Day: May 1, 2021

International Workers’ Day 2021: The key steps UK Government has taken to support workers

The UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world, according to Westminster. On International Workers’ Day, the UK Government reflects on some of the key steps it has taken to support workers since last year.

Looking to the future, they say they are bringing forward plans to crack down on workplace abuses through a powerful new enforcement body, while giving workers more freedom over where and when they work by putting an end to the use of exclusivity clauses for those on low pay.

Government’s top steps to protect workers’ rights:

  1. We made sure 2 million people received a well-earned pay rise by raising the minimum wage. The National Living Wage, which we extended to 23 and 24 year-olds for the first time, is now 33% higher than the minimum wage in 2015 – that means an extra £4,000 in annual pay for a full-time worker. We’re helping younger people too, by lifting the minimum wages for under-23s and apprentices above the rate of inflation.
  2. And businesses are being held to account, to ensure employees are getting what they are owed. In December we relaunched the naming scheme and named and shamed 139 employers who had failed to pay the minimum wage.
  3. We’ve increased transparency too, for instance by introducing a new requirement for businesses to be up-front with agency workers about their terms and conditions by providing them Key Information Documents.
  4. We’ve also set out plans to crackdown on restrictive employment contracts to ensure up to 1.8 million low paid workers across the UK can pick up extra work if they want to.
  5. To help ensure survivors of domestic abuse get the support they need, we have also been working to improve awareness around the subject in the workplace. Our recent review set out the impact that domestic abuse has on victims, the challenges that it brings for employers and what best practice looks like.
  6. We brought into force ‘Jack’s Law’, a world-first, which created the new legal right to 2 weeks’ paid bereavement leave for parents who suffer the devastating loss of a child, irrespective of how long they have worked for their employer.
  7. We have taken steps to protect the earnings of furloughed workers who take Maternity Pay and other forms of Parental or Adoption Pay, and we have also brought in a new law to make sure furloughed employees who are made redundant receive full redundancy payments.
  8. Rules on carrying over annual leave were also changed in light of the pandemic to ensure workers didn’t lose out on their entitlements last year.
  9. And of course, all this action to support workers’ rights has come alongside the Government’s unprecedented £352 billion package of support to protect jobs and livelihoods through the pandemic, including the extended furlough and self-employed income support schemes.

Children’s charity gets cash boost from local housebuilder

A children’s charity aimed at helping disabled and disadvantaged children has been given a £1,000 cash boost by a Bathgate-based housebuilder as part of its year-long initiative to support local communities.

Radio Forth Cash for Kids, which supports children that have special needs, are disabled, have life limiting illnesses or have been abused or neglected, received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes East Scotland.

Cash for Kids is a grant giving charity that receives requests from individuals and children’s organisations within the broadcast area of Radio Forth.  All money raised is distributed in Edinburgh the Lothians, Fife and east central Scotland. 

Nationally Cash for Kids raised £19.2 million last year enabling support for 396,639 children.  

The funding provides elements of specialist care and a variety of day-to-day necessities such as food, toiletries and data cards to help keep children connected for schooling.

Victoria Hendry at Radio Forth, said: “We are delighted that Persimmon Homes East Scotland has chosen to support us as we rely entirely on donations. 

“The pandemic has devasted families across Scotland and we currently have 45 applications outstanding to help children with specialised wheelchairs, bereavement support, speech therapy so we are approaching businesses for help across our broadcast area.

“This donation will help us to continue to offer support and develop new services for young people.  We are so grateful.”

The donation comes as part of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions project which donates up to £1,000 to two local groups and charities in each of its 30 regions.

Neil Parry, managing director at Persimmon Homes East Scotland, said the community initiative is a way of supporting people across every city, town and village where the company works.

He said: “We want our Community Champions project to help as many people as possible and we felt the work that Radio Forth Cash for Kids is perfectly placed to achieve this, particularly under the current circumstances. 

“We are building on a number of new sites in and around Edinburgh and are very pleased to support this extremely worthy cause that does so much to help children in the community.”

