Join us for ECCAN’s Spring Assembly: Root to Plate!
On Wednesday, March 26th at the Charteris Centre, we’re bringing together passionate individuals and key groups to explore the connection between food, community, and the climate crisis.
Whether you’re a foodie, work in the sector, or just curious about food sustainability and tackling waste, this is your chance to connect, learn, and take action!
The national standard on waiting times for children and young people accessing mental health services has been met for the first time.
Latest Public Health statistics show 90.6% of those who were referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) were seen within 18 weeks from October to December– the Scottish Government standard is 90%.
The figure is an increase from 89.1% for the previous quarter and from 83.8% for the same quarter in 2023.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1896869761587273986
Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “This continued progress is testament to the dedication of the staff who work so hard to help the children and young people they care for.
“We want everyone to get the support they need, when they need it. Clearly, reaching the national standard is encouraging but I know there is much more to be done if this is to be sustained and consistent across Scotland.
“However, we are on the right path and the £123 million we have allocated to NHS Boards this year will mean the quality and delivery of all mental health services – including CAMHS – will continue to improve.”
Responding to the latest CAMHS referral figures, Children First chief executive Mary Glasgow said: “While the progress on meeting CAMHS waiting times should be applauded, it shouldn’t deflect attention from the still growing mental health crisis among Scotland’s children and young people.
“Numbers of referrals to CAMHS have risen by almost a fifth and our teams across Scotland are seeing rapidly rising levels of worry and anxiety among the children and young people who come to us for support.
“The fact remains that children are often not getting support until they are in severe distress. This must stop.
“The Scottish Government must invest more in early help and support to prevent children reaching crisis point.”
Scottish arts organisations have received new funding to enhance cultural engagement within local communities. Think Circus, Stellar Quines and Media Education are among 20 UK/international exchange partnerships to have secured a share of £360,000 in the latest round of the Cultural Bridge programme.
Edinburgh-based Think Circus is partnering with socio cultural German theatre companies, WHEELS and Junges Theater Münster for Missing Link, an exchange project that will bring circus arts into communities and create new creative opportunities for young people.
Think Circus’ Founder Kat Borrowdalesaid: “We are delighted to be building an international connection with WHEELS and Junges Theatre Münster.
“Our organisations all have roots in community theatre practice but take very different approaches.
“This collaboration will introduce new methods for our teachers and performers, which will be shared with the children and young people in our community projects – enhancing their skills, enjoyment and creativity.”
Fife-based Stellar Quines Theatre Company is teaming up with German film education leadership group, MPower on a project giving voice to women of colour in Scotland and Germany through writing and filmmaking. Specially tailored residencies in Scotland and Berlin will enable refugee and migrant women to develop their skills via workshops, film production and public showcases.
Caitlin Skinner, Stellar Quines’ Artistic Director said: “MPower and Stellar Quines are over the moon to have this support to continue our partnership.
“Our time with MPower has already been transformational for us as practitioners and as organisations and we’re so excited to be able to extend this work to more participants.
“In the current global climate our collaboration is a vital opportunity for young women to use film and theatre to explore the connections between feminism and migrant justice and to share their experience across borders.”
Empowering individuals with lived experiences of trauma, discrimination, and adversity is central to a new collaboration between Scottish grassroots activists Media Education and digital inclusion innovators Q3.
This partnership aims to enhance cultural engagement and empower underrepresented communities through knowledge exchange. By providing opportunities to build skills, explore identities, and express creativity through filmmaking and podcasts, participants can find audiences and make a meaningful impact with their stories.
The insights gained will be shared locally and across Europe, shaping future social arts practices and fostering a more inclusive society.
Iain Shaw, Media Education’s Company Directorsaid: “We’re thrilled to start our collaboration with Q3, whose important work we deeply admire.
“At the heart of our partnership is the belief that sharing lived experiences is key to building bridges between people from all walks of life and creating a fair and equitable society.
“This programme gives both organisations the time to strengthen practice by exploring similarities and differences in our approaches and sharing that learning more widely.”
Karen Dick, Creative Scotland’s Head of Place, Partnerships & Communities said: “Central to the ethos of the Cultural Bridge initiative is the gift of time, empowering meaningful collaborative international exchange between socially engaged and grassroots arts organisations and fostering lasting connections within local communities.
