New benefit to tackle child poverty pays out £3.6 million since February
An estimated 78,775 children have already benefitted from Scottish Child Payment since its launch.
The benefit, which is unique to Scotland, is intended to help low-income families with the costs of raising a child. It gives qualifying parents and carers £40 every four weeks for each child under six.
A total of 92% of the applications received and processed have been approved, and payments started in February.
Applications were received from people living in all 32 local authorities in Scotland, with the highest number of 17,330 from Glasgow City.
Parents and carers are able to apply for all eligible children in their household in a single application and can also apply for Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods at the same time.
Scottish Child Payment is in addition to the UK wide Child Benefit.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Security Shirley-Anne Somerville said:“It is great to see so many families benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment and that it is making a positive impact on the lives of so many children. We are working hard to tackle child poverty and it is fantastic to see the number of households being supported so quickly after the payment’s launch.
“It is a benefit unique to Scotland within the UK, and has been hailed as a potential ‘game-changer’ in the fight against child poverty.
“It shows how, with the welfare powers we have gained, we are making a real, positive difference to the lives of young people and their families, boosting the life chances of children across the country.”
More than 104,000 applications were made between 9 November 2020 and 31 March 2021.
If you need local help or advice about your benefits, contact Granton Information Centre. Telephone 0131 552 0458, 0131 551 2459 or email info@gic.org.uk
Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO) which are given out by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.
In particular, the city council would like to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work in the community.
Examples of unpaid work include:
repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture
The council is seeking your views on the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending and wants to know:
Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?
As well as using the questionnaire to comment on community payback you can also recommend groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.
Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Vice Convener of Culture and Communities, said: “We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh about their views on Community Payback Orders, and the work carried out by the people subject to them.
“Through our consultation we also hope to identify more opportunities in the Capital for unpaid community work to be carried out. This work could include community clear ups, repainting community centres or recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.
“They are an excellent way for organisations such as charities to get practical help, and they give people who commit offences the chance to pay back to communities and develop new skills.
The information we collect will help us to improve how we work with communities and help to increase understanding of CPOs and their importance in helping people reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.”
Wester Hailes will feature in a new exhibition called ‘What if…?/Scotland’ opening in V&A Dundee on 22 May which will explore the relationship communities have with their built environment.
The project, commissioned by the Scotland + Venice partnership, is the creation of Edinburgh-based 7N architects together with Architecture and Design Scotland, Scotland’s design agency, and a number of local partners. Initially started in 2019 it paired five local people from Wester Hailes with five architects and designers to discuss how they would improve the spaces where they live and what their hopes, wishes and aspirations for the future are.
The designer responded to the wishes of the people by proposing a way to make the hopes a reality – asking What if…?/. The process was filmed by film maker Basharat Khan.
The exhibition of the wishes, alongside the films, were initially prepared for the Scotland + Venice exhibition for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2020 – the world’s leading architecture exhibition.
However, with the 2020 exhibition postponed and uncertainty around travel in 2021 due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers were able to adapt the exhibition to premiere at V&A Dundee.
Connecting Wester Hailes
In Wester Hailes one of the key topics was around connections; connecting communities within the area and providing spaces for human connections.
Emily Stevenson and Eoghan Howard discussed with Katie Hay from 7N how a footbridge across the Union Canal would provide a connection to green spaces which would enhance the lives of locals.
Several groups discussed the derelict garage as a potential location for a community meeting place and how it was once an important part of the community and had the potential to be so again.
Leah Black from WHALE Arts, who hosted the workshops, said: ““It feels like a lifetime ago that Eoghan and I introduced a small group of local residents from Wester Hailes – Eunice, Emily, Bahiya, Ili, Chuks and Louize to the architects working on What If…? Scotland.
“We were delighted at WHALE Arts to play a part in making these introductions, however the success of this project was contingent on the generosity, open-mindedness and creativity of the group of local people who are passionate about improvements to the local area.
“The project was timely for us as we were working with Wester Hailes Community Trust, Ian Gilzean and partners on the beginnings of a Local Place Plan for Wester Hailes.
“This work on the LPP has continued to develop throughout 2020 and 2021 and we are thrilled at the notion of being able to incorporate some of these inspiring ideas into the long-term regeneration of Wester Hailes.”
Wester Hailes is one of five communities taking part in the project alongside Elgin, Annan, Paisley and Lerwick. Dundee will be added in time for the opening at the V&A.
As well as themes individual to the local communities there were many overarching themes of regeneration of lost and iconic buildings, the issues of closed shops in High Streets, community spirit, pride in local areas and how to create a meeting space that’s accessible to everyone.