Persimmon Homes East Scotland is currently developing a range of new two, three and four-bedroom homes at The Willows at The Wisp, Kings Cove and Lang Loan in Edinburgh along with Burgh Gate in Musselburgh.

For more information visit www.persimmonhomes.com

Tea-rrific! Morrisons celebrates VE Day by bringing back Tommy Tea Afternoon Tea Box

  • £1 from each box goes to the Royal British Legion Industry charity –
  • The box includes everything you need to enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea at home and features products from Morrisons The Best range –

Morrisons is bringing back its popular Tommy Tea Afternoon Tea box to help customers celebrate VE day on the 8th May and support Royal British Legion Industries with an afternoon tea party to mark the occasion.  

The term Tommy has been used for many years to refer to a British Soldier, with German and French troops often calling the name out over the trenches during World War I, to speak with a British Soldier.

The boxes support the Royal British Legion Industries’ VE Day campaign with £1 from every Tommy Tea Afternoon Tea food box bought going to the charity to provide support to the UK’s most vulnerable veterans into safe homes and vital employment opportunities and offer the support they need to get back on their feet.

Containing all you need to make the most of the good weather and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at home, the box features products from Morrisons The Best range including All Butter Sultana Scones, Strawberry Conserve and Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade. Each box will also contain a leaflet with information about the charity and how customers can get involved to fundraise and support.

The box is available online from 29th April – 10th May and priced at £20, with customers able to add a bottle of prosecco for £25 or a bottle of champagne for £37.

  

Joseph Clark-Bland, Charity and Community Specialist at Morrisons, said: “We’re proud to continue to show our support for veterans and the RBLI’s Tommy’s Tea Campaign.

“The Tommy Tea Afternoon food box is packed full of products for customers to host their own celebrations and enjoy an afternoon tea at home, to mark VE Day.”

The launch of the Tommy Tea Box falls in line with the start of RBLI’s Tommy’s Race to Victory – a national event which sees a team of military veterans and serving personnel run and cycle more than 800 miles over 9 days throughout the UK, stopping off at major cities and military locations in the run up to VE Day. 

Lisa Farmer, Director of Strategic Development at RBLI, said: “Morrisons continued commitment to supporting military veterans through RBLI’s wide range of services is nothing short of phenomenal.

“This year, RBLI is going above and beyond to celebrate VE Day whilst also raising crucial funds for the country’s most vulnerable veterans during the pandemic – and we simply cannot thank Morrisons enough for once again coming to the fore to help our military veterans in their time of need.”

A typical box contains:

  • Morrisons The Best All Butter Sultana Scone 4 Pack
  • Rodda’s Classic Cornish Clotted Cream 227g
  • Morrisons The Best Strawberry Conserve 340g
  • Morrisons Cherry Bakewell Tarts 6 Pack
  • Mr Kipling Chocolate Slices 6 Pack
  • Morrisons Egg Mayonnaise Filler 250g
  • Greenside Cheese Slices 200g
  • Morrisons Carvery Honey Roast Ham 150g
  • Medium White Loaf 800g
  • Morrisons Red Label Tea Bags 40’s
  • Morrisons The Best Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade 750ml
  • Morrisons The Best Lightly Salted Crisps 150g
  • + optional Morrisons The Best Prosecco DOC 75cl/ Morrisons The Best Brut Premier Cru Champagne

For more information or to purchase the Morrisons Tommy Afternoon Tea Box visit https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/boxes/all-boxes

Where we are: cultural partnership to support Edinburgh’s young carers

A culture project for young carers is launching after Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, with Edinburgh Young Carers, was selected as a key partner by the British Museum for their Where we are programme.

Where we are… is a new national programme for young people aged 16-24 that co-designs and co-delivers meaningful local arts and cultural projects around the UK.

In Edinburgh staff from Museums and Galleries Edinburgh and Edinburgh Young Carers will work with up to 10 young carers from across the Capital. 

Through this project, young carers in the community who may face adversity and challenges as a result of their caring responsibilities, will have the opportunity to have fun and forge networks and bring their experience and skills to the project, developing these further.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Working with Edinburgh Young Carers, our Museums & Galleries Edinburgh service is delighted to have been selected as one of British Museums key partners on the Where we are programme.

