Month: October 2020

Pressure mounts over holiday hunger

2200 paediatricians sign open letter to Prime Minister urging Government to extend free school meals to cover holidays

Thousands of health professionals have signed an open letter urging the UK Government to change course on free school meals during the holidays. They praise footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign tackling food poverty and call for the Prime Minister to follow the lead of the devolved administrations.

In 24 hours, 2200 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) members have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling for the UK Government to match the pledge made by the Welsh and Scottish Governments, and the Northern Ireland Executive to provide food vouchers to cover school holidays for children from low-income backgrounds.

More than 800 paediatricians signed the letter within an hour of circulation. 

The letter argues that childhood hunger is an issue that should transcend politics, and that good nutrition is at the heart of health, wellbeing and development for children and young people. It notes that without it, children’s health outcomes worsen, and with that, so do their life chances.

With over four million children in the UK living in poverty and the current pandemic entrenching this reality, children desperately need government support.

The letter says that while food vouchers will not solve the problem of child poverty, they do offer a short-term remedy for children that don’t have enough to eat.  

Professor Russell Viner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: “I’ve rarely seen such anger among our members. We care for children who don’t have enough to eat. We see far too many of them. It is heartbreaking that it has become a normal part of our jobs and hunger is all too common for millions of families in the UK.

“There is an opportunity to put this right. It is pointless to talk about levelling up the country, an ambition which we support, while refusing to offer temporary relief to children and families.

Dr Max Davie, Officer for Health Improvement at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: “We’re a rich country. This isn’t about money, it’s about making sure people have food to eat, and it’s about doing the right thing for children who need a hand up.

“We shouldn’t have to fight for food vouchers when we’re in the middle of a pandemic.”

Dr Liz Whittaker, Consultant Paediatrician at St. Marys Hospital, London said: “Household food insecurity is linked to long-term negative consequences for health, educational outcomes and future income.

“Missing meals isn’t just about going hungry on an individual day, it has a lasting impact on a young person’s life. Aside from the fact that it is wrong to see children go hungry, it is impossible to justify any argument that this saves the state money.”

The open letter pays tribute to Marcus Rashford for his influential and inspiring advocacy on behalf of children and young people. RCPCH is proud to support his campaign. 

Letter text:

As paediatricians we are shocked by the refusal of the UK Government to extend the provision of free school meals in England to children from low-income backgrounds during the school holidays.

Childhood hunger is an issue that should transcend politics. Few would disagree that one of our most basic human responsibilities is to ensure children have enough to eat. 

Every day, we see the impact of hunger and malnutrition in our work as paediatricians. It is not unusual for us to care for children who don’t have enough to eat or who don’t have access to a substantial meal outside of what is provided in school. Good nutrition is at the heart of health, wellbeing and development for children and young people. Without it, children’s health outcomes worsen, and with that, so do their life chances 

More than 4 million children in the UK live in poverty and around one third of those are reliant on free school meals. The pandemic has entrenched and exacerbated this reality; families who were previously managing are now struggling to make ends meet because of the impact of COVID-19. It is not good enough to send them into the holiday period hoping for the best, while knowing that many will simply go hungry. Food vouchers will not solve this problem, but they offer a short-term remedy. 

We call on the UK Government to match the pledges of the Welsh and Scottish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive, to continue to provide children from low-income backgrounds with free meals over the coming weeks and to then extend this at least until the Easter school holiday, as they have done in Wales and Scotland.

We pay tribute to Marcus Rashford and his powerful campaigning. His advocacy for children and young people has been a source of inspiration in difficult times. We are proud to stand with him on this issue. 

Marcus Rashford MBE said: “If you can do one thing for me, sign the petition:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554276/…

“It’s time we put party politics aside and worked together to find a long-term sustainable solution to child food poverty in the UK.”

Give guising a miss this Halloween

Advice on safe and enjoyable Halloween celebrations

Families and children are being urged to avoid guising this Halloween to minimise the risk of spreading Coronavirus (COVID-19). Deputy First Minister John Swinney says the move is necessary to ensure people stay within the current restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Advice on the Parent Club website suggests ways for families to have a safe Halloween at home including ideas around party games, fancy dress and storytelling.

For Bonfire Night, the advice includes guidelines around group sizes, distancing and FACTS precautions to reduce the temptation for people to hold gatherings and firework displays in their back gardens.

Mr Swinney said: “Under the current restrictions it is not possible to meet up indoors or in large groups outdoors, so the safest thing to do this year is to stay at home.

“I know guising is a big part of Halloween and children will be sad to miss out, but as door-to-door guising brings an additional and avoidable risk of spreading the virus, our clear advice for families is to avoid it.

“Children can still get dressed up and share jokes with their families, and our Parent Club guidance has lots of fun and creative ideas for families to enjoy a safe celebration at home.