In addition to the five films there will be an interactive installation called the Cloud of Dreams, where anyone attending the exhibition can submit their wish for their place.
Ewan Anderson of 7N Architects said: “When we first met with these communities in late 2019, who could have foreseen how much our lives would change?
“It’s interesting that even prior to a year in lockdown, community and spaces to gather and meet were of common importance throughout Scotland.
“I’m delighted we have found a home for the exhibition as it is important that these stories are told. And how fitting that this exhibition examining our places and how design affects them will be presented at Scotland’s first Design Museum V&A Dundee.”
Exhibition dates: Sat 22 May – Sun 21 Nov 2021 – Free museum entry.
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde critical care worker has written a poem to recognise the hard work and dedication of colleagues as part of International Nurses Day 2021.
Senior Charge Nurse, Ruth Wilson, tells the tale of a nurse’s role through ‘Helping Hands’ which outlines the huge remit and responsibility of nurses in providing day-to-day care. Ruth, 55 from Ayrshire who has worked as a nurse for more than 36 years, sees first-hand how colleagues look after patients on a day-to-day basis.
Read ‘Helping Hands’ below:
Helping Hands
At the start of the day, hands are washed before countless nursing tasks Protecting ourselves with hand hygiene and professionally fitted masks
These hands will wash patients, write careplans, and administer medication They will clean surfaces and equipment with total dedication
These hands will give out meals, make beds, and answer numerous telephone calls They will guide and support mobilising patients in order to prevent falls
These hands will pour cups of tea, tie up linen, and empty patient bedpans They will secure pumps and equipment to gleaming drip stands
These hands will feed and clothe, perform oral hygiene and comb hair They will fill out fluid balance charts and give regular catheter care
These hands will take notes on ward rounds, and order things on “Trak” They will dispense analgesia, offer a massage or give a soothing ice pack
These hands will organise flowers, open cards and tidy the place They will dress wounds, cut nails, moisturise patient’s bodies and their face
These hands will soothe fevered brows through the comfort of touch They will wipe away tears when it all gets too much
These hands will perform CPR and airway skills and really without much thought Will automatically pilot to the resuscitation skills they were taught
They will support relatives with bad news, and patients will be allowed to cry They will perform last offices when their patients die
They will sign discharge letters when people are getting home They will clean all the surfaces shinier than chrome
These hands are priceless hands, helping hands, the hands you hope are there If you ever get sick yourself, you want hands that care.
Ahead of the start of Eid al-Fitr, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Eid al-Fitr, the end Ramadan’s month of fasting, is a profoundly important event to Muslims across Scotland and around the world.
“This is the second Eid to have taken place during the pandemic, which I know has been incredibly challenging. I want to thank community leaders and members for doing an amazing job keeping each other safe during this difficult period.
“I understand how disappointing it will be to have to restrict celebrations. However, everyone celebrating Eid must do so safely and in line with the necessary public health restrictions – unfortunately that means not visiting other people’s homes and maintaining a two-metre distance with those from outside your household at all times.
“The changes to lockdown restrictions I announced yesterday will be welcome to many, but they do not come into force until Monday, so everyone should continue to follow the Level 3 restrictions that still apply in all areas of Scotland until then. We know from public health data that travel from India, Pakistan, Turkey and Nepal is a particular risk, so everyone arriving from those countries must follow the red list rules.
“I know following these rules during such a significant event will be difficult, particularly when the overall picture with the virus is positive. However, cases are high and rising in Moray, and Glasgow is seeing an increase in cases too. By sticking to the Level 3 restrictions for just a few more days, we can all help to keep the virus under control and ensure Scotland stays on the path to recovery.
“I’d like to say a deep thank you to all of Scotland’s Muslim communities for everything you have done during the pandemic, and wish you an enjoyable Eid.”
The First Minister visited Glasgow Central Mosque on Wednesday 12 May alongside Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and Scottish Labour Leader and Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar.
Mr Sarwar said: “Scottish Muslims have made sacrifices during Ramadan. But they have also made big sacrifices over the last year to get through this pandemic.
“Like me, I know you are desperate to be reunited with your loved ones. But I would urge everyone to please follow the Covid rules closely in the coming days.
“This is to keep you and your family safe and well.
“There is hope and optimism again as the lockdown continues to ease. And if we follow the rules we will soon be able to see and hold our loved ones again safely.
“I wish all Scottish Muslims a happy Eid, Eid Mubarak!”
