Day: December 2, 2020

Walk the Walk funds vital mental health support for those affected by cancer in Scotland

Cancer Support Scotland is the latest charity working on the frontline to be awarded an Emergency Grant by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

Nina Barough, Walk the Walk’s Founder and Chief Executive, was so concerned about the effect COVID-19 was having on the lives of those affected by cancer, she felt Walk the Walk really had to do something to help.

The £20,000 grant from Walk the Walk will help Cancer Support Scotland sustain the equivalent of two full time counsellors and their Lead Therapist for nearly three full months. In that time, those roles alone will be able to offer at least 540 mental wellbeing support sessions to people who are struggling to cope with cancer.

The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the lives of those affected by cancer and their families. Many are shielding, isolated, have money worries, treatments postponed, all resulting in anxiety. Loneliness is another key issue and it is more crucial than ever that the mental wellbeing support provided by Cancer Support Scotland is maintained at its current level over the coming months.

From the start of the pandemic, Cancer Support Scotland have been contacting thousands of vulnerable people by phone, providing a lifeline. As the months passed, the need for support services has increased, but at the same time like other charities, their fundraising has almost ceased.

With their headquarters in Glasgow currently closed, Cancer Support Scotland are now offering digital counselling and virtual stress management courses. This is addition to a wellbeing call service and a wide range of online self-care tools to help people cope with cancer today and in the future.

Maureen Thompson was diagnosed with lung cancer in March and had lifesaving surgery four weeks later as Scotland was in lockdown due to Covid-19. She accessed Cancer Support Scotland’s counselling service by telephone in the months after surgery.

Maureen said: “I don’t think I would have got through this without their help, I was so worried about not coming through it. I was in such a low mood when I got in touch with Cancer Support Scotland but thanks to my Counsellor Natalie, I got through my darkest days.

“Without them I wouldn’t have got where I am today. I could tell them anything that I was feeling. I am eternally grateful to Natalie for her help. Thank you to all of you.”

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk, said: “During these very uncertain and worrying times, the team at Cancer Support Scotland have provided a vital lifeline for those affected by cancer and their families.

“The services offered by this wonderful charity are supporting the emotional wellbeing for those with cancer, and in these times of crisis, are needed more than ever.

“Walk the Walk is delighted that this Emergency Grant will enable Cancer Support Scotland to meet the growing demand for their online services, and hope that in the not too distant future, when their centre can safely open again, this online resource will continue to offer a vital service to those that need it.”

Rob Murray, CEO Cancer Support Scotland said: “I could not be prouder of the hard work and dedication the Wellbeing Team at Cancer Support Scotland have shown throughout this pandemic.

“It has been a challenging and difficult time but we know we have been able to offer a critical service to those affected by cancer across Scotland. It is with huge thanks to Walk the Walk for gifting us an Emergency Grant that we will be able to continue supporting people across Scotland whenever they need us.”

Christmas at the Botanics opens today

Christmas cheer set to be sprinkled across the capital to close 2020 on a high

Christmas at the Botanics opens today [2 December] unveiling a series of magical light installations inspired by all things Christmas.

Bringing much-needed merriment to round off a tough year for all, the twinkling trail will be one of the few festive activities happening in the capital this year thanks to its outdoor setting and a series of stringent health and safety measures to protect visitors.

These include regulated entry time slots, limited capacities, reduced dwell times, contactless ticket scanning and a one-way trail route. 

Attendees must book their tickets online in advance of their visit and follow the lasted Scottish Government restrictions on travel and meeting others.

Delivering a dazzling display of lights, projections and lasers, the one mile long after-dark extravaganza will welcome back some of the Garden’s most popular installations including the Cathedral of Light and Laser Garden.

For those who are on his ‘good’ list this year, Santa Claus will make an appearance outside on the trail to greet visitors at a distance, while several new installations include a projected light show on the Garden’s modernist Front Range Glasshouses and Starfield – a display of 20 giant LED twinkling stars – are also set to be firm favourites for 2020. 