“On Bonfire Night it is vital the public adhere to the rules on meeting up with other households to help stop the spread of the virus. We know that some people may consider using fireworks in their back gardens  If you do plan on using fireworks this Bonfire Night, please do so responsibly and safely.

“Adapting alternative celebrations and sticking to the rules in place can go a huge way to ensuring everyone’s safety.”

Parent Club

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service fireworks safety advice

A Healthy Halloween

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Halloween is approaching fast and the shops are filling up with spooky costumes, decorations, pumpkins and sugary treats. It can be difficult to avoid overindulging on sweets and chocolate at Halloween, but there are some healthy swaps you can make.

Before you head out to buy bags of sugary and fatty Halloween treats, why not consider celebrating Halloween in a healthier way.

Here’s some ideas to help you enjoy a healthier Halloween:

• Whizz up some ‘vampire blood’ smoothies by blending strawberries, raspberries and blueberries that are packed full of antioxidants to keep your heart and arteries healthy.

• Pumpkin is high in fibre, vitamins and minerals and low in calories. When hollowing out your pumpkin lantern, save the flesh to make tasty pumpkin soup and call it ‘witches’ brew’. You can find many more healthy pumpkin recipes here

• Swap some of the sweets for ‘bat droppings’ of dried fruit and unsalted nuts and give your little monsters a boost of vitamins, minerals and fibre, as well as plenty of energy to run around in their scary costumes.

• Buy Halloween-themed toys, puzzles, magazines or stationery to give the kids, instead of sweets and chocolate.

Sorting affairs virtually

Thorntons Charity Wills Campaign goes virtual for 2020

Cash for Kids is set to receive a considerable five figure sum once again this year from Thorntons Solicitors as the beneficiary of the firm’s Charity Wills Campaign.

Taking place across its offices in Fife, Dundee, Perth, Angus and Edinburgh, Thorntons won’t charge a fee for Wills written throughout November. Instead the firm asks clients to make a fee equivalent donation to Cash for Kids.

Now in its 24th year, Thorntons Charity Wills Month has raised more than £450,000 for Cash for Kids since it launched, supporting local children and organisations within the communities Thorntons operates.

Murray Etherington, Partner at Thorntons, said: “Charity Wills will take place completely virtually this year, which is a first for the firm, but we’ve seen first-hand the success of providing clients with legal advice and services securely and remotely in recent months. Our personal care and attention to detail is never compromised and, for many clients, it is more efficient.

“We wanted to continue to support Cash for Kids given the challenge they and other charities are facing because of the Coronavirus pandemic. This campaign has gathered great momentum over the years and we’re delighted to be able to support such a worthy cause and hopefully raise another milestone total for Cash for Kids.”

Emma Kemp, Regional Charity Manager for Cash for Kids said:  “We are so proud to partner with Thorntons again for Charity Wills month this November. 

“Every year we are entirely grateful to Thorntons and their clients for their continued support.  Over the years this campaign has raised a phenomenal amount of money for our local children and I have every belief this year will be exactly the same, allowing us to support local kids who are most in need.”

For more details of Thorntons Charity Wills, visit: 

www.thorntons-law.co.uk/charitywills.

The Past and The Present

An online discussion for Black History Month and Black Lives Matter

Join ELREC for this exciting discussion about Black History Month 2020 and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Get your ticket here: https://elrecblackhistorymonth.eventbrite.co.uk

About our speakers:

Foysol Choudhury MBE has been involved with the Edinburgh and Lothian’s Regional Equality Council (ELREC) since he was a teenager and has been an active campaigner for equality and good race and interfaith relations in Scotland.

He has served the ELREC as a Trustee, company secretary, Vice Chair and he is currently its Chairman.

Sir Geoff Palmer was the first black professor in Scotland, he is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sir Palmer is also a prominent human rights activist and is involved in a considerable amount of charity work in the community.

He wrote a series of articles for the Times Educational Supplement from 1969 to 1971 on way to improve the education of children from ethnic minorities. Currently, he is the Honorary President of ELREC.

Irene Mosota is a social entrepreneur and the founding director of the Giving Voice Initiative (GVI), which is supported by Knowledge-Bridge.

Knowledge-Bridge is an Organisation development consultancy that provides training on Translating Race Equality and Diversity Strategies into Action.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Scottish Pensioners’ Forum calls for creation of a National Care Service

The Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, the campaigning organisation for older people in Scotland, have today released a report calling for the creation of a National Care Service in light of the tragic number of deaths related to Covid-19 within care home settings.

The report is supported by the STUC.

Rose Jackson, SPF Chair, argued: “Covid-19 has had a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable members of our society with many older people losing their lives prematurely due to the inadequate measures in place within residential care settings – things must change as a matter of urgency to ensure that more older people don’t lose their lives unnecessarily as a consequence of this.”

