Day: June 13, 2024

Holyrood’s Net Zero Committee heads to Royal Highland Show

We’ll be at this year’s Royal Highland Show!

Join the Net Zero Committee for an expert panel discussion on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

The discussion will be led by Edward Mountain MSP, who says: “[This] Bill re-opens a political debate about land; how it is used and managed; how it can contribute to Scotland’s environmental objectives and how it can be used to strengthen rural economies and communities.”

📍 Upper Foyer, Highland Hall at 2pm on Friday 21 June.

More details here: https://www.parliament.scot/…/holyroods-net-zero…

Holyrood’s Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee is set to host an expert panel discussion and open forum Q&A on the new Land Reform (Scotland) Bill at this year’s Royal Highland Show. 

Committee Convener, Edward Mountain MSP, will chair the event which will take place on Friday 21 June from 14.00 – 15.15, in the Upper Foyer of the Royal Highland Centre’s Highland Hall. 

Panellists set to take part in the discussion include;  

  • Andy Wightman, Land Campaigner, former MSP, forester & owner of ‘Who Owns Scotland’ website 
  • Prof Andrew Barnes, Head of Rural Economy, Environment & Society, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) 
  • Christopher Nicholson, Chairman, Scottish Tenant Farmers Association  
  • Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive, Scottish Land & Estates  
  • Hamish Lean, Partner & Head of Rural Property, Shepherd and Wedderburn 

Committee Convener, Edward Mountain MSP, said; “Having recently received over 100 responses to our ‘call for views’ on the Bill, we are in no doubt of how passionate stakeholders, the length and breadth of Scotland, are about the topic of land reform. 

“The Bill re-opens a political debate about land; how it is used and managed; how it can contribute to Scotland’s environmental objectives and how it can be used to strengthen rural economies and communities. 

“It also seeks to make agricultural tenancy law fit for the 21st century, and more responsive to environmental concerns. In doing so, it rebalances the landlord-tenant relationship and it is crucial for us to consider whether the Bill gets the balance right. 

“With such an informed line-up of panellists and an anticipated audience of passionate stakeholders, we look forward to hosting an event that will really allow us to capture and discuss some of the key issues at play.” 

Stakeholders wishing to attend the event should book a free ticket here. 

Please also feel free to turn up on the day. 

#RHS24

#RoyalHighlandShow

Local family’s life transformed by Big Kid Circus

An Edinburgh mum has praised Big Kid Circus with transforming her son’s life, helping with his struggles with neurodivergent behaviours to finding acceptance and support in the wacky and wonderful world of the circus.

Callen Ormerwood (7) first visited the Big Kid Circus in 2021 in Edinburgh and was immediately captivated by the daring performances and electric atmosphere. Since that day, the circus has become a huge part of his life and there’s been a notable difference in his behaviour.

Mum Jackie Blair said: “Before we were introduced to Big Kid Circus, Callen was really struggling with his behaviour as he was often hyper active, agitated, unable to concentrate and struggled to play with other children.

“His nursery teachers expressed their concern, but while we waited for tests to diagnose any neurodevelopmental conditions, I felt at a loss with how to help him.

“A trip to see Big Kid Circus in 2021 really was the catalyst that changed everything! Callen was instantly besotted, and I could see a positive change in his behaviour almost overnight.”

Since that first visit, the circus has welcomed Callen with open arms and he’s not only been a dedicated audience member, with regular visits every time the circus is in town, but he’s even performed centre ring under the moniker ‘Mini Luxo’ after his favourite clown, Papa Luxo.

Jackie continued: “Big Kid Circus really is a big family, and I can’t thank them all enough for how warmly they’ve welcomed Callen in. He’s had so many fantastic experiences from aerial training to dressing up and dancing on stage with the clowns – his favourite circus act by far.

“He’s became such a happy, confident wee boy and I honestly tell people that the circus saved his life. His older brother Mason (9) who Callen never had a connection with before has even got involved recently. To see their relationship as brothers go from strength to strength has just been amazing.”

Big Kid Circus was founded in 2005 by husband and wife, Biliana and Kiril Kirilov. Biliana was just 13 when she left home to ‘run away’ with the circus and travelled all over the world before meeting trapeze artist Kiril.

Since deciding to set up their own company, which aims to produce creative, diverse, and inclusive circus performances for the whole family, they have successfully produced 16 annual tours across the UK.

Now, Biliana and Kiril’s children are driving forward the next generation of the family-run business and daughter Julia has witnessed first-hand the huge transformation in Callen since that first visit to the circus in 2021.