In line with Scotland’s new Covid-19 local protection levels and travel restrictions, this year the trail’s success is dependent on support from the residents of the City of Edinburgh local authority area.  

Simon Milne MBE, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “We are calling on the people of Edinburgh to show their support by visiting Christmas at the Botanics.

“By coming to the trail not only will visitors enjoy a wonderful festive experience but also help us and our work enormously. Profits from the trail go to help finance our important and innovative plant research and conservation programmes in Scotland and around the world. 

“Never has our work been more crucial as we face the interrelated challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, biodiversity loss and climate change. This has been a hugely difficult year for us all. At the Botanics, we want to end the year by creating something very special for the City and we hope everyone will come and enjoy some festive fun.”

The 2019 trail welcomed 76,000 visitors during its five-week run – and the 2020 event promises to be equally as popular.

Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “Christmas at the Botanics has established itself as a truly uplifting experience that helps the capital kick off the festive season in style, and it’s never been more needed than in 2020.

“A lot of work has gone into making the trail Covid-safe so that our customers can visit with confidence.  I am thrilled that the team has made it happen. The fusion of the beautiful natural setting of the Garden combined with the striking, modern art created by the lights provides a deeply atmospheric and magical setting and we can’t wait for visitors to experience it for themselves.”

Due to Covid-19 ALL tickets must be pre-booked for the trail in advance online. For ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit the website below and follow @mychristmastrails #ChristmasAtTheBotanics

https://christmasatthebotanics.seetickets.com/timeslots/christmas-at-the-botanics/

Christmas at the Botanics is one of seven illuminated trails by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.

More information on the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh health and safety measures can be accessed here: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/visiting-us-during-covid-19/

PICTURES: Phil Wilkinson

COVID-19 and Communities Listening Project: A Shared Response

We are delighted to share with youCOVID-19 and Communities Listening Project: A Shared Response, published today by the Carnegie UK Trust.

The report draws together findings from over 80 conversations with people across the UK during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on how organisations and communities were adapting to meet the changing needs of the people around them, as well as the evolving relationships between different sectors.

The report reflects that at the onset of the pandemic, it was often communities who stepped up to offer essential support, such as food and checking in on isolated individuals. The report calls for more partnership working between the public and voluntary sectors and communities: investing in communities to unlock their power.

Looking to the future, the Trust considers how to maintain working together and sharing power across sectoral and professional boundaries. The report highlights actions taken in the pandemic that could be a springboard for moving towards long-held ambitions of partnership working and more people-focused and preventative public sector services.

You can read the full report here and an accessible version is available here. 

A blog on the report’s key messages is also available on our website.

We would be delighted to hear your views on the ideas put forward in the report, and you can share the report with your networks over Twitter using the hashtag #COVIDConversations.

Best wishes

Sarah

Sarah Davidson
Chief Executive
Carnegie UK Trust

For regular updates on all of the Trust’s projects and activities click HERE to subscribe to our bi-monthly e-newsletter.

Dobbies Edinburgh moves ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day’ as Scots seek early festive joy

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, has brought forward its official ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day’ to Saturday 5 December as the British public get into the Christmas spirit earlier than normal.

Usually the second Saturday in December, ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day’ marks the most popular time for people buying their real Christmas trees. But according to new research commissioned by Censuswide on behalf of Dobbies, almost a quarter (24%) of Brits plan on putting their Christmas tree up early.

Forty percent of those planning to put their tree up early are aiming to do this 2 to 3 weeks earlier than usual, and a quarter are planning to put theirs up a week earlier.

Notably, young adults are the keenest to up the Christmas spirit levels with over two in five (46%) of those aged 16 to 24 planning on putting their tree up early.

Dobbies has streamlined its Christmas tree varieties this year focusing on the Nordmann Fir which is grown in sustainable Scottish woodlands. The Nordmann Fir holds its needles well and has a natural, open look making it easy to decorate.

