Month: September 2024

Give Us A Chance!

TORY MSP MILES BRIGGS SUPPORTS SCOTTISH DISABILITY CHARITY’S CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT DISABLED PEOPLE FROM FUNDING CUTS

Miles Briggs is offering his full support to Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland’s ‘Give us a chance’ campaign. The charity’s campaign comes as the Scottish Government announced £500m of cuts to public services and warned of further “difficult decisions” ahead in next year’s Scottish Budget.

Miles met with SBH Scotland CEO Lawrence Cowan, Chair Dr Margo Whiteford CBE and Amjid Majeed, who has spina bifida and receives support from SBH Scotland, to learn more about the charity’s campaign.

The ‘Give us a chance’ campaign calls on people to sign a letter to the First Minister, demanding that he protect disabled people from future cuts. The campaign also calls on the Scottish Government to release funding to protect the work of disability charities and to make the needs of disabled people across Scotland a priority.

SBH Scotland, which supports people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus across Scotland, is facing a 22% cut to support from Scottish Government this year – a total cut of 42% since 2018.

Half of all people in poverty live in a household where at least one member is disabled. Scottish Government figures show that disabled people are over twice as likely to experience loneliness compared to non-disabled people. They are also less likely to meet socially than non-disabled people.

Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, said: “I give my full support to SBH Scotland’s ‘Give us a chance’ campaign.

“The needs of disabled people in Scotland should be a priority for the Scottish Government and it is crucial that they protect disabled people from future cuts.

“It is important that the vital services that the most vulnerable in our society rely on are protected at all costs.

“I call on the First Minister John Swinney and Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison to properly invest in services to enable disabled people to thrive and lead full lives.”

Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland CEO, Lawrence Cowan said: “The Scottish Government’s talk of further ‘difficult decisions’ ahead is incredibly concerning. 

“We did not receive a commitment this week to protect people with disabilities from budget cuts. We will be seeking that commitment as we head into the Budget. 

“People we work with say that they already have to constantly fight for basic support. 

“If those services are worn away even further, we will see greater inequality and more injustices experienced by disabled people. We cannot let that happen. 

“We also urgently need clarity on the future of funding for charities like ours. We’re facing a 22% cut in Scottish Government funding this year – a total cut of 42% since 2018. If that money doesn’t come through, we won’t be able to reach people who desperately need help right now. 

“We are delighted to have the support of Miles Briggs as we ask the Scottish Government, on behalf of families across the country, to ‘give us a chance’.

“Give disabled kids a chance to fulfil their potential and follow their dreams and give our disabled adults a chance to live life to the full.”

 Amjid Majeed said: “It is a sad day when we have to campaign to make sure those who need the most help are given the care and support they desperately need!

“SBH Scotland is a lifeline for so many people living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

“I personally can feel very lonely and isolated and rely on the groups provided by the charity as a chance to socialise, going out and meeting with the good friends I’ve made there.

“Charities can’t survive without funding, and I’d be devastated to think that the services SBH Scotland provides could be reduced or taken away because of these cuts.”

Sign SBH Scotland’s open letter: www.sbhscotland.org.uk/give-us-a-chance

THE LETTER READS:

Dear First Minister,

We are urging you to make sure that disabled people are protected from future cuts.

We and our loved ones are more reliant on good quality public services to live. Many of these services are already feeling the strain and further cuts could be devastating. 

Half of all households living in poverty have at least one member with a disability. Disabled people are over twice as likely to experience loneliness compared to non-disabled people.

Charities like SBH Scotland give us a place to belong, to meet people who are going through the same things and for kids with spina bifida and hydrocephalus to have fun and just be kids. They are facing a 22% cut in funding from your government this year unless further funds are confirmed. We need the work of this charity more than ever.

We cannot let these inequalities become further entrenched. Please, protect disabled people from cuts and release funding for vital charities like SBH Scotland.

We all have so much to give our society and our economy. Give us a chance.  With your support we can be unstoppable.

Yours Sincerely,

Lawrence Cowan, CEO SBH Scotland

Elenor Leckie, Parent

Chancellor announces £8 BILLION Amazon Web Services investment

REEVES VOWS TO MAKE EVERY PART OF BRITAIN BETTER OFF

  • Chancellor Rachel Reeves secures a planned £8 billion investment from Amazon Web Services which is estimated to support around 14,000 jobs per year across the UK.
  • The Chancellor will welcome the announcement as part of the Government’s mission to boost growth, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off.
  • Rachel Reeves will say the Government’s mission to ‘fix the foundations of our economy has only just begun.’

