Month: February 2021

The Big Issue sellers join LinkedIn to connect with customers

The Big Issue (TBI) and LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, have partnered on a pilot scheme to support 10 of the magazine’s vendors who have lost their livelihoods and their sense of community as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Big Issue vendors taking part in the pilot, who are based all around the UK, have joined LinkedIn to find a new lifeline for their work, as they remain unable to sell the magazine during the latest national lockdown as high street footfall is much lower.

The 10 vendors have received specialist and bespoke training from LinkedIn to help them build their digital skills to reach an online customer base, find new opportunities, and engage with LinkedIn’s community of 30 million UK members.

They have also received tablets donated from Dixons Carphone, the business behind Currys, PC World and Carphone Warehouse, to help them access their LinkedIn profiles and online training. 

The vendors will be able to reach out to new and existing customers on LinkedIn to let them know that they can purchase a copy of The Big Issue digitally. Their profiles are all searchable on the platform through The Big Issue’s LinkedIn page.

Big Issue vendors run their own micro-businesses, buying copies of the magazine for £1.50 and selling to the public for £3, keeping the difference. In this way the magazine provides them with the means to earn a legitimate income.

The partnership with LinkedIn aims to connect the vendors with the 30 million-strong network of UK professionals, giving them access to a platform which reinforces that they are working for a living, and allows them to increase their sales in the face of the ongoing challenges in the Covid-19 pandemic.

As we remain in national lockdown, and with footfall on the high streets of previously bustling cities and towns declining, The Big Issue and LinkedIn’s ambition is to onboard more vendors onto the scheme throughout the year.

Emma Ford, Big Issue vendor who usually sells the magazine in Victoria Station, London, said: “Covid-19 has affected me very badly. I haven’t had Covid-19 but it’s changed my life.

“It’s played with my mental health and has affected my confidence. I really hope the partnership with LinkedIn will help me a lot. We can’t sell the magazine now, so it’s amazing that we can sell online. We really need that income boost. No one knows what will happen, but any little help makes a big difference.”

Paul Cheal, Group CEO of The Big Issue Group, said: “Covid-19 has changed everything for everyone, but its impact has been keenly felt at The Big Issue. All earning potential was stripped from our 1,700 regular vendors who made their living selling The Big Issue on the streets of the UK.

“Now, as we find ourselves in our third national lockdown and footfall on the high street likely to be almost non-existent for the foreseeable future, we are fully focused on empowering our vendors with the digital skills they need to connect with their customers.

“The partnership with LinkedIn, which we welcome wholeheartedly, will not only help the vendors sell their magazine again, it will ease the feeling of social isolation experienced over the past year, allowing them to reconnect with their customers and community.”

Josh Graff, UK Country Manager, LinkedIn says: “The pandemic has had an enormous impact on the livelihoods of Big Issue vendors and wreaked havoc on their ability to earn an income.

“We’re delighted that this pilot programme will give vendors a new, safe, and much needed opportunity to reconnect with customers and sell their magazines. We’re really excited about the potential of this scheme and hope that LinkedIn members across the UK also welcome the opportunity to buy from Big Issue vendors once again.”

You can find out if your local vendor is on LinkedIn by visiting The Big Issue’s company page and searching for the vendors. 

Alternatively, you can support The Big Issue’s 100 Days of Action Appeal by buying a subscription from your vendor or by subscribing online at bigissue.com/support.

Budding garden designers invited to enter exciting competition

Pocket garden challenge launched

Budding garden designers are invited to enter exciting competition

A nationwide competition has been launched by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful to find pupils from across Scotland to participate in the sixth annual Pocket Garden Design Competition.

Children, from as young as three, are being challenged to design a colourful and sustainable garden that could feature at the Scottish Gardens Show at Scone Palace in late May if restrictions allow, and if not in an interactive online garden showcase.

Many people have found joy as they rediscovered the nature on their doorsteps during lockdown, and the competition encourages young people to celebrate that through their designs.

Following the great success of Pocket Gardens in past years, schools from across Scotland are being encouraged to take part and develop designs for a tiny garden which reflect the four interlinked 2021 themes.

