Only one week to go to register for our Annual National Conference and what a line up we have for you!
Community Development: Beyond Recovery to Renewalis an ambitious, bold title for our conference and we have such an amazing array of community activists, leaders, membership organisations and senior policy makers that we believe we can all share and learn with each other in order to collectively create stronger, fairer, wealthier, greener and smarter communities.
Annual National Conference, 29th September 2021 (virtually)
Our conference programme features keynote speakers and workshops led by a number of our membership organisations, as well as raising awareness of funding and other opportunities which may interest you/your teams and networks.
With a strong coalition of 126 national organisations and over 1200 subscribers & twitter followers, CDAS continues to build and coordinate our networks, share and learn good practice, influence policy and raise awareness of our collaborative working, collective action and impact in order to create a more socially just and equal society.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £90,100 to The Living Memory Association to create a unique experience of the streets, buildings and people of old Leith. The project, named Old Leith Rediscovered, is a collaboration between the Living Memory Association and Spirit of Leithers Facebook page.
The Living Memory Association, in partnership with The Spirit of Leithers, is excited to be opening a second Wee Museum of Memory in Ocean Terminal later this month which will be dedicated to the project. The new venue will also have a walk-in exhibition space to celebrate the memories, places and people of Leith.
Much of old Leith was swept away as part of Edinburgh’s ‘improvements’ of the 1920s and 1960s and knowledge of what was lost now relies mainly on old street maps and photographs.
One of these maps, a Fire Insurance Plan dating to 1892, records significant details, such as building footprints, construction materials, number of storeys, room arrangements and function, location of doors and windows, and much, much more. For an example showing the old Kirkgate, see here.
Using a digital copy of this map created by the National Library of Scotland, Old Leith Rediscovered will add a wealth of information, including hundreds of surviving images scattered across numerous collections, to bring the historic townscape of Leith to life.
The project team conceived of Old Leith Rediscovered during lockdown as a way to celebrate the history of Leith and her people, to foster a pride and inquisitiveness about Leith’s past, and to provide a focus for Leithers to share memories and stories of days gone by. The interactive web-based map of Leith will be published online at the end of 2022.
Miles Tubb, Project Co-Ordinator, The Wee Museum of Memory, said: “We are thrilled to have received funding for this exciting project, which will link these wonderful historical maps with the Leith community.
“We are especially delighted to be working in partnership with Spirit of Leithers Facebook page, National Library of Scotland and Ocean Terminal. Our Wee Museum of Memory has been based in Ocean Terminal for over 7 years and this new unit dedicated to memories of Leith will bring different generations together to learn about the rich history of the Leith community.
Christopher Fleet, Map Curator at the National Library of Scotland, added: “We are delighted to be associated with this project, which will integrate our maps with related historical information, including photographs and oral history resources.
“Maps present the past in one of its most engaging forms, allowing endless insights into what was there, and into how people lived and worked. Moreover the plans that form a focus of this project are one of the most detailed types of urban mapping ever surveyed of places such as Leith.
“We are thrilled that this project has been funded, as it will provide new ways of enjoying and understanding the maps, as well as gathering new information for further research.”
Irvine Welsh, author of the Leith-based classic novel Trainspotting, said: “In the current age of drab uniformity, as manifest in our urban architecture and design, where modern construction renders everything generic, it’s important to remember the richness in the heritage of places like the great port of Leith.
“Thanks to this magnificent project, Leithers old and new can now immerse in the vibrant community of bygone days. As Bob Marley once said ‘in this great future you can’t forget your past…’ So we can now connect with where we came from, which you have to be able to do in order to truly know where you are going.”
Fraser Parkinson, administrator of Spirit of Leithers Facebook page, said: “Our page is dedicated not just to buildings and streets but to the people of Leith who have come before and are here today.
“This project is another huge step in building bridges across the globe between all those who wear their association with Leith as a badge of honour. We look forward to welcoming visitors and hearing from them at the new Spirit of Leithers and Living Memory Association unit at Ocean Terminal.”
Hibernian Community Foundation and Big Hearts Community Trust are set to meet for a fundraising football game on Sunday 10th October, to mark World Mental Health Day.
It’s the first time that both charitable arms of the Edinburgh football clubs, Hibernian FC and Heart of Midlothian FC, will come together on the same pitch to raise awareness around wellbeing and mental health. The game is kindly supported by charity partner Utilita Energy.