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has today [11 September] confirmed an £8 billion investment from Amazon Web Services which is estimated to support thousands of jobs across the UK.

The Chancellor secured the planned five-year investment last week at a meeting with Amazon Web Services.

The investment is estimated to support around 14,000 jobs per year at local businesses, including those across the company’s data centre supply chain such as construction, facility maintenance, engineering and telecommunications, as well as well as other jobs within the broader local economy.

AWS estimates that these investments in the UK will contribute £14 billion to the UK’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2024 to 2028.

Rachel Reeves will welcome the announcement as part of the government’s long-term mission to boost growth, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off.

Speaking from a University Technical College in Silverstone today, which works with Amazon Web Services to introduce students to the skills required to enter the digital infrastructure industry, the Chancellor will warn that ‘change cannot happen overnight’ and ‘two quarters of positive economic growth will not make up for fourteen years of stagnation under the previous government.’

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:  “I am under no illusion to the scale of the challenge facing our economy and I will be honest with the British people that change will not happen overnight.

“Two quarters of positive economic growth does not make up for fourteen years of stagnation under the previous government.

“However, this £8 billion investment marks the start of the economic revival and shows Britain is a place to do business. I am determined to go further so we can deliver on our mandate to create jobs, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off.

“The hard work to fix the foundations of our economy has only just begun.”

Amazon Web Services Vice President and Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), Tanuja Randery said: “The next few years could be among the most pivotal for the UK’s digital and economic future, as organisations of all sizes across the country increasingly embrace technologies like cloud computing and AI to help them accelerate innovation, increase productivity, and compete on the global stage.

“AWS is proud to announce our plans to invest £8 billion in digital and AI infrastructure over the next five years to help meet the growing needs of our customers and partners, and support the transformation of the UK’s digital economy.”

AWS do not release the exact location of their data centres for security reasons, but these centres are servicing London and the West and so are located in areas that facilitate this.

The government is also actively engaged in conversations with the company about investments in other parts of the UK.

Today’s investment announcement comes ahead of this year’s UK International Investment Summit on 14 October, where the UK will bring together the world’s most important companies and investors, demonstrating how the UK’s offer is the best in the world, with political and economic stability, a strategic government partnering with businesses, a proper trade strategy, and policies designed to enable growth.

Knife Crime: Pooja Kanda’s story

Pooja’s son Ronan was fatally stabbed in 2022. On Monday 9 September, Pooja attended the first annual Knife Crime Summit at Downing Street.

Within seconds, my whole life was shattered.  

I miss talking to him. I miss hugging him, hearing his giggles, his laugh, his loud noise, his cheeky look in his eyes. 

It’s horrifying to know that a beautiful child of yours – a good person, a good human being – has been taken by something so cruel and for no reason. Because they mistook him for somebody else. 

On the evening of 29th June 2022, Ronan went to play snooker with his friend. It was the first time he’d gone out after finishing his GCSEs. It was a treat. 

I was out of the house at a meditation class. My neighbour, who was at the class with me, got a call. I got up, hearing the commotion.  

“What’s happened?” I asked.  

“There’s been a stabbing on our street, we need to get home,” she replied.  

I didn’t know then that it was my own child. You don’t think it can happen to you. 

I remember ringing Ronan, but he wasn’t picking up the phone. That’s not like Ronan – Ronan knows, he knows me, he knows to answer. But he didn’t.

My husband was at home, so I rang him and asked him to go outside to find out what was happening. He told me that Ronan had popped out for five minutes to go to his friend’s house. We both agreed to phone Ronan to tell him to get home as soon as possible. 

My husband rang back crying. 

“It’s Ronan, Pooja. They’re saying it’s an Asian-Indian boy.” 

The perpetrators had stabbed him in his abdomen, 20 centimetres deep with a 20 inch Ninja sword. When he turned around, they stabbed him again with a Ninja sword that went through his heart. The blood was pouring out of his body.

He tried running home, but he collapsed two doors away from his house. 

On my way from class, I remember asking my friend to drive me quicker and I jumped out of the moving car. Running towards the police taped area and begging the police officers to let me through, to let me hold my child. 

Even though the paramedics tried to operate to save him, my Ronan died on the very street he grew up. He didn’t stand a chance. 

An innocent child walking home. Murdered, just like that.