Julia Kirilova, Event Manager at Big Kid Entertainment, said: “The visible change in Callen over the last few years has been a joy to watch and it’s heartening to see his love of the circus, and the overwhelmingly positive impact this has had on his behaviour.

“The circus is a place where everyone is encouraged to be themselves, without fear of judgement. We have a hugely diverse and inclusive performing troupe, with performers from all over the world from different nationalities, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Everyone is welcome at Big Kid Circus.

“We were delighted to welcome Callen and his family to celebrate his 7th birthday on stage with us at our Glenrothes show on Monday 27 May and we’re so glad that he has found his second home with us.”

To find out more about Big Kid Circus and to buy tickets for their upcoming shows please visit: https://www.bigkidcircus.co.uk/

COSLA: Carers Week

Carers Week takes place this week, 10th – 16th June. The theme this year is ‘Putting Carers on the Map.’

This theme reflects the importance of ensuring carers’ voices are heard. Carers Week is also an opportunity to recognise carers’ invaluable contributions while acknowledging the challenges carers face.

This year’s campaign invites us as individuals or organisations to add your name to put carers on the map and share your caring story, how you support carers, or discuss how you think support for carers needs to change.

All the resources for Carers Week can be found on the Carers Week website.

A COSLA Spokesperson commented: “Three in five of us will take on a caring responsibility in our lifetime. Every single day, carers enable people they care for to get the most out of life, and I would like to thank each carer for their vital contribution to the health and social care system.

“I encourage us all to take the time this Carers Week to consider what more we can do to support carers in our communities and ensure their voices are heard. I also encourage carers to explore the range of Carers Week activities in their local area, to meet fellow carers and find advice and support.”

cw-2023-definition-of-a-carer-poster-1Download

Pay rise for children’s social care staff

Important step forward in supporting vital services

Staff in children’s social care services will see their pay increase to at least £12 an hour thanks to new Scottish Government funding.

Backed by over £19 million this year, it will ensure more than 6,000 people working in a direct care role in the voluntary, private and independent sector services receive the pay increase, which could be worth more than £2,000 a year for some staff.

It will help people providing direct care to vulnerable children and young people under the age of 18, including Personal Assistants, and all payments will be backdated and provided for all hours worked from April 2024. 

Increasing pay for children’s social care workers was a commitment set out in the 2023 Programme for Government.

Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Natalie Don said: “This uplift is an important step forward in supporting our highly valued social care staff across Scotland. The support they provide is invaluable and the Government is committed to ensuring no-one is paid less than the Real Living Wage.

“Children’s social care services couldn’t be delivered without our private, voluntary and independent sector providers and this funding will help support the sustainability of their services. 

“The implementation of this uplift would not have been possible without close working with our partners especially with COSLA and with Health and Social Care Partnerships.” 

A COSLA Spokesperson said: “The children’s social care workforce are vital in supporting our children and young people.

“Paying them the real living wage is one way in which we can show how highly they are valued, and we will continue to work with our private, voluntary and independent sector providers on how we best support and Keep the Promise made to Scotland’s children and young people.” 

The pay uplift will apply to all workers who provide direct care within commissioned Children’s Social Care services in the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sectors, namely Secure Accommodation Services, Care Home Services for Children and Young People, School Care Accommodation: Residential Special School services, Housing Support Services, Care at Home services, and Services classed as Other than Care at Home, as well as to Personal Assistants employed through Self Directed Support (SDS) Option 1, who provide Care at Home to under 18-year-olds.

NHS pay talks set to begin after months of delays, says UNISON

UNISON has welcomed the Scottish government’s offer to open pay talks for health workers in Scotland after months of delays.

UNISON Scotland, together with other NHS unions, submitted its pay claim in February and says health workers are disappointed the Scottish government has taken so long to respond.

In the past few weeks, health workers belonging to UNISON have sent more than 15,000 letters to MSPs  calling for the Scottish government to open pay talks.

UNISON Scotland lead organiser for health Matt McLaughlin said: “Despite submitting a pay claim at the beginning of the year, the Scottish government has dragged its heels and taken months to get around the table.

“NHS staff are rightly frustrated they’ve been left struggling with rising living costs while their calls for a fair pay rise are ignored.

“Health workers are the glue that holds the NHS together and the government has to recognise their hard work by putting NHS pay right.”

Forth Green Freeport open for business

The Forth Green Freeport (FGF) is officially “open for business” today, 12 June, following approval from the Scottish and UK Governments of its Outline Business Case.

This major step unlocks the investment incentives to deliver the green freeport vision.