These themes include The Year of Coasts and Waters, One Planet Picnic, Wildlife Gardening and Health and Wellbeing through noticing nature.

Eve Keepax, Education and Learning Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It’s a great competition with new opportunities!  This year an Activities at Home sheet is available to inspire children to get involved while learning at home.  

“We are excited to work with Scotland’s brand-new national gardening event – The Scottish Gardens Show at Scone Palace – to celebrate and share the innovation and creativity of Scotland’s young garden designers.

“This competition over the years has inspired entries from across the country and we hope that in 2021 it gives parents and educators a new focus as we continue a blended mix of home and in school learning.”

 Anthony McCluskey, Chair of the Garden for Life Forum, who will be involved in the judging, said: “2020 winners, that were not able to display their pocket gardens last year when the event was cancelled due to lockdown, will join winning Pocket Gardens from 2021. 

“Double joy – winning designs from two years to see!”

Brian Cunningham, Head Gardener at Scone Palace and organiser of The Scottish Garden Show, commented: “One of the aims of The Scottish Gardens Show is to showcase approaches to gardening that benefit the health of both people and the planet and it is crucial to involve children and young people as part of the life blood of the show.  

“The Pocket Gardens are a perfect fit and I’m looking forward to the inspiration and fun they will bring to the show.”

Pupils are invited to submit their entries no later than 17 March 2021 to oneplanetpicnic@keepscotlandbeautiful.org. 

Further information and inspiration from past years can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocketgarden

Adult Social Care: Scottish Government supports Feeley Review recommendations

Collision course with COSLA over National Care Service?

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has accepted the findings of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, and the Scottish Government is already working to implement key recommendations.

Ms Freeman told Parliament yesterday that Derek Feeley’s Independent Review, commissioned five months ago in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was an “important opportunity” to be bold in reshaping how social care is planned, funded and delivered.

Speaking in a debate on the review, Ms Freeman set out a number of immediate measures in response, including a new £20 million Community Living Change Fund to redesign services for people with complex needs including intellectual disabilities and autism, and for people who have enduring mental health problems.

This will address some of the issues raised by the 2018 Coming Home report, about the need to avoid out of area placements and delayed discharge for people with learning disabilities and complex needs.

She said she accepted the principle of introducing a National Care Service but would continue to talk to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) about how to address its concerns.

The Scottish Government is working to implement other measures recommended by Derek Feeley’s report. These include:

  • work with local partners to end charging for non-residential care
  • developing minimum standards for terms and conditions in the social care sector, to help organisations meet fair work principles by the end of May
  • work to ensure there is no delay in the annual Real Living Wage uplift for Adult Social Care workers

Ms Freeman said: “The independent review of social care gives us a clear roadmap for the future of care provision in Scotland and we believe in the recommendations in this report.

“There is immediate action that can be taken now to secure improvement. I am pleased to announce a new Community Living Change Fund of £20 million to deliver a redesign of services for people with complex needs including intellectual disabilities and autism, and those who have enduring mental health problems. We will work with local partners as quickly as practicable to end all charges for non-residential care.

“The report also recognises and highlights the critical and invaluable support that the social care workforce provide to people all over Scotland. We are looking to establish a new sector-level body to ensure an effective voice for the whole of the social care workforce to enable them to respond to local conditions and address matters of importance, and support an effective collective bargaining role in the sector.

“As a priority, we will work with our stakeholders to agree a national approach to implementing the real living wage for Adult Social Care workers – for 2021 and in future years.

“We want to move from a competitive market to collaboration and ethical approaches to commissioning and procurement to help embed fair work principles and improve the consistency of services.

“The National Care Home Contract should also embed changes which drive the Fair Work Agenda and I have asked that for the first time Union representatives should be party to the discussions on this contract.

“I understand the concern expressed by COSLA on the issue of accountability. Local government is a critical partner in taking forward the radical change the Review rightly calls for and I support. We need to work together to find the best way to secure the Review’s recommendations and the spirit of its intent.

“I believe, as the report sets out, that improving adult social care gives us an important opportunity – to improve people’s lives, to build our economy, and to invest in high-quality, fair work.