Pot grown trees, which can be planted in the garden post-Christmas, are already proving popular this year as consumers look for environmentally-friendly options.

The garden centre is also expecting high demand of its value range including the 4ft Nordmann Fir tree which is £19.99. This taps into the trend of having Christmas trees in a variety of rooms in the house, especially kids’ bedrooms.

Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director for Dobbies, said: “Buying a Christmas tree is a festive tradition and we work year-round to make sure we’ve got the best selection.

“We know Edinburgh customers are keen to get Christmas started early this year and because of that we’ve brought forward our official ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day’ by a week to make sure everyone can get the tree they want and make the most of the festive season.

“Our premium-quality, sustainably sourced trees are displayed to aid safe shopping. We have social distancing measures in place to reassure our customers and allow them to choose their Christmas tree in a safe and enjoyable way

“Customers can also pre-order their Christmas tree for home delivery by visiting dobbies.com where they will find a great range of Christmas trees to choose from.”

Marcus features on the latest edition of the Dobbies gardening podcast, giving advice on selecting a real Christmas tree, how to transport it and the optimum position in the home. The Dobbies podcast is available to listen to and download now via iTunes and Spotify https://www.dobbies.com/content/podcast.html

Survey of 2,007 nationally representative UK respondents (aged 16+) undertaken in October 2020 by Censuswide.

For more information: www.dobbies.com

SNP announce free school meals for all Primary School pupils

“PROGRESSIVE VISION TO TACKLE POVERTY IN THE FACE OF TORY CUTS”

SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald has welcomed the announcement that every primary school pupil in Edinburgh will be eligible for free school meals, all year around, if the SNP is re-elected in May. 

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, set out this latest step in the drive to tackle child poverty and make Scotland the first nation in the UK to offer universal free primary school meals at the SNP annual conference at the weekend.

The SNP previously extended eligibility for a free school lunch to all P1 to P3 pupils while P4 to P7 pupils are eligible based on a range of income and benefits criteria.

Now, in the face of predictions that Westminster cuts will drive child poverty rates even higher, the expansion – estimated to cost around £230 million per year in additional expenditure – will introduce a free year-round breakfast and lunch for all primary school pupils from August 2022. 

SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has put real financial pressure on families, and it’s right that the Scottish Government ensured that children in Edinburgh would continue to receive free school meals over the holidays.

“But I am happy that we are not stopping there. If the SNP is re-elected in May, every single primary school pupil in Edinburgh will be eligible for free breakfast and lunch, all year round.

“And unlike the Tories, we didn’t have to be publicly shamed and condemned into choosing to feed hungry children – that is the basic duty of any government.

“This ambitious expansion of the free school meals scheme is the next step in our battle to stop the Tories forcing more and more kids into poverty, support families, and make Scotland the best place to grow up.

“That progressive vision, underpinned by human rights, equality and wellbeing, is exactly why people in Scotland continue to put their faith in the SNP.”

Work opportunity with Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

Granton Castle Walled Garden

Development Officer (one year)

Are you interested in working with local volunteers and community groups to help protect and develop a late medieval walled garden in North West Edinburgh?

The Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden are looking for a Development Officer to coordinate plans for work in the garden and in the community over the coming year, a time when we will all hope to see a different world emerging. 

£15 ph for an average of 24hpw on a self-employed basis.

Under the oversight of the Trustees, duties would include:

Developing our website, communications and social media with regular updates and monthly newsletters;

Reorganising our database to update our contacts, volunteers, members/friends and associates while ensuring GDPR compliance;

Fundraising for our strategic plan including future funding for administrator, gardener, green gym, Victorian greenhouse re-build, workshops and events, utilities etc.;

Coordinating volunteers, special interest groups and working parties, especially for gardening, workshops and events;

Strengthening links with educational and community groups and increase participation of local residents;

Updating policies: eg H & S, Safeguarding, Volunteer Induction;

Exploring feasibility of installation of electricity and water.