Kick-off is 4pm at Ainslie Park. Tickets are now on sale. All proceeds will go to fund our community projects across Edinburgh.
A single-entry ticket is priced at £5 or £2 for concessions and discounted family ticket at £10.
Tickets are available via Fanbase > Utilia Energy > Store > Events > Utilita Charity Challenge Cup > Buy Tickets.
Every year, the 10th of October is a reminder that 1 in 3 people will experience mental health issues at some point in their life. We are delighted to be joining efforts with the Hibernian FC charity on this special occasion, using the reach of football to share information on support services available across the city.
Keep your eyes peeled for further event details, including opportunities for supporters to get involved and support their team on the day!
Study suggests relocations took place with little consideration of people’s needs and adversely affected their health and wellbeing
Asylum seekers who were moved to temporary accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic have faced unsafe conditions, mobility restrictions and a lack of communication from service providers, according to a new study.
Edinburgh Napier researchers said the asylum seekers’ accounts – in which they likened their hotel-type accommodation to detention centres – “pointed to a provision that was inattentive towards their needs, vulnerability and wellbeing.”
The study, which focuses on accommodation in Glasgow, is particularly critical of a “mothers and baby” unit in the south of the city, which was opened last October. Mothers, who were moved there by Home Office accommodation contractor Mears Group who run the facilities, criticised the cramped and noisy living conditions, unsuitable furniture and inadequate washing facilities.
The report authors call for an independent assessment of the facility to be carried out as a matter of urgency, and say no more families should be moved there until this has taken place.
Other recommendations in the interim report include calls for risk assessments for individuals in advance of any relocation, the minimising of stays in hotel-type accommodation, a review of limits on travel luggage, and the lifting of restrictions requiring residents to stay ‘on-site overnight’.
Edinburgh Napier researchers carried out the study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, as part of UK Research and Innovation’s response to Covid-19. They worked with migrant-led grassroots organisation Migrants Organising for Rights and Empowerment (MORE) to explore the impact of the pandemic on those placed in temporary accommodation in Glasgow.
Around 350 asylum seekers were moved from their settled flats into various hotels in the city centre following the outbreak of Covid-19 in March last year, which Mears Group claimed was an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.
Researchers spoke to more than 50 asylum seekers and followed closely the lives of 14 participants of varied ages and backgrounds from December 2020 to June 2021, during the ‘second wave’ of the virus in the UK, through weekly online meetings.
Accommodation for asylum seekers during the pandemic has long been a controversial topic. A mass outbreak of Covid at the repurposed Napier military barracks in Kent last winter and a mass stabbing at the Park Inn Hotel in Glasgow the previous June sparked debate and criticism of the government’s handling of asylum housing from parliamentary select committees.
The interim findings of the new Edinburgh Napier study suggest relocating asylum seekers to hotel-type accommodation had a negative impact on their health and wellbeing, and that they found social distancing almost impossible in their new environment.
Individuals living in hotels also faced a number of restrictions. They were unable to cook their own food or have visitors, had their weekly allowance withdrawn, and were told they could not spend nights away from the accommodation. The food served was said to be of poor quality, and it did not reflect their religious or cultural backgrounds.
The Glasgow-based mother and baby unit, the only such facility in the whole of Scotland, was reportedly noisy – with doors frequently banging and staff knocking, and had small beds, insufficient room ventilation and furniture which was unsuitable for breastfeeding. One mum told of her humiliation when the driver taking her to the unit told her she had too many belongings for a “destitute” asylum seeker.
The report said relocations to temporary accommodation took place with little consideration of people’s needs and with no consultation with asylum seekers themselves. There were cases of people being given less than 15 minutes to get ready for their move, and of individuals being threatened with deportation if they resisted.
Dr Taulant Guma, Principal Investigator and lecturer in Edinburgh Napier’s School of Applied Sciences, said: “While issues around asylum accommodation have received a significant amount of media and public attention since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, little attention has been paid to the experiences and perspectives of asylum seekers themselves, who are directly and mostly affected by these housing arrangements.
“As a collaboration with a grassroots organisation, our study offers a unique and in-depth insight and understanding into the day-to-day realities of asylum seekers’ housing experiences during the pandemic.