“This is just beginning of a process for improvement. It is now up to us to ensure a social care system that consistently delivers high quality services across Scotland – a system that is founded in fairness, equality, and human rights, and that puts lived experience at the heart of its redesign and delivery.”

Council Leaders have already rejected the idea of a Scottish Care Service.

Speaking following the launch of the Feeley report on 11 February, Councillor Stuart Currie, COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, said:  “There was real and unanimous opposition to the recommendations on governance and accountability which would see the removal of local democratic accountability and a degree of centralisation, which Leaders rightly felt would be detrimental to the local delivery of social care and its integration with other key community services.

“They (council leaders) also felt that given the level of funding set out in the Review, Local Government would be well placed to deliver the human-rights based approach outlined at pace, whilst ensuring local democratic accountability remains front and centre of social care.”

Council leaders will consider a detailed report on the proposals and the Scottish Government’s response at the end of this month.

Online Open Days at Scotland’s Rural College King’s Buildings

Students will be able to learn more about individual courses on offer at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) during a series of virtual events next week (22-26 February).

In addition to a general overview about studying at SRUC’s King’s Buildings campus in Edinburgh – with the chance to speak to current students – prospective students can learn more about specific courses ranging from HNC to postgraduate degree level.

These include courses in Horticulture, Applied Animal Science and Environmental Management and Conservation.

An event highlighting the Horticulture with Plantsmanship course will take place on Monday 22 February, followed by an event for Horticulture and Garden Design on Tuesday 23 February.

Further events for Applied Animal Science, Rural Business Management and Environmental Management and Conservation will be held on Wednesday 24 February with an event for Agriculture on Thursday 25 February.

The campus overview will take place on Friday 26 February at 1.30pm, followed by a student panel Q&A session at 4pm.

The events, which will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, offer the chance to hear from lecturers and ask questions about the courses.

Marketing and Student Recruitment Officer at the King’s Buildings campus, Anouska Curzon, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has meant we are unable to invite prospective students onto our campuses.

“However, we hope that by meeting some of the staff and students online, we are giving everyone the opportunity to find out more about what it’s like to study with us.”

For more information or to book a place, please visit: 

https://www.sruc.ac.uk/opendays

Audit Scotland: Lessons to be learned from pandemic response

The Scottish Government acted quickly to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed by Covid-19, but it could have been better prepared to respond to the pandemic, according to a new report from Audit Scotland.

Staff across the NHS and Scottish Government took early action during the first wave in 2020, including increasing intensive care capacity and pausing non-urgent treatment. Service innovation, such as a huge rise in video consultations, also happened within weeks and it is important these are learned from.

However, there is now a substantial backlog of patients, with NHS boards prioritising those in most urgent need. It will be hard to deal with this backlog alongside the financial and operational challenges already faced by boards.

The Scottish Government based its initial response to Covid-19 on the 2011 UK flu pandemic preparedness strategy. Scotland took part in three pandemic preparedness exercises in the years before the coronavirus outbreak.

But not all the actions identified in these exercises were fully implemented.

These included measures to ensure access to enough PPE and to quickly address social care capacity, both of which became significant issues during the first wave of Covid-19.

Covid-19 has caused or contributed to the deaths of around 9,000 people in Scotland so far. People from the most deprived areas, of South Asian origin, or of Caribbean or Black ethnicity are among those who have suffered disproportionately from the pandemic. Deaths from other causes were also higher than average at the start of the pandemic.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: NHS staff have shown extraordinary commitment to treating and caring for Scotland’s people during a pandemic that has highlighted the need to deal with long-standing health inequalities.

“Getting the full range of health services back up and running will be challenging. But there are clear lessons to be learned from the pandemic, both in how the country could have been better prepared and in the innovation that we’ve seen. It’s essential that these advances are now retained and built upon.”

Arrests in Edinburgh and Glasgow after human trafficking operation

An intelligence led operation saw officers from Greater Glasgow Human Trafficking Unit execute three search warrants in Glasgow, along with a search warrant executed in Edinburgh on Monday (15 February 2021).