Hours of work will vary due to garden seasonality, events, workshops, meetings and when volunteers are available and will include some weekend working.

Formal qualifications are not essential, but experience of communicating and networking with Council and community groups, good MS Office and fund-raising skills and expertise in social media and database development, preferably within an historic, horticultural environment, required.

Interviews will be held in January 2021 to start in March 2021. For more information please look at https://www.facebook.com/GrantonCastleGarden/

If interested, apply with CV and names and email addresses of 2 referees to:grantongarden@gmail.com, OR

Chair,

Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden,

23 West Shore Road, Edinburgh EH5 1QB,

by noon on Friday, 18th December 2020.

Sharing the Christmas sparkle across the Capital

Christmas 2020 will see more festive lights than ever across the Capital following a one-off funding boost that aims to spread some cheer at the end of a challenging year.

Thanks to savings identified in the Culture budget due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on festivals and events there will now be Christmas lights in every ward of the city, with the new provision being used to dress living trees. 

The traditional Christmas centrepiece is already illuminated following the switch-on of the 2020 Christmas Rainbow on the Mound to accompany the traditional Norwegian tree on Friday (27 November). The 18m wide rainbow pays tribute to frontline workers who have given so much during the pandemic. The programme of citywide installation has begun.

Culture and Communities Convener, Cllr Donald Wilson, said: “This has been a very tough year for all of us and as we now look ahead to a very different Christmas, it’s important to show that Edinburgh’s festive and community spirit is alive and well despite the challenges we’re facing.

“Along with our usual provision of Christmas lights and trees around the city we’re also making sure that we spread the Christmas sparkle where we can to parts of Edinburgh that have not previously had festive lighting provision and to make sure that is the case for several years. I’m delighted to confirm that from 2020 there will be lights in every ward of the city.

“With this one-off spend we’ll be ensuring all 17 wards have festive lights for around five years – the life span of the new lighting.”

Culture and Communities Vice Convener, Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan, said: “To keep everyone safe we unfortunately weren’t able to have our usual community light switch-on ceremonies this year, but I hope this extra splash of festive sparkle across the city will boost spirits and can be enjoyed by residents safely.

“Our thanks to the team who had to work so quickly and explored ways to add lights to previously unlit areas. The task of plotting the best spots is not as easy as it sounds and I want to congratulate the team for researching the city and making sure we could find living trees that are suitable for lights. They had to be on Council land, big enough to accommodate lights without harming branches, in a visible spot or in area of high footfall and near a suitable power supply.

“The installation of the festive lights has started across our communities and I hope citizens enjoy the extra Christmas cheer they’ll bring to local neighbourhoods.”

New Christmas lights for 2020:

Rainbow on The Mound
Nativity Scene (East Princes Street Gardens)
Granton
Gracemount
Longstone
Currie
Balerno
Liberton
Sighthill
Oxgangs
Kirk Brae
Craigentinny
Portobello High School
Leith Walk
Duddingston
Meadowbank
Canongate
Leith – Bernard St Bridge
Meggetland Bridge

Hundreds of child cruelty and neglect offences recorded by Police Scotland every year

672 concerns of adults neglecting, mistreating or assaulting children in Scotland in 2019/20

The NSPCC has launched its Here for Children Christmas Appeal and a new TV ad to raise awareness of abuse and neglect this Christmas

More than 600 concerns of child cruelty and neglect offences were recorded by Police Scotland last year, the NSPCC reports as it warns that some children may be at risk of abuse this Christmas.

The charity is today releasing a new analysis of police data for the whole of the UK, which reveals that there were 23,529 offences recorded by forces in 2019/20.

Although there are significant variations in numbers between different regions and nations, the analysis finds that overall in the UK there has been 53% rise since 2016/17. However, in Scotland the annual number of offences has varied considerably over these four years, between 640 and 818, with last year’s figure totalling 672.