Dame Susan Rice DBE, Chair of Forth Green Freeport, said: “This is it, Forth Green Freeport is officially open for business. It is an important time for the Green Freeport as we move through the business case development phase to delivery for Scotland.

“Through innovations in offshore wind manufacturing, assembly and commissioning, alongside innovative shipbuilding, modular assembly and hydrogen manufacture, the country’s net zero targets can be boosted by Forth Green Freeport.

“This is a long-term project and one which we know will deliver real benefits to the local communities through economic growth, skills re-training and training and access to high quality, green jobs.”

Responding to the news, Council Leader Cammy Day said: “The Forth Green Freeport is go – making North Edinburgh and the region open for significant investment and good, green, economic growth.

“The whole coastline has huge potential as we develop our city and address the climate emergency and, clearly, the Scottish and UK Governments agree. The news just this week of a global leader in sustainable energy potentially looking to invest in the Port of Leith is also testament to the opportunities Edinburgh has to offer.

“Our extension of Edinburgh’s tram line to Newhaven is already unlocking many areas in the North of the city for long-term investment and regeneration plus, our £1.3 billion green vision for Granton Waterfront is creating a brand new sustainable coastal community, with thousands of net zero homes.

“Through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal we’ve already achieved massive success working collaboratively with our neighbouring councils, with central government and with the private sector. I’m looking forward to similar success with all the partners on the Forth Green Freeport.

“I’ve said all along that fair work and fair opportunities – with employers paying the real Living Wage and real benefits to the community – should be central to the Green Freeport’s plans.

“Following positive conversations with our partners, I’m pleased this is now confirmed with a Fair Work Charter right at the heart of everyone’s ambitions.

“Around 11,000 direct jobs are expected to be created as a result of the Forth Green Freeport, and we expect around 4,000 of those to be here in Edinburgh, which is major. This is of course long-term but we have the opportunity to not only boost employment opportunities but the skills we need in green industries as we address the climate challenge and work towards net zero as a city and country.”

GMB reveals almost 1,000 public football pitches lost by cash-strapped councils

On the eve of the European Championships, GMB can reveal almost 1,000 public football pitches have been lost in the UK since 2010.

As England and Scotland get ready to kick off their campaigns in Germany, new figures show there are 846 fewer local authority owned or operated football pitches today [based on the latest figures available] than there were in 2009/10.

Councils said that a further 80 pitches had also been closed – meaning at least 926 pitches have gone.

The worst hit part of the UK was Scotland, which lost a massive 271 pitches during that period.

All the other worst hit areas were all in Northern England and Wales.

The figures come from a Freedom of Information request made by GMB to local authorities in the UK and we’re revealed at GMB’s annual conference, which concludes in Bournemouth today [Thursday].

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “The England and Scotland men’s teams are about to begin their European Championship campaigns, with the hopes of the two nations resting on their shoulders.

“Yet before a ball has even been kicked, the next generation of footballers have already lost.

“Losing almost 1,000 council football pitches could crush grass roots football in the UK and is yet another deeply depressing legacy of the Conservative’s austerity mission.”

Green light for Edinburgh Park Arena

Plans for a new 8,500 capacity arena by AEG at Edinburgh Park were approved at the Development Management Sub Committee yesterday.

Reacting to the decision, Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh already boasts a great set of venues in the shape of Murrayfield, the Usher Hall and our theatres and increasingly, the world’s biggest stars are choosing the Capital. From Beyonce and Harry Styles to Taylor Swift’s record-breaking run, not forgetting our annual world famous festivals, Edinburgh has more than proved itself as a top destination for international acts.

“We’ve been concentrating on developing our cultural offering and transport links in recent years to better connect the city, and the moment is right now to build on that. We’ve been crying out for a mid-size indoor arena but we have to make sure the infrastructure is in place for that and it has to be the right site. This arena at Edinburgh Park offers the answer and the planning application received unanimous support from Councillors.

“There is no doubt this site has some of the best transport links in Scotland and it easy to picture audiences travelling from home or the airport by tram, train and bus to West Edinburgh for a show. At the other end of the tram line to the North we have another great asset in the Leith Theatre and in the city centre the Ross Bandstand.

“Smaller music venues like these are also important to the fabric of Edinburgh’s live music offering and I remain committed to championing for their investment. They are two prime examples of projects which I believe should benefit from Edinburgh’s visitor levy when it is in place.”

UK shows ‘enduring commitment’ to Ukraine at G7 summit

UK WILL ‘LEAD FROM THE FRONT’ AT G7 SUMMIT

The Prime Minister will be clear that the UK will lead from the front on supporting international peace and security as he attends the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy against a backdrop of heightened volatility.