In the court case, we found out how the online sale of these threatening bladed articles played a massive role in my son’s murder. Since then, we have been and will continue fighting for a ban on machetes, zombie knives, Ninja swords and other bladed weapons. There is no need for these deadly knives to be in our society. In the wrong hands they are lethal weapons.  

For each murder that happens, there have been clear failures in our system. Ronan’s murder happened because a Ninja sword was bought using a parent’s credit card with no ID checks. We also hear about the failures within the education system, within the policing system, within online sales and more. Now all these failures are being addressed so we can start correcting them. 

We’re going down the right path. 

If it takes a bit of time, so be it. But we need to understand that this needs to be dealt with from now on.  

I would like to thank Sir Keir Starmer, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Idris Elba and my MP Pat McFadden. These are the people who are passionate about this issue and do want to make a difference. So, thank you to them. 

I feel very grateful to be here, so I can share my child’s story and can fight for him. I feel like there are other people who don’t get heard. 

What happened to Ronan should never have happened. My Ronan was a good, funny, humble, charismatic, intelligent and kind boy. He was every mother’s dream son.  

From his school, a mother approached me to tell me how Ronan stopped their child getting bullied – now that child remembers my child and was heartbroken to learn what had happened.

He was a beautiful person and he was too good for this world. I apologise to him every morning for bringing him into this cruel world and not being able to protect him. So, this is my way of doing something for him. 

Ronan’s Law will be a strong move and bring, I hope, much-needed change. Banning these weapons should be the basic start to combatting knife crime. 

In my son’s memory, I have a tattoo on my arm of his heartbeat – the words underneath say: ‘Mom is proud of you, Ronan’ and his name is in his own writing. His mantra was to make me proud.  

I’d give my life today for Ronan, if I could.

I wish I gave my heart to him to save him. Every child deserves to grow up safely and I wish my son had this opportunity.

I am the proud mother of Ronan Kanda.  

I’M JUST A MOTHER FIGHTING FOR WHAT’S RIGHT.

TUC: Young people’s futures on the line as toxic Tory legacy sees youth unemployment rise

  • Youth unemployment rate hits 13.3%, up 1.4 percentage points on the quarter
  • Vacancies have fallen for the last 26 months (down 42,000 on the quarter) 
  • While LFS data suggests employment is rising, HMRC data suggests that payrolled employees are falling
  • Real wages finally return to 2008 level, but there is much lost ground still to make up

Responding to today’s labour market data, which show ongoing weakness in the labour market including rising youth unemployment, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Working people are still facing major problems left behind by the Conservatives. 

“Vacancies have been falling for more than two years. Millions of workers are in insecure jobs and without proper employment rights. And young people’s futures are on the line as youth unemployment rises.

“Most employers support the new government’s plans to make work pay and strengthen workers’ rights. It’s time to move on from the low-pay, low-rights approach that has failed so many people so badly.”

Holyrood Committee highlights serious shortcomings hampering implementation of Self-Directed Support Act

A new report by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee has found that implementation of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 has been hampered by a range of factors.

The legislation was introduced to ensure that care and support is arranged, managed, and delivered in a way that supports choice and control for individuals. Although the Committee has heard that Self-Directed Support (SDS) has been implemented well and is transformational for individuals in some areas, the report highlights a number of challenges that have meant the legislation is not always implemented in a fair and equitable way across the country.

The Committee say that restrictions on available providers, how services are commissioned and procured, and the financial systems and models of care currently in place mean that, in many parts of the country, SDS has not been delivered in the way intended by the legislation.

The post-legislative scrutiny report concludes that a lack of knowledge and understanding of the principles of the Act among key staff is also limiting effective implementation of SDS. The Committee says social workers face a number of constraints which prevent them from taking a relationship-based approach to their work in a way that would enable them to fully implement the principles of SDS.

Other issues highlighted by the Committee include inconsistent application of eligibility criteria by Health and Social Care Partnerships. The Committee concludes that, in many instances, the way current eligibility criteria are applied contradicts the aims and principles of SDS.

While the Committee heard examples of good practice from certain local authority areas, which are offering those in receipt of care more choice using a range of different collaborative initiatives, they say there have been challenges in applying this good practice across the country.

The Committee also concludes that there is an urgent need to establish a process of national oversight and clear lines of accountability across all levels of decision-making to ensure a significantly improved approach to monitoring and evaluation of SDS.

On the report’s publication, Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “While it’s clear from our evidence that stakeholders strongly support this legislation, its implementation has not been consistent across the country.