While not every police-recorded offence leads to a prosecution or child protection outcome, each represents a significant concern raised to the police about a child.

The NSPCC has issued the findings as part of a warning that children may be at risk of abuse this Christmas and that everyone needs to play their part in keeping young people safe.

To raise awareness of child neglect and abuse this Christmas, the NSPCC has launched its Here for Children Christmas Appeal. The charity has also produced a new TV appeal which depicts some of the heart-breaking abuse contacts the NSPCC-run service Childline expects to take in the Christmas holidays.  

Over the last six months the NSPCC has been looking closely at the impact of lockdown – and its frontline teams are concerned that increased vulnerability, the challenges of safeguarding remotely and wider pressures on families may have increased the risks of abuse and neglect.

During the spring lockdown, an average of 50 children a day, across the UK, turned to Childline after suffering abuse, with counselling sessions about this issue increasing by 22% compared with pre-lockdown levels.

*A 14-year-old girl from Scotland told a Childline counsellor: “I’m feeling so stressed and upset at home right now. My dad abuses me a lot by making me starve. I literally have to beg for things to eat, and if I do get food it’s the tiniest bits. I feel hungry a lot but then it just turns into me feeling sick. I just wanted someone to talk to so I came here.”

*A 15-year-old girl from Scotland who contacted Childline said: “My parents don’t look after me and my siblings properly. The house is very dirty and my bedroom is damp and mouldy. The house is constantly cold as there is no heating and no hot water. Since lockdown, I’ve been finding it really hard to cope at home, I miss being at school.”

As part of its new appeal, the charity is calling on the public to donate £20 to the NSPCC so that services like Childline can be here for children this Christmas.

Everyone has a role to play in keeping children safe. The charity is reminding adults that if they have concerns about a child’s welfare they can call the NSPCC helpline.

NSPCC Scotland is also urging the Scottish Government to ensure that a comprehensive recovery plan is put in place and to deliver the long-term investment needed to provide high quality preventative and therapeutic services for children and support for families in every part of the country.

Matt Forde, head of service at NSPCC Scotland, said: “Every year there are children in Scotland experiencing pain and suffering at the hands of those who are supposed to care for them.

“For those children whose homes are not always a safe place, this year will have been extremely difficult. Their usual support networks and services will have been greatly reduced and many will have felt trapped and isolated.

“So, this year it is even more essential that children have a place where they can seek help and support. Our Childline service will be running every day over the Christmas holidays, but we need the public’s support so we can ensure vulnerable children are heard.”

Spotting the signs of abuse

The NSPCC is encouraging the public to look out for signs of abuse and speak up if they are concerned about a child. Signs of abuse and neglect to look out for can include:

  • Untreated injuries, medical and dental issues
  • Repeated accidental injuries caused by lack of supervision
  • Recurring illnesses or infections
  • Faltering weight or growth, and not reaching developmental milestones
  • Poor language, communication or social skills
  • Have unwashed clothes
  • Have inadequate clothing, like not having a winter coat
  • Living in an unsuitable home environment – for example without adequate heating, or dog mess being left
  • Left alone for a long time
  • Taking on the role of carer for other family members

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk

Social Security Scotland reports on its first full financial year

£540 million in benefit payments since launch of new system

The Scottish Government has provided people who need it with over £540 million in payments since launch in September 2018 up to 31 March 2020, according to the Social Security Scotland’s annual report published today.

From 1 September 2018 to 31 March 2020, benefits were delivered that support low income families during key stages in a child’s life, people struggling to pay for funerals and unpaid carer

The support paid over the course of the financial year reporting period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 totalled £346.7 million.

A further three benefits have been introduced since March 2020. Job Start Payment, Child Winter Heating Assistance and the Scottish Child Payment which is estimated could pay an extra £142 million to people in Scotland every year.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Social security is the most significant new public service to be created in Scotland since devolution.

“Social Security Scotland’s latest annual report shows that our new service is already supporting thousands of low income people including families with young children, carers and those who have lost loved ones.