“Our Museums service have done a lot of work with young carers and other vulnerable groups and there has never been a better time for this kind of engagement. 

“In Edinburgh we are keen to ensure that cultural opportunities are available to everyone that lives here, and we can’t wait to see what the young people produce.”

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener, said: “One of our priorities as a local authority is to ensure wellbeing and equalities are enhanced for everyone who lives here.

“This project will contribute to that aim by providing young people with a cultural opportunity that will help them to develop skills, build confidence and provide a positive focus after what has been a very difficult year.  We’re very excited to see what they produce.

Ria Sloan, Outreach and Access Manager, said: “Museums and Galleries Edinburgh place people at the heart of what we do; we work to provide opportunities for people to access, explore and contribute to Edinburgh’s cultural life.

“I’m thrilled to be able to give local young people the opportunity to be part of a nationwide project led by the British Museum and I’m really looking forward to learning more about how we can support their interests and needs.”

Lee MacKenzie, 16-25s Development Worker at Young Carers said: “We are thrilled to have been selected to take part in the project.

“This last year has been particularly challenging for our young adult carers in terms of wellbeing, education and employment. By being part of this project, we hope to remove some of the barriers the pandemic has created for our carers as well supporting them to explore some of the incredible culture their city has to offer.

“Having worked together with the Museums and Galleries Edinburgh team on successful projects in the past, it’s great to be able to work in partnership again on something new.”

Further information:

  • Museums and Galleries Edinburgh cares for thirteen venues and over 200,000 objects related to Edinburgh life, childhood, archaeology, fine art and decorative art.
  • Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides support for children and young people aged 5–25 who care for someone at home.

Letters: Supporting Scottish families during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month

Dear Editor

Despite the recent easing of national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, many parents of neonatal babies in Scotland continue to face significant challenges in being with their premature or sick baby.

Before the pandemic parents typically had unrestricted access to their baby 24 hours a day, with neonatal units encouraging full participation in care giving. But in the past 12 months, parental access at many units has been restricted, with parents often unable to attend the unit together, and some having limits imposed on the length of time they can be with their baby.

Restrictions vary from unit–to–unit and the picture across Scotland is extremely varied, with some units continuing to facilitate full parental presence and involvement in their baby’s care. Policies have also changed over time, depending on national COVID-19 restrictions and local infection rates.

As part of this year’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, taking place throughout May, Bliss is raising awareness of our new research which shows the devastating impact of these restrictions. Parents whose babies required neonatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic have told us how they struggled to access mental health support and experienced high levels of isolation.

In a Bliss survey of over 500 UK parents of neonatal babies born in the past 12 months, 92% of parents said they felt isolated and 69% said their mental health has become worse following their neonatal experience.

Parents with a neonatal experience are already at a high risk of experiencing mental health difficulties, and many parents feel they have not been able to get support for their mental health and wellbeing while their baby is in neonatal care.

Parents are the most important people in their baby’s lives and unit access restrictions have had a substantial impact on families. The implications on family bonding and mental health will be felt long into the future.

That’s why Bliss is calling on the NHS to introduce a National Roadmap for a return to usual 24/7 parent access on neonatal units as a matter of urgency, and to work with NHS Trusts in Scotland and beyond to implement it consistently across the country.

Our smallest and sickest babies need their parents at their side to give them the best chance of survival and quality of life.

Caroline Lee-Davey,

Chief Executive of Bliss Scotland

Edinburgh Napier’s Rachel raises funds in memory of friend Jack

  • Graphic design student raises funds in memory of Jack
  • Rachel raises more than £700 for mental health charities

An Edinburgh Napier graphic design student has raised hundreds of pounds for mental health charities after developing a series of prints in honour of a late, close friend.

Student Rachel Cartledge, 19, from Edinburgh, developed a series of four prints in memory of her close friend Jack Dore, who sadly took his own life in December 2020.

Rachel met Jack through working together in Edinburgh. He was also an Edinburgh Napier student, studying International Tourism Management. He was due to graduate this year.

