Month: October 2023

Different class: Hibs captain picks up degree from Edinburgh Napier

Paul Hanlon has graduated with distinction – and added a medal to his collection

Hibernian captain Paul Hanlon has collected a different kind of silverware – marking his outstanding academic performance – after graduating from Edinburgh Napier University.

The 33-year-old footballer completed his BA Business and Enterprise in Sport with Distinction, and won the class medal in recognition of outstanding academic performance.

After three years of study on the programme, which is designed specifically for athletes, the Scotland international picked up his degree during a ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall yesterday.

Reflecting on his time with ENU, Paul said: “Studying has helped massively in dealing with the pressure of sport. It has given me a separate focus away from football.

“The course was a real eye-opener. It took a bit of getting used to. Things like the academic way of writing and reading were completely new to me.

“In football, things are black and white. Suddenly, I had to understand a bit more about dealing with grey areas – forming opinions and backing them up.

“At first it was nerve-racking! I left school a long time ago, so hadn’t done anything like this for a while.

“There is that daunting aspect of getting started, but the support you get here is amazing.”

Paul completed his programme as a Dual Career student – which allows athletes, or people working in sport, to fit their studies around their professional career.

During his time with ENU’s School of Applied Sciences, Paul won his first Scotland cap, and was named club captain at Hibs, all while competing at the top level of Scottish football.

The 2016 Scottish Cup winner says the course has opened new paths he could take when the time comes to hang up his boots. He said: “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do once I finish playing, but this helps me cover a lot of bases. I feel well prepared.

“There were modules which helped with leadership and coaching, while others dealt with the business side of the game.

“It has given me a new confidence and determination to keep learning. I’m now doing the Applied Football Management course at ENU because of this – I don’t want to stop.

“I don’t think I would be like that now if it wasn’t for this course.”

Dr Tom Campbell, Programme Lead for BA Business & Enterprise in Sport said: “Paul has set a fantastic example to our Dual Career students.

“During his time with us, he has displayed outstanding academic performance, all while competing at such a high level in his sport.

“We have a strong track record of supporting athletes through their studies, and it is pleasing to see Paul develop his thirst for knowledge with us.”

Edinburgh Napier’s autumn graduation ceremonies are being held from 24 – 26 October at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.

Payment for young care leavers

Young people transitioning from the care system into adulthood are to receive a one-off Care Leaver Payment of £2,000 to support them to move into more independent living under proposals being considered.

The First Minister announced the proposed payment will be co-designed with care experienced people to ensure it meets their needs and helps reduce some of the financial challenges they face.

This follows findings from the Independent Care Review which highlighted links between those with care experience and the increased risk of poor mental health, addiction, homelessness and exploitation.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “The Scottish Government is committed to Keeping the Promise by 2030 to all of our children and young people. This includes making sure that all young people are given the support they need to transition from care into adulthood and more independent living.

“For any young person, at any age, moving away from home can be a challenging time when we rely heavily on family support networks. Many care experienced young people won’t have that luxury which many of us take for granted.

“Care experienced people are over one and a half times more likely to experience financial difficulties and have more than double the chance of experiencing homelessness, mainly before age 30.

“We also know that money management is a top concern for young people moving on from care.

“It is important we provide the right support at the right time for our care experienced young people – and the Care Leaver Payment will provide much needed financial support at such an important moment in their lives.”

Edinburgh schools set to close as UNISON announce new strike date

UNISON has served notice of further strike action in the dispute over local government pay to South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh and Fife councils.

Staff working in schools, and early years establishments linked to schools, within the four local authorities will walk out on Wednesday 8th November.

This is the second week of a rolling programme of action that will take place, says UNISON, with further strike dates and other councils being announced in due course.

UNISON have already notified Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde councils, that staff working in schools, and early years establishments linked to schools will be taking strike action next Wednesday (1st November).

The move comes after UNISON members voted overwhelmingly to reject Cosla’s latest pay offer. More than 21,000 workers represented by the union took three days of strike action in September, resulting in the closure of 75% of Scotland’s schools.

UNISON Scotland’s head of local government Johanna Baxter said: “Despite our repeated calls for Cosla and the Scottish government to get back round the table for meaningful discussions we have had no invitations to even exploratory talks.

“The union is committed to reaching a resolution to this dispute as soon as possible.  And there is still time for Cosla and the Scottish Government to get back round the negotiating table to explore every avenue to reaching a negotiated settlement and avoid further disruption for parents and students.

The strength of feeling amongst UNISON’s 91,000 local government members, who voted overwhelmingly to reject Cosla’s latest pay offer, is clear.  They are determined to continue to fight to get an improved pay offer.”