“It paid out £346.7 million in the last financial year and we expect this to be much higher when we report again next year given the introduction of three more benefits – including the game changing Scottish Child Payment.

“What’s also encouraging is that over 80% of clients who rated their experience of applying for Scotland’s benefits said it was good. Making sure we get money to those who need it is our priority but to truly do things differently we want to make sure that people have a good experience – that they are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

“Of the ten benefits we currently offer, seven are completely new forms of assistance and the others are more generous than the UK benefits they replace. And despite the impact of Covid-19, we have introduced three new benefits in the last four months and our new Scottish Child Payment that will provide eligible parents and carers with an additional £10 per child per week is open to applications and will be paid from the end of February 2021.

“Over the course of this year, the service has continued to grow and take on new responsibilities. And next year will bring even greater challenges with the introducing of the more complex disability benefits. People can be reassured that we will continue to ensure that our social security system is there for people when they need it, and is something they can be proud of.”

Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland, David Wallace said: “I’m very proud of what we have achieved during the 2019/20 reporting period and since launching our brand new public service. And I’m pleased we have been able to effectively get money to so many people in Scotland who need it.

“There is still a lot more to do as we prepare to start to deliver the more complex disability payments and our service will continue to grow.

“The annual report demonstrates all that we have accomplished. Looking forward, our new Corporate Plan sets out what we will do to deliver on our responsibilities in the future.

“And our Charter Measurement Framework co-designed by people with lived experience of benefits – will help us measure our success.”

Background

  • Payments made during the reporting period of 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 include Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment, Best Start Grant School Age Payment, Best Start Foods, Carer’s Allowance Supplement, Young Carer Grant and Funeral Support Payment.
  • Social Security Scotland also reports on Carer’s Allowance payments that are made on its behalf through the Department for Work and Pensions.
  • Over £537 million in benefit expenditure was recorded in the Social Security Scotland annual report (£346.7 million in 2019/20 and £190.9 million in the seven months of 2018/19) with an additional £6.9 million in 2019/20 Best Start Foods payments coming from the Scottish Government’s health budget. Best Start Foods spend is accounted for in the Scottish Government’s annual accounts.
  • As of 23 November 2020, Social Security Scotland now directly administers ten benefits. Benefits introduced in 2020/21 include Job Start Payment (introduced August 2020), Scottish Child Payment (applications accepted from November 2020 with payments to start end February 2021) and Child Winter Heating Assistance (introduced November 2020)
  • Read Social Security Scotland’s latest Annual Report 

Creative Bourach

North Edinburgh crafters pop-up on Leith Walk!

Creative Bourach is a craft collective based in north Edinburgh. It started meeting in February 2020 and has been doing so online throughout COVID-19.

Supported by First Port’s What If…North Edinburgh? programme which encourages local people to establish social enterprises, it is a peer support network for crafters.

They are holding their first pop up Christmas market stall at Leith Police Box on Leith Walk on Sunday December 6th.

The name Creative Bourach means Creative Mess, Bourach being Gaelic for mess.

“It made us laugh when the Gaelic-speaking member of the group suggested it,” said Julie Smith, the programme manager. “Actually the group are very organised and thrilled to be having their first pop up Christmas stall.

“It’s been a pleasure working with them, they all have jobs and do this in their spare time, throughout the whole period. The work is a really high standard”

“There are knitters and sewers, textile crafters, jewellers, painted glassworkers, felters – a whole range. It can be really hard and isolating doing this work on your own in your own house. Bringing people together meant they could share expense of market stalls, learn tips from each other and hopefully – have visits to other crafters when we can travel!”

“It would be lovely for people to come and buy some Christmas presents while supporting local craft makers. We have everything from £5 to £95!”

The Creative Bourach Christmas Market Stall: Sunday 6 December, 12 – 4pm.

Social Distancing, COVID safety measures in place.

CASH ONLY.

@LeithPolice Box

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