  • Support for Ukraine and securing peace in the Middle East priorities at G7 Leaders Summit.  
  • UK provides package of up to £242m funding for immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs in Ukraine.   
  • Leaders seek to leverage billions from immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine.   

At the Summit, the Prime Minister will announce up to £242 million in bilateral assistance to Ukraine, to support immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs, and lay the foundations for longer term economic and social recovery and reconstruction.  

This funding demonstrates the UK’s continued international solidarity with Ukraine, and our flexibility in responding to immediate needs created by Russian aggression. Critical energy infrastructure, for example, has suffered from an intense Russian missile and bombing campaign over the past few months.  

A priority for the PM at the Summit will be to work with partners to agree a way to use immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine. Last month, the Chancellor attended the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, where the G7 discussed potential avenues to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from these assets, to the benefit of Ukraine.     

The UK and G7 leaders have been clear that Russian must pay for the damage it is causing Ukraine. We will explore all lawful avenues by which immobilised Russian assets can be used to support Ukraine. The value of the assets held in G7 jurisdictions is $285 billion. 

The UK was the first country to introduce legislation explicitly enabling us to keep sanctions in place until Russia pays for damage it has caused. We also introduced new powers to compel sanctioned individuals and entities to disclose assets they hold in the UK. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:  “We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putin’s illegal war at this critical moment. The UK remains at the forefront of the international response as we have been from the outset. We must move from ‘as long as it takes’ to ‘whatever it takes’ if we are to end this illegal war. 

“From Ukraine to the Middle East, we will be discussing significant global threats at the Summit. Such threats are why it is so vital to strengthen the UK’s national defence, through our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030.”

The UK has now committed almost £12.7 billion in military, humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine and has often been the first mover on vital lethal aid, from Storm Shadow cruise missiles to a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks.

The Prime Minister recently announced that the UK will send our largest-ever package of military equipment from the UK, designed to help push back the Russian invasion on land, sea and air. 

While at the summit, he will attend sessions on Ukraine; Illegal Migration; Economic Security and China; The Middle East; and a credible G7 and UK offer to ‘the global majority’.   

The Prime Minister will work to encourage G7 unity in response to the situation on the ground in Gaza, focused on the long-term goal of a stable and prosperous Middle East.   

He will press other leaders to recognise migration challenges ‘across the route’ and to take collective action.  

He will also seek to strengthen our economic security in relation to China and work collaboratively with partners to identify ways to ensure we leverage the revolution in green technologies for the benefit of the British people and our industries.

Prisoner early release plan approved

Regulations, including safeguards, approved by MSPs

The Scottish Parliament has approved the early release of some short-term prisoners to address the impacts of a recent rapid rise in the prison population.

Under current modelling, based on the criteria set out in the regulations approved by Parliament, around 514 eligible prisoners will be released in four tranches from the 26 June.

Public safety will remain a priority, and underpin all decisions, with safeguards built in. Only prisoners serving less than four years and due to be released within 180 days are eligible for release.

Certain categories of prisoners are automatically excluded and not eligible for early release under the plans; that is any prisoner who: is serving a life sentence, is on the Sex Offenders Register, is subject to a non-harassment order, or who has an unspent conviction for domestic abuse.

As an additional protection, prison governors will have the power to veto the release of any otherwise eligible prisoner, if they deem them an immediate risk to a specific individual or group.

In addition, the regulations ensure that victims will be able to receive information about the release of a prisoner in their case through, or as well as, a named victim support organisation, where the victim has requested it. 

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Immediate and urgent action is needed to deal with the significant recent rise in the prison population. The same challenges in prisons are faced across the UK and the UK Government has taken similar action in England and Wales.

“Through this emergency early release plan, backed by Parliament, we are responding to this critical situation and ensuring the safety and welfare of staff and prisoners.

“Protecting the public remains my absolute priority, which is why there are significant and robust safeguards in place and only those due to be released in the next short while are eligible. Releases will also be completed in tranches so the necessary support can be provided to safely resettle released prisoners in their communities.

“We are working with victims organisations to ensure the right information and support is available where needed. In addition, the existing statutory schemes of information for victims will continue to ensure that victims who wish to receive information about an offender’s release, including emergency early release, can do so.

“This is part of a significant package of measures we are taking in both the short and longer term to deal with the continuing rise in Scotland’s prison population, which remains one of the highest in Western Europe.”

The Early Release of Prisoners and Prescribed Victim Supporters (Scotland) Regulations 2024.