UNISON Scotland chair of the local government committee Mark Ferguson said: “No one takes the decision to strike lightly.

“I’m a parent myself, so I understand the disruption strikes cause. But if wages don’t rise, school staff will leave for other jobs beyond education that pay significantly more. That would be a disaster and would help no one.

“The current offer amounts to a real-terms pay cut and adds further stress to a dedicated workforce already suffering from the cost-of-living crisis.

“Cosla and the Scottish government need to give school staff a decent wage rise, fund any increase properly and commit to implementing a minimum underpinning rate of pay of £15 per hour for all local government workers.”

Right time for fireworks?

Although fun for many, Bonfire Night can cause stress and anxiety for some.

It is illegal to set off fireworks before 6pm and after 11pm* (*extends to midnight on 5th November and 1am on Hogmanay, Chinese New Year and Diwali).

Find more advice on fireworks safety here ➡️bit.ly/sfrs23

#FireworkSafety

Salvesen Mindroom Centre secures £116K grant from The Promise 

Salvesen Mindroom Centre has confirmed that they have been awarded a £116,000 grant from the Scottish Government partner, The Promise.

This transformative funding, effective from October 2023 for 18 months, will revolutionise their transition service, amplifying its impact in Scotland and supporting neurodivergent care-experienced young people.

The core focus of this initiative is to provide individualised in-school support, guiding young people through their transition into adulthood, and nurturing the realisation of their full potential. This grant marks a pivotal moment in Mindroom’s planned expansion of the much-needed service.

Commenting on the grant award, Kelly McFadden, Project Manager of The Promise Partnership, said, “We are delighted to be able to support Salvesen Mindroom Centre with this funding.

“It represents a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for neurodivergent care-experienced young people across Scotland.”

Salvesen Mindroom Centre’s CEO, Alan Thornburrow, added: “This grant is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team. We are immensely proud to embark on this journey, empowering young individuals to shape their own futures.”

Salvesen Mindroom Centre will be working closely with school students, offering personalised one-on-one guidance, using Mindroom’s distinctive “Future Me” resource.

This tool focuses on identifying strengths, aspirations, and dreams of the young person, while also addressing any necessary support they may require to turn these aspirations into reality.

The charity’s approach is rooted in its profound expertise in working with individuals who may have diverse communication needs, ensuring that every person has a voice in shaping their own future and achieving their full potential.

Alan Thornburrow continues: “Neurodivergent young people who are care-experienced, are all too often overlooked and it’s our unwavering commitment to ensure they are equipped with the same opportunities as their peers.

“We are dedicated to providing them with the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive and this funding will go a long way to supporting that.”

To extend their reach and impact, the charity is excited to announce plans to recruit and train a dedicated cohort of volunteers. This expansion represents a clear intention to build on their existing successful transition work within schools.

For more information on Salvesen Mindroom Centre go to:

https://www.mindroom.org/

Dare to spin the Spice Wheel?

MORRISONS LAUNCHES WICKEDLY HOT WING ROULETTE FOR HALLOWEEN

Morrisons is turning up the heat this Halloween with the release of their sizzling sensation – the limited-edition, Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette – perfect for anyone looking to spice up their Halloween party. 

Inviting all spice lovers who dare to spin the wheel of flavour, each pack of Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette contains 10 chicken wings, split between two flavour coatings – but which is which?!

First up is ‘Hot as Hell’, with a 4-chilli rating – these wings aren’t for the faint-hearted and are eye-wateringly hot according to the Scoville Heat Scale which measures the pungency of peppers and chillies. Next is described as ‘Hot and Spicy’, with a tingling 3-chilli rating that provides a perfect blend of heat and flavour.

Nicole Olive, Buyer of Poultry & Turkey at Morrisons, said: “We know our customers love our extra spicy creations and the new Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette will not disappoint – they pack a punch!

“Perfect for Halloween parties, these chicken wings are a great way to bring together friends for a bit of fiery fun!” 

The Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette costs £4.45 and is available in Morrisons stores and online now. 

Bairns’ Hoose: Pathfinder areas announced

Minister for Keeping the Promise Natalie Don has announced the six successful locations that will become home to Scotland’s first Bairns’ Hoose test sites.

Supported by £6 million Scottish Government funding, multi-agency partnerships in Fife, North Strathclyde, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Tayside and the Outer Hebrides will set up pathfinders to provide coordinated comprehensive support for children and young people in the justice system.

Services including child protection, recovery, healthcare, therapeutic support and justice will be available which will provide a blueprint for a full pilot in 2025.

Minister for Keeping the Promise Natalie Don said: “Establishing this network is a major step forward in our aim to transform the care and justice systems for children and young people, many of whom will have been through serious trauma.