Detective Inspector Mark McLennan of Greater Glasgow CID said: “Officers carried out search warrants at addresses in Denniston, Maryhill and Thornliebank in Glasgow and the Canongate area of Edinburgh.

“A 28-year-old woman and two men aged 32 and 45 were arrested in Glasgow and charged in connection with human trafficking and sexual exploitation. All three were expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday. A 31-year-old man was also reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

“We worked closely with Edinburgh City, National Human Trafficking Unit and Home Office Immigration Enforcement Crime and Financial Investigation Scotland as part of this operation.”

Edinburgh Deserves Better!

Campaign group publishes alternative vision

With yet another round of budget cuts looming, campaign group Another Edinburgh is Possible has published an interim survey which shows widespread dissatisfaction with council service provision across the city.

The group, made up of trade union and community activists, invited Edinburgh residents to share their views on council performance – and the results will make uncomfortable reading for the administration’s leaders.

Public conveniences, poor road and pavement maintenenance, housing and homelessness services came in for particular criticism and the controversial Spaces for People initiative also attracted adverse comments.

There was criticism, too, for Edinburgh’s health and social care, while community education, social work and the city’s community centres also ranked poorly.

Despite years of cuts to council services – £320 million since 2012/13 – the City of Edinburgh Council is looking to make further ‘savings’ in the new financial year. £80 million has already been identified but the council has still to find an additional £5.1 million.

Looking further ahead, the picture remains bleak. The city council has plans to make savings of £40 million overthe next three years – but it will also have to find a further £47.5 million.

Campaigners say cuts of this magnitude are unsustainable, and Another Edinburgh is Possible organisers are now urging citizens to contact their elected representatives ahead of tomorrow’s crucial budget meeting.

Another Edinburgh is Possible is one of six delegations to Thursday’s full council meeting, which starts at 10am.

Agenda frontsheet  PDF 276 KB

The group has put forward four recommendations:

  • The ‘in-housing’ of Edinburgh’s public services
  • Improved communications with Edinburgh’s residents
  • A re-ordering of council priorities
  • The integration of Edinburgh’s transport system under public ownership

Edinburgh is currently run by an SNP – Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ although the Conservatives are now the biggest group on the council with 17 councillors.

The council says: “We deliver a vast range of services – more than 700! – to people who live and work in Edinburgh. This year alone, we will spend more than £1 billion on services and investing in our priorities.

“We’ve committed to ending poverty and becoming a net zero carbon city by 2030, while improving the wellbeing of our whole city. Now, more than ever, we must hold on to these commitments.”

Labour councillor Cammy Day is deputy leader of the city council. He lays the blame for continued cuts on the SNP – despite the Nationalists being Labour’s partners in Edinburgh’s Capital Coalition.

He said on FaceBook: “Despite over a decade of SNP cuts to Edinburgh Council – we will deliver a budget helping people who experience poverty, challenge issues around sustainability, reduce fee increases in key areas and, in thanking our communities, we will make investments to upgrade the city’s parks and greenspaces which have been a space for enjoyment during a challenging year for us all.

“Edinburgh Labour have also ensured substantial investments in providing proper digital inclusion for all of our school pupils across the city. All of the SNP government funding required has been allocated to our Health and Social Care work, and it is woefully short.

“Edinburgh Labour will continue to press the SNP Government for full funding to support the most vulnerable in our city, and prioritise any additional funding to support this.please get in touch and show your support – we need everyone to push the SNP government to fairly fund our capital city.”

Local government elections are scheduled to take place in May.

There’s still time to have your say – you can complete the Alternative Survey of Council Services up until 21 February:

http://anotheredinburghispossible.org/…/the…/

another-edinburgh-is-possible-no-forewordDownload

NSPCC helpline referrals about parental substance misuse DOUBLE in Scotland

Referrals about parents’ use of drugs and alcohol by the NSPCC helpline to Scottish agencies have more than DOUBLED since the start of the pandemic.

New data reveals that the average monthly number of referrals concerning this issue increased from 26 during the first three months of last year to 63 between April 1 and January 31, 2021. Over the 10-month period there was a total of 626 referrals made in Scotland.