The report also highlights the profits being made by private companies and overseas investment in the care home sector and calls for an urgent review of this practice.

“We must replace a profit based system with something more akin to the NHS to avoid tax payers providing grossly inflated profits to shell companies and overseas speculators.”

The SPF, who have strong links with the STUC and its affiliates, have also set out a plan for a care service which would be beneficial for care home residents whilst also protecting the rights and welfare of employees in the care sector.

Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary, welcomed the report stating: “Older people in Scotland have suffered greatly during this pandemic. Reports that half of all Covid deaths in Scotland have been from people living in care homes is a disgrace that should shame Governments and employers.

“The STUC has repeatedly called for a National Care Service, and while the Scottish Government have promised to review it, we must continue to push for a fully nationalised service that puts service users and care workers before profit and greed. That is why we continue to demand that the voice of care users and the voice of workers is directly represented on the Adult Social Care Inquiry.

“It is the least we, as a society, can do for our older population and for future generations to come.”

SPF-Executive-Committee-Paper-National-Care-Service-Report-Oct-2020Download

Halloween drink recipes with Ardbeg Wee Beastie

With Halloween just around the corner, Ardbeg has created some beastly cocktails using Ardbeg Wee Beastie.

These colourful cocktails include Bramble Bite, Bloody Rob Roy and Bubble Beast.

Ardbeg Wee Beastie is the latest permanent expression to join the Distillery’s core range. At just 5 years old, the incredible smokiness of Ardbeg Wee Beastie is untamed by age. This feisty young creature boasts a formidable bite

On the snout, Ardbeg Wee Beastie’s intense aromas of cracked blacked pepper mingle with sappy pine resin and a sharp tang of smoke. Suddenly, an explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. Savoury meats sink into the palate before a long salty mouth coating finish slinks away… revealing the inner beast of this Islay icon.

Young and intensely smoky, this is a monster of a dram. Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Ardbeg Wee Beastie is perfect for enjoying neat or as the mouth-watering main ingredient in a powerfully smoky cocktail.

Tasting Notes

  • Colour: Bright Auric
  • Nose: Very bright, fresh and herbal, with hints of vanilla, pear, freshly cracked black pepper, honey-glazed ham. Rich Turkish coffee, sappy pine resin. With water, more herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel, along with aniseed, green apple and leather.
  • Taste: A rich, explosive mouthfeel with lots of chocolate, tar, creosote and smoked bacon, followed by a burst of antiseptic lozenges, eucalyptus and more aniseed.
  • Finish: A long, salty and mouthcoating finish with hints of cocoa, fudge and savoury meats.
  • Casks: Ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry.

Covid-19 lockdown inspires Scots to take more care of the environment

A whopping 95% of Scottish consumers say that since the Covid-19 outbreak, it is more important than ever to take care of our planet and the environment, a European-wide study by drink can recycling initiative, Every Can Counts, has found.

The stats show that Scots are leading the way in the UK for feeling the importance of recycling in current times.

The majority (94%) of survey respondents in Scotland said it is an urgent task to tackle recycling, while 96% said that considering recycling and its importance for the planet is an obligation of all citizens and consumers, not just world leaders.

Despite this however, the survey also discovered that in these uncertain economic times, 55% of Scottish consumers say that the economy is currently a priority over the environment.

In the wake of Sir David Attenborough’s latest film, A Life On Our Planet, as well as his joining Instagram at 94 and achieving one million followers in record-breaking time, it seems environmental issues are finally coming to the fore.

Within the film’s poignant and hard-hitting introduction, Attenborough says, “The natural world is fading. This film is my witness statement and my vision for the future. The story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake, and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right.” 

It seems this seed has been well and truly planted in the minds of Scots with 73% stating that, during the pandemic, they have recycled more than ever, suggesting that the increase in time spent at home has made it easier for people to do their bit and recycle more. Only 48% however, said they often or always recycle when at work and less when out and about at 45%.

Commenting on the figures, Rick Hindley, Director of Every Can Counts says: “The figures imply that given the time and correct resources, we’re all more than capable of recycling everything we can.

“It’s when we’re out and about or at work that it becomes more difficult. The findings from the survey also suggest that Covid-19 has prompted us to consider our own fragility as human beings and look at the way we treat the planet, our home.

“The Covid-19 outbreak has of course brought about devastating effects. However, as we can see from these survey results, one positive is that people are beginning to sit and up and take notice of the vital environmental issues we are facing. We do not have forever to rectify the damage that has been done to our planet. The time is now.

“Recycling – and especially recycling drink cans given that aluminium is infinitely recyclable – is something we can all do to help the planet. Over the past five years, the UK recycling rate for drink cans has increased by 16% to an impressive 76%. Our vision is to get that to 100%.”