“The creation of these pathfinders will also help us to collectively uphold the rights of children and their families to compassionate and effective support in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

“This is a key action in Keeping the Promise and I’m pleased to have marked Care Experienced Week by meeting representatives of this vital project to hear about their vision for the future as one of the first Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder Partnerships.”

Speaking on behalf of the Fife Partnership, Child Protection Committee, Independent Chair Dougie Dunlop said: “All agencies involved in the Children’s Services partnership in Fife are delighted that we have been chosen as a Pathfinder site for the development of a Bairns’ Hoose facility.

“This provides Fife with an opportunity to build on the strengths of our existing partnership arrangements to further develop our approach to supporting children and their families where they may have suffered harm.

“It will bring all key services together within one child centred facility that will make it easier for children and their families to get the support they need in what can be very difficult circumstances.

“It will be a very important addition to our range of responses and will be a significant benefit to the children involved.”

Barnahus founder and Member of the United Nation’s Committee on the Rights of the Child Bragi Guðbrandsson said: “I am delighted that Barnahus is being implemented in Scotland through the Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder programme led by Scottish Government and working with partners across a range of sectors.

“This important milestone shows that Barnahus can be adapted to different contexts, cultural traditions, and legislative structures, but its core concept remains the same – to support children who have experienced trauma, in the best possible way, through multiagency responses.

“A significant financial contribution from the Scottish Government will help to build on the positive collaborative working between social work, police, health, third sector and other partners to ensure successful implementation and capturing learning to support a wider national rollout. I look forward to following the progress of Scotland’s Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinders closely.”

Further information on Bairns’ Hoose.

Leaders reaffirm inter-faith solidarity in Scotland

Senior Jewish and Muslim faith leaders issue joint statement with FM  

First Minister Humza Yousaf has joined faith leaders in Scotland to express a steadfast commitment against all forms of hate crime, bigotry and xenophobia.

In a joint statement, the First Minister and senior religious representatives of Scotland’s Jewish and Muslim communities have pledged to continue working together to foster community cohesion and goodwill across Scotland.

A copy of the joint statement from the First Minister and faith leaders is below:


We express today our mutual respect and understanding, recognising our common humanity, and with love and compassion, knowing that our hearts are full of pain. We also acknowledge the suffering caused to innocent life as a result of recent events and wholeheartedly pray for the full recovery of the many injured and for those who have lost loved ones. 

In times of crisis, it is important for our faith communities, and all communities in Scotland, to reaffirm our relationships and maintain our continuing dialogue. We are steadfast in our commitment against all forms of hate crime, bigotry and xenophobia and we are proud of the strong inter-faith tradition in Scotland.

We stand together in solidarity to reassure our communities of that continuing commitment. We will continue to work together to foster community cohesion and goodwill across Scotland, so that everyone can live in safety. We are proud of our close and strong working relationships, built up over many years, and which allows us the ability to work with confidence and trust.

Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland

Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Senior Rabbi of Scotland 

Chief Imam Dr. Sayed Razawi

Shaykh Hassan Rabbani, Chair of the Scottish Muslim Forum

Rabbi Eliran Shabo, Jewish Chaplain of Scotland Universities 

And a statement from the UK Inter Faith Network:

Young people urged to apply for Job Start Payment

Applications now simpler for eligible clients

Young people are being urged to find out if they are eligible for Job Start Payment as part of a new campaign. The Scottish Government has introduced changes to Job Start Payment, simplifying the process for young people to apply.

Changes to the qualifying criteria mean that income received from completing trial shifts will now not rule out applicants from getting Job Start Payment.

Further changes made by Social Security Scotland, who administer the payment,  include extending the deadline to apply to six months after the young person’s job offer rather than the previous three months, and supplying simplified supporting information for proof of job. These changes are designed to make the application process clearer and simpler.

The one-off payment helps young people and care leavers with the costs of starting a new job. Eligible people receive a one-off payment of £294.70 or £471.50 if they are a main carer of any children.

The nationwide digital marketing campaign, which launched on 23 October, aims to raise awareness of the financial support available to young people and care leavers when offered a job after a period of unemployment.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Since launching in August 2020, Job Start Payment has made a real difference to young people across Scotland by supporting them to take up employment opportunities.

“The pressures of starting a new job can be overwhelming and we don’t want the extra costs to be what stops young people.

“It is now simpler for eligible clients to apply for Job Start Payment due to the recent guidance changes. I encourage young people and carers who have recently started work, or employers taking on young people in a new job, to find out more and check if they are eligible.

“The ongoing cost of living crisis means that people are facing difficult financial decisions day in and day out.

“We are committed to making sure that people are getting all of the money that they are entitled to and that the people who are eligible know how to apply.”