“During our scrutiny, the Committee has heard that there is a lack of national consistency in relation to information, advice and support to ensure fair and equitable access to social care through SDS.

“We also have concerns over recruitment and retention of the social care and social work workforce, the continued impact of Covid-19 and wider funding constraints across the social care system that are affecting proper implementation of the Act.

“Our conclusion is that the current underlying system of social care delivery based on individual assessment, eligibility and transactional care contracts is incompatible with the principles of SDS.

“The Social Care (Self-directed Support) Act was introduced ten years ago with the intention of empowering individuals to have greater choice and control over the care they receive. However, in too many cases, the principles of SDS are not being observed, meaning individuals are not receiving the care they want or deserve.

“We are calling on the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships to ensure proper implementation of the legislation through greater national consistency, by improving local authority practice and processes, addressing issues around commissioning and tendering, and significantly improving processes for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the policy.

“We would like to thank all of those who contributed to our post-legislative scrutiny of SDS.”

Planning Hub to boost Scotland’s planning system

PLANNING HUB WILL SUPPORT DRIVE TO NET ZERO

Specialist expertise will be utilised to help boost development and green energy opportunities in Scotland.

The Planning Hub will support planning authorities to improve their resourcing, skills and capacity to deliver planning determinations promptly.

It will initially focus on improving consenting speed for hydrogen developments until March 2025.

Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee visited Chapelcross in Annan, the site of a multi-million pound, net-zero focused development includes plans for hydrogen production storage, advanced manufacturing, and energy and enterprise campuses. He said: “Communities across Scotland benefit from a planning system that is efficient, effective and well-resourced.

“The Planning Hub will utilise and build capacity and skills to enable good quality development that improves places and quality of life, whilst growing our economy and supporting the transition to net zero.

“In the first instance, it will have a focus on hydrogen applications – a vital industry that Scotland is embracing as we diversify our energy supply.”

Sarah Gadsden, Chief Executive, Improvement Service said: “It is good to see the Scottish Government highlight the important role of planning in achieving net zero and their subsequent investment in building capacity in the sector.

“We are very pleased to host the hub as it complements the Improvement Service’s broader approach to supporting public service reform and the work of our National Planning Improvement team supporting planning authorities.”   

RPII Launches Play Safety Week

The leading global body for play equipment safety, the Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) launched the UK’s first Play Safety Week yesterday (Monday 9th September).

Play Safety Week has been created to drive awareness and education in play safety at a time when many children will be returning back to school and using school equipment and also utilising play equipment on their walk and return from school.

Play Safety Week has been created for schools, organisations, and families to come together to educate, celebrate, discuss and raise awareness of what play safety really means. This includes attitudes to risk, supervision, and accidents.

It aims to increase fulfilling play opportunities for children by dispelling the most common myths about play safety. It also aims to educate play equipment owners and schools on the importance of the right equipment, inspection and maintenance protocols for play equipment.

Play is a fundamental part of children’s development and is crucial for physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Through play, children learn essential life skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and communication, which are vital for success later in life. In today’s tech focussed world, play is even more important for children to switch off from the digital world and express themselves freely.

According to the RPII, the top 5 most common myths about play safety are:

  1. Playgrounds should be completely risk-free: In fact, exposure to acceptable levels of risk is vital for child development. 1
  2. You must supervise children at all times to prevent accidents: Children learn more when they are left to explore their boundaries. There is no blanket rule that children must be supervised at all times on play equipment in the UK and adults should assess each situation individually. 2
  3. Adults must intervene when children play on play equipment: According to Play England, children learn to assess and manage risks through unstructured play. Overly cautious supervision or intervention can actually hinder this learning process and also potentially lead to more accidents.3
  4. There should be no accidents on play equipment: Minor accidents are a normal part of play. These experiences help build resilience and confidence, enabling children to face challenges and setbacks in other areas of life.
  5. Safer surfaces prevent all injuries: Some surfaces such as rubber significantly reduce the severity of some injuries, however they do not eliminate all risks. Children can still suffer from fractures and other injuries from falls. 4

David Yearley, Chair of the RPII said: “The Play Safety Week campaign has been created to raise awareness about what play safety is in today’s world. We want to educate parents, teachers and playground owners about how to manage and maintain play equipment and what constitutes ‘safe play’.

“The campaign also celebrates our commitment to safe play for children everywhere. The UK’s playgrounds and play centres meet some of the highest standards of safety and inclusiveness in the world, and we want to keep it that way.