Scottish respondents echoed this call to action with a massive 92% saying they would like to do more when it comes to recycling and 84% feeling that more needs to be done in general to encourage recycling amongst consumers.

Of the 12 UK regions surveyed as part of the wider European study, Greater London, Yorkshire & Humberside, the South West and South East came up top when quantifying the importance of recycling with scores of 80% plus, closely followed by Scotland and the West Midlands with scores of 79%.

It appears that the challenges of Covid-19 have further inspired Scots to care for the environment. 95% of Scots agreed that Covid-19 has made taking care of the planet and recycling more important than ever, the highest level of agreement recorded across all 12 UK regions, shared with the East of England.

Below: UK regions ranked in order of agreeing with the following statement: After Covid-19 it is more important than ever to take care of our planet / environment and recycle. 

1.     Scotland 95%

2.     East of England 95%

3.     North West 93%

4.     Northern Ireland 93%

5.     Greater London 91%

6.     North East 91%

7.     Yorkshire & Humberside 91%

8.     East Midlands 90%

9.     West Midlands 89%

10.  South West 89%

11.  Wales 86%

12.  South East 84%

To see an Every Can Counts brand video, visit: YouTube. 

DWP – Cold Weather Payment

Get a cold weather cash boost

  • As the clocks go back this Sunday check if you are eligible for the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payments Scheme.
  • £27 million in total paid out in 2018-19.
  • £25 cash available for every week of cold weather between 1st November and 31st March.

As the nights get longer, the clocks go back and the temperatures drop you could be entitled to cash from the UK Government to help with your energy bills and keep your home warm.

Cold Weather Payments total £25 for each seven days of actual or forecast temperatures below freezing in your area between 1st November and 31st March.

If you receive Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest then you may be eligible.

You can check here: https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility

Baroness Stedman-Scott said: “Winter can be a difficult time for people, and our Cold Weather Payment will help you keep your home warm as temperatures drop.

“Payments are made automatically but if you think you might be eligible, you can check online to see if your area is due a payment and plan accordingly.”

Cold Weather Payments do not affect your other benefits.

You can use the online checker here to see if your area is due a payment:  https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/.

If you are eligible but have not received your payment, then tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office.

If you’re getting Universal Credit, sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.

More information can be found here: 

https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/how-to-claim

UK Government Scotland Minister, Iain Stewart said: “Looking after our fellow citizens and protecting the vulnerable in our communities is more important than ever as we overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

“The UK Government is committed to helping those in need stay warm during a cold Scottish winter. We know the difference Cold Weather Payments make and I encourage people to check online to see if they’d be eligible to receive this additional UK Government support.”

Clock change cancellation could save UK economy £160m a year

Based on previous Government estimates that 80 lives a year could be saved by scrapping the October clock change, the UK could reduce the number of people killed on our roads by four and a half per cent and save the economy £160m, says the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, who is calling on the Government to stop the practice.

The charity believes that moving to a permanent daylight-saving system would significantly improve road safety, especially for vulnerable road users such as children, pedestrians and cyclists.

“Every year there are unnecessary victims of road collisions throughout the winter months during commutes to work or school which could easily be avoided if the Government scrapped the process of changing the clocks,” comments Neil Greig, Policy and Research Director at IAM RoadSmart.

“Young pedestrians under 15 are already a huge ‘at risk’ group for road safety, and that risk becomes even greater as the nights draw in.

“Stopping the change of clocks would be easy to implement and, without question, would save lives – there are no good road safety reasons why this isn’t happening. The UK should at least set up a two-year trial to prove the benefits once and for all.”

Indeed, in November and December 2019, the number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths and injuries rose by 344 (from 6,787 to 7,131 representing a five per cent increase) compared with the two months prior to the clock change. 

Well-established figures prove that casualty rates rise between 3pm and 7pm as the days shorten. IAM RoadSmart warns that the dark afternoons are an especially dangerous time for youngsters coming home, with less supervision and individuals heading off to different activities at different times during this key period.

To facilitate the improvement, IAM RoadSmart recommended earlier this year that to allow extra daylight in the afternoons, we should not put the clocks back this winter, then next March move one hour ahead – and then go back one hour in October 2021 – a so called ‘double British summer time’.

Neil concluded: “Clearly it is now unfortunately too late to do anything ahead of this weekend, but we urge the Government to reconsider its policy ahead of next March.

“Road safety is now about small incremental gains from a number of policy changes and daylight saving could play its part in helping break the current flat lining in road deaths we are seeing in this country.”

In 1968, the UK Government carried out a three-year experiment which saw the clocks not being put back from March until October 1971, essentially staying in summer time for three years.

Throughout the experiment figures were collected at peak times which revealed that around 2,500 fewer people were killed or injured during the winters where the clocks weren’t put back – this represented a reduction of nearly 12 per cent.