Referrals are made to external agencies such as the police and local authorities when concerns reported to the helpline are considered to be serious enough to warrant further investigation or if it is felt a family needs support.

The number of people from across the UK calling the NSPCC helpline with concerns about parents’ use of drugs and alcohol has increased by 66% since the start of the pandemic.1

Parental substance misuse is the misuse of drugs and/or alcohol by a parent or carer. This includes adults who consume harmful amounts of alcohol, are dependent on alcohol, use prescription drugs excessively or are using illegal drugs, any of which impacts their ability to care for a child.

Living in a household where a parent or carer misuses substances does not necessarily mean a child will experience abuse, but it can make it more difficult for parents to provide safe and consistent care and this can lead to abuse or neglect. It can also have a serious impact on children’s emotional well-being.

Due to the pandemic, children are much more immersed in the problems they are facing at home. Schools have stayed open for vulnerable children and those of key workers but many remain at home meaning there is no escape for those living with parental substance misuse.

As numbers of contacts to the helpline continue to rise, it is vital that local substance misuse services are accessible during the pandemic. Last month, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced new investment into improving and increasing services for people affected by drug addiction in the country.

It is crucial that these and alcohol addiction services take a ‘whole family approach’, recognising the impact of substance misuse on children and the need to support adults as parents.

The NSPCC service centre in Glasgow runs a programme called Parents under Pressure TM, which supports parents and carers with substance misuse or mental health difficulties. The programme2 provides advice to parents on how to develop good relationships with their children and deal with challenging behaviour, as well as their own emotions.

Laura* was referred to the programme in Glasgow by her health visitor almost two years ago. Now in her 30s, Laura* began drinking regularly as a teenager in a bid to help her cope with bullying at school and domestic and substance abuse at home.

When she was 18 years old, she was sexually assaulted by a stranger in the street. She then went on to have a series of abusive relationships and had three children. She suffered with post-natal depression and was drinking heavily. Her three children were removed from her care, when the youngest was just a baby. It was following the birth of her fourth child that she finally received the help and support she needed to recover from her addiction to alcohol. She has now been sober for over 18 months.

Speaking about her experience, Laura* said: “When drink has got hold of you, you don’t feel like anything is worth it. Addiction makes you remain in the same place, while everything else moves on, and you end up isolated and alone. At the time, I thought the addiction just affected me but it doesn’t, it affects everyone around you, especially your children because they rely on you for everything.

“I think the Parents under Pressure programme is so good, as it makes you realise that at the centre of many addictions there is a child, who is suffering.  My recovery has not been easy; I have had to delve into boxes, which have been locked in my head for many years. I don’t bottle things up anymore and I feel free; like I can breathe again. If I hadn’t had this help, I wouldn’t be here today. I would be dead or in jail and I would have left my children without a mother.”

Some of the signs to look out for that show families might be struggling with parental substance misuse during the lockdown and need support include:

  • parents may be visually under the influence of alcohol or drugs over video chat or in public
  • a change in the parent’s behaviour as they may have difficulty controlling their emotions or act irrationally or unpredictably
  • a child may become withdrawn or develop behavioural, emotional or mental health problems
  • aggressive or repeated shouting at home
  • children may have taken on the responsibility of caring for their parents or siblings
  • children showing signs of neglect, such as regularly looking dirty or being unsupervised

Kam Thandi, head of NSPCC helpline, explained: “Parental substance misuse can have a seriously detrimental impact on the whole family. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have created a perfect storm for families affected by this problem.

“At the NSPCC helpline we’ve not only seen a rise in contacts and referrals but we’re also seeing families who weren’t previously known to children’s services requiring help and support for substance misuse.

“The pressures on families at the moment are unprecedented and it is no surprise that our helpline is hearing that parents and carers are struggling with substance misuse. To keep our children safe it’s vital that those who are relying on drugs and alcohol, to the extent that the care of their children is being compromised, must seek help.

“The Scottish Government must also invest more in local services. Our frontline practitioners have told us that many parents and carers are struggling to access specialist support services which will help them recover from the impact of the pandemic.”