“By working together, we can ensure that our playgrounds remain a source of joy, discovery, and growth for all.”

Liz Cheshire, Operations Director, at the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: “At RoSPA, we fully support the Play Safety Week campaign. Play is essential for children’s holistic development, and ensuring their safety while encouraging natural risk-taking is a delicate balance.

“This campaign offers vital resources and education that can help schools, parents, and communities create environments where children can play, learn, and grow safely. Together, we can foster a culture of play that prioritises safety without stifling the adventurous spirit of childhood.”

The RPII has created a number of free assets for schools, parents and other organisations to download to help to educate parents, co-workers and playground owners with guidelines for play safety on a range of outdoor, indoor and inflatable equipment.

You can sign up to support and share the campaign directly on the campaign website website www.playsafetyweek.org.

Do You Need Help Writing or Updating Your Will?

LifeCare Edinburgh hosting free info event to help local people 

Are you worried about writing or updating your Will and not sure where to begin?  Join LifeCare Edinburgh and Lindsays Solicitors at their free information event to find out about the practicalities of the process, including when you should make a Will, what is involved and what you need to think about in advance. 

Making a Will is a simple thing you can do for your family, loved ones, friends and favourite charities and is probably easier than you think. 

This event will help ease any concerns you may have, so you can ensure that your affairs are in order. Bring along your questions and take time to talk to the experts from Lindsays on a 1-2-1 basis after the presentations. 

This event will take place on Wednesday the 18th of September between 2pm and 4pm at the fully accessible LifeCare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street, EH4 1JB, in the heart of Stockbridge. Arrival from 1.45pm to get refreshments and seated for a 2pm start for the presentations.

Free tea and coffee will be served. To register, please visit LifeCare’s website:

 https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/  

or give us a call on 0131 343 0940. 

Charles and Camilla to attend 25th anniversary celebration at Holyrood

Their Majesties, The King and The Queen, will attend a special 25th anniversary celebration at the Scottish Parliament on Saturday 28 September, it has been announced.

The event will mark 25 years since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened and will include special performances from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Sistema Scotland, Còisir Alba and Calum McIlroy, showcasing Scottish music and culture.

MSPs have also nominated “local heroes” to attend the event.  These are constituents from their local area who have made an extraordinary contribution to their communities.

Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: “25 years of the Scottish Parliament marks a significant milestone in the country’s political journey. I am delighted that Their Majesties The King and The Queen will join us to mark this special occasion.

“This anniversary offers the perfect opportunity for us not only to reflect on the last 25 years but to look to the future and consider how Parliament can continue to best meet the needs of those it serves.

“A cornerstone of this commemorative event will be about recognising the extraordinary contribution people from right across Scotland have made, and continue to make, to their own communities.

“I look forward to welcoming people from all over Scotland for a day of reflection and celebration.”

The King and The Queen have a long association with The Scottish Parliament. The King attended the official opening in 1999 and the 20th anniversary celebrations in 2019, and Their Majesties attended our opening ceremony in 2021 and most recently the motion of condolence for the Late Queen in 2022.

The event will be broadcast live on the Scottish Parliament’s website with further details to be announced shortly.

‘Local Heroes’ have taken part in the opening ceremonies of the Scottish Parliament in 2007, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Pension Credit is now key to keeping your Winter Fuel Payment

A major change to this year’s Winter Fuel Payment means that to get the allowance that’s worth up to £300, you must also receive Pension Credit. If you don’t currently get Pension Credit, but think you could be eligible, it’s vital to check now and apply, otherwise you could miss out.

The allowance is now linked to certain means-tested benefits including Pension Credit. Pension Credit helps those over State Pension age who are living on a low income. It works by topping up income to a minimum level and can be worth more than £3,900 a year.

To keep getting your Winter Fuel Payment you must be eligible for Pension Credit or one of the other following benefits during the ‘qualifying week’ of 16 to 22 September 2024:

  • Universal Credit
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support

Our Benefits calculator will show you if you’re entitled to any of these benefits

In Scotland the Winter Fuel Payment will be replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, worth up to £300.

This will also be linked to Pension Credit and certain means-tested benefits.

It’s the Pension Credit Week of Action and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall recommends checking if you, a loved one or a friend could be eligible for Pension Credit.

For someone aged 66 or over it could entitle them to the Winter Fuel Payment and other benefits: https://ow.ly/NRPh50Tcu6m

#PensionCredit

#WinterFuelPaymen

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