlighting that over 700 people were killed or seriously-injured while driving on them in 2018 (the last year for which figures are available).

Two-thirds of those killed were men with 40% of all drivers killed or seriously injured on country roads aged between 22 and 49.

The #DriveSmart campaign targets young male drivers to encourage them to adopt safer driving habits. Despite 61% of 20–29 year-old males claiming to be good or excellent drivers, statistically they are more likely to be involved in a collision than any other age group.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said: “Sadly, country roads continue to make a significant contribution to both deaths and serious injuries in Scotland, so we must continue to raise awareness of the potential dangers faced by drivers travelling on them.

“This new campaign strikes just the right balance of humour while delivering an incredibly important message, so it is sure to stick in the minds of our target audience of young male drivers.

“Country roads are notoriously unpredictable and, with so many potential distractions both within and outside the car, it’s absolutely crucial drivers prepare for the unexpected and slow down when travelling on them – no matter how well they think they know the route. We’ve had great success using Gran to deliver these messages, so we’re pleased to welcome her back for this campaign too.”

Rolling out from this week, the highly-targeted advertising campaign will run across a number of relevant channels for the audience including TV and catch up TV, cinema, digital and audio/radio platforms.

Online ads will feature on a variety of websites and social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. The world of gaming will also be targeted with adverts appearing within games such as Grid and Football Manager. Adverts will also run across Spotify and around podcasts.

View the film at https://youtu.be/mDk-Bin3Iuc and get involved with the conversation on Facebook (Road Safety Scotland) and Twitter @RoadSafetyScot, #DriveSmart

Scottish Parliament’s 2020 Festival of Politics moves online

The Scottish Parliament is today announcing its first virtual Festival of Politics, with events moving online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking place from Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st November, the entire Festival is free to attend.

The Festival programme – in partnership with the Scottish Parliament’s think tank, Scotland’s Futures Forum – puts the spotlight on the key issues facing society, with COVID-19 and our recovery from the pandemic being a core theme throughout.  In addition to COVID-19 and its impact, topics covered include climate change, the American Presidential election, Brexit, and the type of country Scotland is likely to be in ten years’ time.

Speaking as the Festival programme was launched, the Presiding Officer the Rt Hon Ken Macintosh MSP, said: “We are delighted to launch this year’s Festival of Politics which for the first time will be held online and will be free to watch. 

“The Parliament has always prided itself on being open and accessible to all and moving the festival online provides us with another method by which we can engage with people of all ages and backgrounds from across Scotland and beyond.

“The challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic have affected every aspect of our lives and it has never been more important for panellists and audience members to come together to discuss and share ideas on the best way forward for society.

“But we are not just focused on the pandemic.  With sessions devoted to climate change, race, Brexit and the American elections, we will be taking on all the major issues of our time.

“I’d encourage everyone to get online from November 19th, watch for free and join the debate for Festival of Politics 2020.”

Offering people a unique chance to engage with MSPs, journalists, academics and commentators, attendees can take part in the Festival at www.parliament.scot/festival

Child Winter Heating Assistance payments to start

Extra money for more than 14,000 disabled children

Families of disabled children will receive a new heating benefit  by Christmas.

The Child Winter Heating Assistance is a new £200 payment to help families of a child on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children to heat their homes. There are more than 14,000 children expected to be eligible.

Payments will arrive with people from Friday 27 November and these are expected to be complete by Friday 11 December.

People do not need to apply for this payment. It will be made automatically by Social Security Scotland using information provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. Families will get a letter in advance to confirm that they will be getting this payment.

This is the first form of disability assistance to be introduced by the Scottish Government using its new social security powers.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley Anne Somerville said: “As the nights draw in and the temperature starts to drop we will all be conscious of  the extra cost to heat our homes. For families of the most seriously disabled children and young people, who may need to heat their homes for longer periods, this can bring even more pressure in what is already a challenging circumstance.

“I am so pleased that we have been able to introduce this payment before Christmas, ensuring people will have this money ahead of the coldest of the winter months. I hope this helps these families plan their finances and that they can turn the heating on without as much worry about how they are going to afford it.

“I am delighted that despite the impact of COVID-19, we’ve been able to move forward with three new benefits this year – Job Start Payment, Scottish Child Payment and now Child Winter Heating Assistance. This is the first disability assistance that we will deliver using our new social security powers.

“We are continuing to work with delivery partners to review the timeline for introduction of our remaining benefits and we will do everything we can to start these as soon as we can practically and safely do so.”

Background

  • a client will qualify for Child Winter Heating Assistance if they live in Scotland and were in receipt of the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for children on at least one day between 21 September 2020 to 27 September 2020.
  • families will get letters in advance to confirm to expect this payment. Payments will be made in batches from Monday 23 November and arrive in people’s banks approximately four days later. It is expected to take two weeks to complete all payments. This payment will be made to the same account that they receive Disability Assistance Living Allowance for Children payments to.
  • families will get a payment for every child who receives the highest rate Disability Living Allowance for children. This is not a per household payment.
  • if a family believes that they are eligible for this payment and they haven’t had a letter or a payment, they should contact Social Security Scotland from Tuesday 8 December for further advice.
  • people can contact Social Security Scotland through web chat at mygov.scot/contact-social-security-scotland/ by calling the Freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222.
  • while the pandemic continues to have an impact on our operations and our delivery partners – including health and social care and the Department for Work and Pensions – we are doing what we can to progress policy, design and development work. We are still working through what the impacts of COVID-19 mean for our delivery timeline and holding conversations with partners to establish what we can introduce and when.