Her prints – which were developed as part of University coursework that aimed to get students to create something they were passionate about – featured a range of her own illustrations alongside uplifting quotes such as “You matter”, and “Everyone grows at different rates”.

The theme of the prints was to advocate good mental health alongside brightening people’s day.

Once the designs were finalised, Rachel sold the prints through her online Etsy shop and Instagram channel. Within the first 30 minutes, she had raised more than £100. Two print runs later, Rachel had raised a total of £704.28.

The funds raised were split between CALM – a charity that campaigns against living miserably – and a JustGiving fund set-up by Jack’s family to help people affected by depression and other mental health issues. As things stand, the fund is nearly at £20,000.

For Rachel, being able to do use her creative skills to help give people something to remember Jack by was a key driver of the entire project.

She said: “Last year, one of my good friends and work colleagues, Jack sadly took his own life. His family had set-up a JustGiving page in honour of him to raise awareness and get more people mental health support. I wanted to create something to help them in their goal.

“Jack’s death made me so upset and it is obviously something very personal to me. My idea was to create a series of mental health prints that I could sell online to raise money for the fund. I also liked the idea because whoever buys a print would get a little piece of Jack with them so his memory never fades.

“When my shop went live, I was so shocked at the response. In less than 30 minutes I had raised more than £100 for Jack and hundreds of people were sharing and commenting on my Instagram post.

“Overall, I sold more than 300 prints. I even had to restock which is something I never thought would happen. I went into this with a passion for making a difference for Jack and designing prints to make people’s day a little brighter.

“It just shows that when you put your mind to something and work really hard, anything is possible.”

Gemma Skelding, Associate Lecturer in Graphic Design at Edinburgh Napier, said: “I set the students the Passion Project to give them the opportunity to explore a brief that is inspired by a deeper meaning, a mission, a desire for a better way and ideally, has a real-world result.

“Rachel’s project delivered this in abundance, and I applaud her strength and drive to create such a wonderful tribute for her friend.”

If you would like to donate to Jack’s fund, you can do so by visiting: 

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jackdore

Two Edinburgh-based charities to receive share of almost £1.2 m. from Scottish Power Foundation

Two Edinburgh-based charities will receive a share of almost £1.2 million funding from the ScottishPower Foundation, which supports incredible projects that make a positive impact on people and communities across the country.

This year’s Foundation-funded projects – which support art and culture, education and empowerment, citizenship and society, and biodiversity and climate change – were selected on the basis of the significant and lasting contributions they will make to society, while enhancing people’s quality of life.

Almost £9.2 million has been awarded to successful charities since the Foundation was established in 2013.

Drake Music Scotland will use the £50,000 it was awarded to help run its ‘Figurenotes: Everyone can play’ programme, which will help transform music education across Scotland and beyond.

The programme will embed a fully inclusive system in the curriculum that gives children access to an easier way to play music.

Active participation in music making has proven benefits for wellbeing and key learning outcomes such as improved communication skills.

Now in its second year, the Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust’s Planetarium will develop a programme of innovative science engagement for underserved groups thanks to the £76,000 it’s received. 

New elements include a ScottishPower Foundation Community Pass, offering free visits and supported learning for disadvantaged people; teacher training; and new learning materials to accompany flagship shows on climate change and marine biodiversity for all visitors.

Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Once again, we were overwhelmed by the extraordinary work being delivered in our communities – day in and day out – and we’re very proud to support this year’s charities.

“The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to supporting projects that make a hugely positive impact on people’s lives and that’s what these organisations do in abundance.

“From improving education to promoting environmental protection and enhancing lives, the charities we’re supporting this year are doing truly transformative work.

“We know that throughout these challenging times, people are relying on the support of charities more than ever before, and with the help of the ScottishPower Foundation, this year’s projects can go further and make a difference for more people.”

Thursa Sanderson OBE, Chief Executive, Drake Music Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be chosen to be one of Scottish Power Foundation’s successful charities in 2021.

“This support will help us create web-based software for the inclusive music system Figurenotes which will transform access to music education across Scotland.  Figurenotes is a fun and simple tool which helps people of all abilities play simple tunes within minutes of picking up an instrument for the first time.”