“In the context of the current Afghan crisis and discourses of ‘warm welcome’, our findings offer a timely reminder of the cold realities that may await Afghan asylum seekers and refugees once they are relocated to their accommodation across the country.”
Robert Makutsa, Community Researcher with MORE, said: “The asylum accommodation system is broken because the level of duty of care that is required does not need to be met. Think about it; what legal action can an asylum seeker raise against Mears or the Home Office in their failure to adhere to the accommodation provision? None.
“Their lives are defined and controlled by their agents and often it is us, migrant led organisations and grassroots groups, who put pressure on Mears when asylum seekers make complaints.”
With just 100 days to go until Christmas (honestly – Ed.!), HMRC is urging shoppers to ensure they don’t get caught out by unexpected charges when buying from overseas traders.
Changes introduced on 1 January this year mean that some UK consumers buying presents for family and friends from EU businesses may now need to pay customs charges when their goods are delivered.
In the same way that consumers have previously had to pay charges when buying certain items from non-EU sellers, the same rules now also apply to goods being bought from the EU.
Shoppers buying stocking fillers or small items don’t need to worry about the changes. Only those buying excise goods – tobacco or alcohol – or ordering luxury items or presents in consignments worth more than £135, before discounts are applied, should be affected.
VAT will still apply on purchases made in consignments worth less than £135 but should be charged by the seller at the point of sale.
But anyone buying a more expensive product from abroad may need to pay import VAT, customs duty and/or excise duty when they receive their order. The amount due will depend on a range of factors, so to avoid surprises consumers should check with their seller to ensure they don’t end up over budget this holiday season.
To help shoppers, HMRC has produced diagrams to explain the various scenarios when buying from the EU. The government has also published easy to follow guidance for consumers to help everyone to understand the changes and when, why and how charges will need to be paid.
Katherine Green and Sophie Dean, Directors General, Borders and Trade, HMRC, said:“With 100 days until Christmas, we want to remind shoppers of the changes introduced since 1 January so that their present buying experience is as smooth as possible, and that online shoppers don’t inadvertently get caught out by any unexpected charges.”
Find out more about the new rules by checking on GOV.UK for a simple guide to the possible charges as well as essential information on how to dispute a charge, return unwanted goods and to get a refund on the charges paid.
Consumers can also find guidance on what may be required when sending or receiving items from friends and family living abroad.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reshuffling his Cabinet.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has been sacked and former Foreign Secretary Domic Raab has paid the price for his role in the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle. Raab is replaced by Liz Truss, while Nadhim Zahawi is also promoted – he takes over at Education.
Robert Jenrick (Housing and Communities) and Robert Buckland (Lord Advocate and Secretary of State for Justice) have left the government.
Further junior ministerial appointments will be announced today, but changes so far (marked with an asterisk) are as follows:
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
HM Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer – Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP
Chief Secretary to the Treasury – Simon Clarke MP
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Offic8e
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and Minister for Women and Equalities – Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP *
Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP
Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Minister for Equalities) – Kemi Badenoch MP
Home Office
Secretary of State for the Home Department – Rt Hon Priti Patel MP
Minister of State – Kit Malthouse MP (jointly with the Ministry of Justice)
Cabinet Office
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office – Rt Hon Stephen Barclay MP
Minister of State – The Rt Hon Lord Frost CMG
COP26 President – Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
Minister without Portfolio – Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP *
Minister of State – Nigel Adams MP
Ministry of Justice
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice – Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP *
Minister of State – Kit Malthouse MP (jointly with the Home Office)
Ministry of Defence
Secretary of State for Defence – Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP
Department for International Trade
Secretary of State for International Trade, and President of the Board of Trade – Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP
Department of Health and Social Care
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – The Rt Hon Sajid Javid
Department for Work and Pensions
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP
Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Rt Hon Greg Hands MP
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – Rt Hon Michael Gove MP *
Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Minister for Equalities) – Kemi Badenoch MP
Department for Education
Secretary of State for Education – Nadhim Zahawi MP *
Minister of State – Michelle Donelan MP
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – Nadine Dorries MP *
Minister of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – Julia Lopez MP
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Rt Hon George Eustice MP
Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Victoria Prentis MP
Department for Transport
Secretary of State for Transport – Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP
Northern Ireland Office
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP
Scotland Office
Secretary of State for Scotland – Rt Hon Alister Jack MP
Wales Office
Secretary of State for Wales – Rt Hon Simon Hart MP
Office of the Leader of the House of Lords
Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords – Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons – Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP
Whips – House of Commons
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) – Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP
Law Officers
Attorney General – Rt Hon Suella Braverman MP
The following have left the government:
Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP – previously Secretary of State for Education
Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP – previously Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP – previously Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice
Yesterday’s announcements coincidentally (?) overshadowed an important Westminster debate on social security and the cut to Universal Credit.