The NSPCC’s concerns are being backed by Adfam, a charity which provides support to families affected by drug, alcohol or gambling addiction.

Vivienne Evans OBE, Chief Executive, Adfam, said: “We are seeing that the usual daily challenges associated with a parent or family member’s alcohol or drug problem – fear, domestic abuse, isolation, loneliness, and mental stress – are being exacerbated by the lockdown measures.

“A staggering 88% of the families that we surveyed in our ‘Families in Lockdown’ survey told us that the first lockdown negatively impacted on their family member’s alcohol, drug or gambling problem. A third of families experienced an increase in verbal abuse from their family member and 13% feel more concerned than usual for their safety.

“As drug and alcohol misuse is so stigmatised, we know that many young people are scared to seek support, and for many children affected by parental substance use, the lockdown impedes them from the safety of the school environment. We know that with the right kind of support, children and young people can navigate this challenging time. We urge families not to wait until breaking point.”

The NSPCC is calling on anyone who is concerned a child is at risk due to parental substance misuse to contact the helpline. Trained professionals can offer advice to make sure everyone in the family receives the support they need – both parents and children.

If anyone is concerned about their own drug or alcohol intake and that it is affecting their family, support can be accessed by contacting the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.Adfam.org.uk to find your nearest online support group.

NHS Lothian committed to Young Person Guarantee

NHS Lothian has announced that, as part of a commitment to the #youngpersonsguarantee, they will be the first Health Board in Scotland to go live with #kickstart opportunities throughout 2021.

The Kickstart Scheme is a 6 month paid job with a local employer, funded by the Government. It provides a fully funded opportunity for young people to gain experience of working in one of Britain’s most exciting companies.

The Kickstart Scheme was announced by the Chancellor in the Summer, and will offer hundreds of thousands of job opportunities over the next two years. A £2 billion pot is available to fully fund exciting positions with businesses across Britain.

Jobs from the Kickstart Scheme are open to 16-24 year olds, who are claiming Universal Credit, and are at risk of long term unemployment. If you have a work coach they will talk to you about the Kickstart Scheme and whether it’s right for you.

We have roles on offer in many different types of businesses, and across England, Scotland and Wales. Plus if you take on a Kickstart placement you might be able to progress to an apprenticeship within the same company.

Ask your Work Coach about these opportunities and look on the Apprenticeships website.

The first jobs are now live, talk to your work coach to find out more. If you don’t have a work coach, find out more about your career options.

Edinburgh College to host Virtual Open Days

Edinburgh College is hosting Virtual Open Days this week, allowing people thinking of studying in 2021/22 to find out everything there is to know about starting college.

The virtual events – taking place from 10am until 12pm on Friday 19 February and from 10am until 2pm on Saturday 20 February – will give those in attendance the chance to speak to teaching staff about the courses on offer and discover the best study options available to them.

During both Virtual Open Days, prospective students will have the opportunity to: watch videos on application information including funding and student support; speak to college staff via a dedicated Virtual Open Day contact line (0131 297 8300); attend live question and answer sessions with course teams; and watch video presentations showcasing all Edinburgh College subject areas.

Course areas include: Art and Design, Computing and Digital Skills, Performing Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Childcare, Health Professions, Business and Legal, and much more.

To attend the live question and answer sessions, attendees must register using an online form on the Edinburgh College website: www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/virtual-open-days. These sessions will be hosted on Microsoft Teams; however an account is not required to join.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford (above) said: “We’re looking forward to hosting our first ever Virtual Open Days and meeting lots of prospective new students online ahead of the 2021/22 session.

“The past year has been a challenging time for us all, but Edinburgh College stands ready to continue educating and training the workforce of the future.

“Our College is in prime position to support people who may now require to boost their existing skillset in a digital environment, for instance, or to retrain in a new area. Similarly, we’re here to support those embarking on the first steps in their career journey.

“We have more than 700 courses delivered through a mixture of online and on-campus learning, with expert lecturers and support staff across the piece to guide our students on their way achieving their career goals.”

For more information, visit: www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/virtual-open-days