John Simpson, CEO at Dynamic Earth, said: “We feel honoured to be chosen as a charity partner of the ScottishPower Foundation in 2021 amongst some amazing other charities and projects.

“This funding means that Dynamic Earth will be able to undertake a much more in-depth and valuable engagement programme for underserved groups.

“We will be proud to launch a brand new ScottishPower Foundation Planetarium Community Pass in 2021 – to offer free visits and supported science learning to disadvantaged families. This funding will help us to reach new people and inspire them with the wonder of our planet and the environmental challenges we face.”

The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 to make a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK.

It provides funding to help support the advancement of education, environmental protection, arts and culture and citizenship. It also supports charities who aim to provide relief from poverty, disability, or other disadvantages.

Find out more at scottishpowerfoundation.com.

Fantastic support for Gregor’s Castle Crusade Run!

Gregor Miller, a Scottish Ambulance Service technician based in Glenrothes, has organised a charity run from Stirling Castle to Tynecastle to raise awareness of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) after losing his dad, Campbell, to the disease.

Gregor has a host of celebrities backing his event, including Scott Hastings, Grant Stott, Gary Naysmith, Kevin Kyle, and Michael Stewart, among a host of others. You can see the messages at Castle Crusade Run

So far, Gregor has raised £7,631.32 of his £10,000 target. Visit bit.ly/2PyoRyJ to help the cause, with money going towards My Name’5 Doddie foundation, MND Scotland and the Euan Macdonald Centre.

Gregor said: “The support I have received is incredible which can be seen on our Facebook page.

“I’m looking forward to running with the different celebrities at the various check points to pull me on as running alone is very lonely and the strength to keep you going mentally is enormous. I keep remembering why I’m doing the challenge and the lives that will be helped by the research funding raised.

“Please can I ask as many people to follow and share the Castle Crusade Run on all social media platforms and most of all donate to support The Doddie Weir Foundation, The Euan MacDonald Centre and MND Scotland.”

Joining the Crusade for the run are Ryan Stevenson (Hearts FC), Colin Cameron (Hearts & Scotland), Simon Ramsden (Motherwell), Tam McManus (Hibernian), Willie Conquer (Referee) and Scott Hastings (Watsonians & Scotland Rugby Union).

Capital counts down to Scottish Parliament elections

Highest ever numbers of registered voters and postal votes

With less than a week to go until the Scottish Parliament Election 2021, Edinburgh is gearing up to play its own part in the vote on 6 May.

Preparations are already well under way across the city’s 140 polling places and at the Royal Highland Centre, where the count will be held over two days (7 and 8 May).

Training is in progress for staff working on the day and the first postal votes are being processed.

More people than ever before are registered to vote in this election Edinburgh (401,321 people) and more than a quarter of these (102,138) have opted to vote by post – the largest number of postal votes of any Scottish local authority and the highest ever for the Capital.

And though registration for the electoral roll is now closed, citizens are still being urged to think carefully about their vote, to ensure they know when, where and how to vote on Thursday, 6 May and to return their postal vote in plenty of time.

Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for the Edinburgh constituencies and the Lothian Region, said: “We are entering the final days of preparation for the Scottish Parliament Election and anticipation is clearly beginning to build across the city.

“Running an election in the Capital is no mean feat, and it’s thanks to a great deal of organisation and the hard work of our Elections Team and hundreds of count and polling staff to adapt to the additional restrictions due to the pandemic that things go to plan.

“As we draw nearer to the day, I hope the public are making their own plans for voting, and ensuring they know when, where and how to have their say, remembering to put one cross on each paper on the day.

“On polling day there will be additional hygiene and distancing measures at polling places to keep voters and staff safe. These include a fresh pencil for each voter, protective screens for polling staff, one-way systems in some venues, additional ventilation and limits on the number of voters in polling places at any time.