Peter Matejic, Deputy Director of Evidence & Impact at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said:“No Government committed to levelling up can credibly defend the biggest ever overnight cut to social security.
“As bills are going up, cost of essential items are rising and National Insurance is set to be increased, ministers are ploughing ahead with a damaging cut to Universal Credit which is fiercely opposed across the political spectrum.
“The Government is reportedly planning to ignore its own analysis which shows how catastrophic this cut would be. No good will come of cutting Universal Credit by £20-a-week. All it would do is impose unnecessary hardship on millions of low-income families and hurt the very communities the Government wants to level up.
“Ministers have nothing to say to the many families who are unable to work or are not expected to work due to sickness, disability or caring responsibilities who are facing this massive income shock.
We all need an adequate social security system and, for those who are already in work or looking for a job, a bold Plan for Jobs, if we are to improve living standards. The Prime Minister knows this and it’s not too late for him to keep this vital lifeline strong.”
Helen Barnard, Deputy Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said:“Today’s debate makes clear that the Prime Minister and Chancellor are increasingly isolated in supporting the cut to Universal Credit.
“There is widespread concern amongst MPs about the devastating impact this will have on huge numbers of their constituents and new ministers are certain to face intense pressure from families anxious about how they will make ends meet from next month.
“The £20-a-week increase to Universal Credit is vital to protect families from poverty and provide the stability they need to improve their prospects.
“As energy bills go up, prices on the shelves rise and National Insurance is set to increase, the Prime Minister must urgently keep this support in place, or his premiership risks being defined by plunging people into poverty rather than levelling up.”
Around 148,000 children set to benefit from £320 uplift before Christmas
Low income families will benefit from a £320 uplift before Christmas as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty.
Eligible families with children in school will receive payments of £160 per child in October and December. Two Bridging Payments of £100 have already been made via local councils, taking the total to £520 this year.
The cash is equivalent to the Scottish Child Payment (SCP), a £10-a-week benefit which provides regular, additional financial support for families in receipt of qualifying benefits to assist with the costs of caring for a child aged under six years old.
SCP will be extended to all eligible under-16s by the end of 2022, with quarterly Bridging Payments made in the interim. The Scottish Government also intends to double the SCP to £20 per week as quickly as possible following the expansion.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison will highlight the payments today when she opens a parliamentary debate on the commitments in the Programme for Government which aim to create a fairer society.
She said: “We are determined to build a better future for Scotland’s children and we know how important these payments will be to families in need this winter – particularly with rising fuel bills and Christmas just around the corner.
“Together the Scottish Child Payment and Bridging Payments will put an estimated £130 million in the pockets of low income families this year, providing support as we recover from the pandemic.
“Scottish Child Payment is already the most ambitious anti-poverty measure currently being undertaken anywhere in the UK and we have committed to doubling it to £20-a-week per child as soon as possible in this parliamentary term.
“It stands in stark contrast to the indefensible move by the UK Government to withdraw £20-a-week in Universal Credit from those who need it most.”
Councillor Gail Macgregor, COSLA’s Resources spokesperson, said: “Councils are pleased to be able to ensure that eligible low income families have access to an additional £520 this year and next through these Bridging Payments.
“It is important families who have been hardest hit by the pandemic have these vital additional funds as we move forward with the challenging recovery process.
“This demonstrates how local government can reach in and support families in our communities.”
Satwat Rehman, CEO of One Parent Families Scotland, said: “The SCP Bridging Payments have been a welcome support to many single parent families supported by One Parent Families Scotland, many of whom are struggling to make choices between heating their homes and feeding their children and themselves.
“These payments send a message to families that the Scottish Government is aware of their challenges and is actively trying to address them.
“With fuel prices due to rise with by an average 12%, single parent families remain at risk of falling deeper into poverty and debt in Scotland. More than ever, One Parent Families Scotland believes that regular, predictable, adequate income should be at the heart of tackling child poverty and achieving the national mission to end child poverty.”