“This year we’ve got the largest electorate we’ve ever had for an election in Edinburgh (401,321 registered to vote) and more than a quarter of these (102,138 people) have opted for a postal vote – the highest number of postal votes we’ve ever had and more than any other Scottish local authority. If you’re voting this way please make sure you post it in plenty of time – they must be received by 10pm on Thursday 6 May.“

As we count down the final few days until voting day on 6 May, we’re counting up some of the key facts about Edinburgh’s vote:

  • 401,321: the number of people registered to vote in the Scottish Parliament Election 2021 in Edinburgh.  Of these 102,138 of these are postal voters. This is the highest electorate and number of postal votes ever for an election in Edinburgh and there are more people registered to vote by post in Edinburgh than in any other Scottish Council area.  
  • There are six constituencies in Edinburgh – Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Eastern, Edinburgh Northern & Leith, Edinburgh Pentlands, Edinburgh Southern and Edinburgh Western. The Lothian Region also includes the three constituencies Almond Valley, Linlithgow and Midlothian North & Musselburgh.
  • There are 33 individual candidates standing across Edinburgh’s constituencies. 18 parties and one independent are contesting the seven seats available for the Lothian Region, with a total of 94 candidates involved.
  • 140 buildings will be used as polling places on Thursday, 5 May, housing 352 polling stations.  Each station will have two ballot boxes – one for the lilac Constituency paper and one for the peach-coloured Region paper.   
  • This year, the Council will employ over 900 polling staff to assist the public to cast their vote – with one presiding officer and at least one polling assistant in each polling station.
  • The count will take place over two days (Friday 7 and Saturday 8 May), counting three constituencies on each day. Friday: Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Southern and Edinburgh Western. Saturday: Edinburgh Eastern, Edinburgh Northern and Leith and Edinburgh Pentlands. The results of the regional list vote will be declared on Saturday 8 May.
  • Over the two-day count, there will be another 300 staff per day tallying votes.

Amongst the equipment used in Edinburgh this May will be:

140 POLLING PLACES

  • 250,000 pencils*
  • 632 bottles of hand gel
  • 140 bottles of anti-bac spray
  • 140 blue rolls
  • 140 boxes of face masks
  • 140 boxes of gloves
  • 280 visors

COUNT VENUE – HIGHLAND HALL, ROYAL HIGHLAND CENTRE

  • 250 bottles of hand gel
  • 36 bottles of anti-bac spray
  • 36 blue rolls
  • 27 cleaning stations
  • 320 clear rubbish bags
  • 3,744 Glacier mints/fruits per day (served in individual cups for each staff member)
  • 660 post-it pads
  • 1068 rubber thimbles

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  • 8526m² – the area of the count venue – Highland Hall at the Royal Highland Centre. This is bigger than the size of a professional football pitch. 
  • At the UK Parliamentary Election in December 2019 turnout in the Capital was high, at an average of 73% across Edinburgh’s five constituencies
  • Turnout for last Scottish Parliament election in 2016 was approx. 60%
  • Edinburgh accounts for around 8.7% of Scotland’s electorate – second highest in Scotland after Glasgow.
  • Three different types of polling booths are used in Edinburgh – aluminium, wood and cardboard.
  • Polls open at 7am and close at 10pm on 6 May.

*voters are encouraged to bring their own pencil, or can keep the single-use pencils provided at the polling places

Find out how, where and when to vote in the Scottish Parliament Election 2021.

May Day international solidarity message

from TUC General Secretary FRANCES O’GRADY

Dear sisters and brothers, 

This May Day we are reminded of our past struggles for dignity and justice, and the huge challenges we face in defending our members throughout this pandemic. 

We have seen all those who delivered vital services during this trying year and have fought to ensure their rights. 

Collectively we must address the economic impact of  the pandemic, ever growing inequality, structural racism, the rise of far right populism and the climate crisis. 

Our fundamental values of internationalism and solidarity endure and we send you and all the workers you represent our warm may day wishes. We know that when we work together across borders we can achieve true and lasting change. 

We appreciate and value our continued friendship and look forward to working together over the coming months to achieve equality, social justice, peace, decent work and an end to exploitation.

In solidarity

Frances O’Grady

TUC May Day video 

May Day is a moment to remind ourselves that when workers come together across borders, no-one can keep us down.