“The programme’s diverse activities and projects will have the freedom to explore new approaches to cultural practice, promote co-creation and community engagement, working together to shape local place, shared identity and collective agency.
“We extend our warm congratulations to Stellar Quines, Think Circus and Media Education on their awards and, thanks to our partners’ continued support, we’re excited to build on the programme’s successes further enriching the creative and cultural lives of communities in the UK and Germany.”
The new Ratho Library has officially opened its doors to the public as it moves into its permanent location after closing its doors in 2020 and serving as a mobile service since 2021.
The opening celebration includes the unveiling of a special artwork inside the library, showcasing a quote chosen by the local community.
In the summer of 2023, the library hosted a community vote to select a quote from a selection of beloved children’s books. The winning quote, now proudly displayed above the children’s library section, is from Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The quote celebrates the joy of reading and literature, making it a perfect fit for the new library’s vibrant atmosphere.
In addition to the winning quote, illustrations of Rowena frog and other characters from the book accompany the quote, further enhancing the library’s welcoming environment for young readers.
Each child who attends the early years centre adjacent to the new library will receive a copy of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler to mark the official opening of the new library.
Winning quote
‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ (2005) written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Macmillan Children’s Books (Pan Macmillan).
‘About Rowena Reddalot, a very well-read frog, Who jumped upon a lily pad and jumped upon a log, Then jumped into the library which stood beside the brook, And went, “Reddit! Reddit! Reddit!” as she jumped upon a book…’
Julia Donaldson said: “I have long campaigned on the valuable role that public libraries play in communities and in developing a love of books.
“I am very pleased that this library is opening in Ratho; it isn’t news that you hear every day!
“I want to thank everyone who voted to see ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book‘ featured on the walls in the children’s area and I hope this joyful space introduces a new generation of readers to stories they will treasure for life.”
Axel Scheffler said:“It is an honour to know that ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book‘ was chosen by the local community in Ratho to feature in their new library.
“I would like to thank them all and also the librarian team who have worked so hard to make this happen. I am so pleased that Rowena frog and Charlie will welcome young readers into the children’s area and I hope they will inspire families to discover great new books together.”
Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said:“We are thrilled to open the doors of our new Ratho Library and celebrate the community’s involvement in selecting the quote that now graces our children’s library.
“This collaboration highlights our shared love of reading and the importance of literature in inspiring young minds.
“The winning quote from ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book‘ perfectly reflects the joy of storytelling, and we are excited to create a space where every visitor, especially our young readers, can feel the magic of books.
“Our dedicated team at Ratho has worked closely with Macmillan Children’s Books to develop the graphic design for our new library and it looks fantastic.
“I would like to extend our sincere thanks to Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Macmillan Children’s Books for their permission to use ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ and their ongoing support in the process. I hope visitors enjoy the design for years to come.”
Ratho Library offers a broad range of services to customers, including access to a wide variety of digital and printed books, free public access to computers, free public Wi-Fi, collection of NHS hearing Aid batteries, support with National Entitlement Cards alongside an exciting programme of events and activities for children and adults.
The library will also host Tech Donation Boxes later in the year where everyday tech devices can be upcycled.
An official opening event for the library will be held at a later date.
New research commissioned by Shelter Scotland reveals that over ten thousand children living in temporary accommodation are at risk of severe impacts on their health, education, and social lives.
Professor Nadzeya Svirydzenka of De Montfort University and Professor Monica Lakhanpaul of University College London interviewed twenty-three children and parents from four Scottish local authorities.
The report titled “IN THEIR OWN WORDS: CHILDREN’S EXPERIENCES IN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION” shows that children living in temporary accommodation face safety issues such as overcrowding, dampness, mould, antisocial behaviour, pest-infestations and more.
Temporary accommodation has also been found to impact the mental health of children and parents, leading to anxiety, depression, increased aggression, and disturbed sleep. Children in these situations were also found to be socially isolated and their school attendance disrupted.
This research is published following a significant increase in the number of children in temporary accommodation in Scotland. Scottish Government figures show there are 10,360 children in temporary accommodation, a 149% increase in the last ten years.
On average, single people spend 240 days in temporary accommodation, a single parent with children 355 days, and a couple with children 565 days. The number of children in bed and breakfasts has risen by 223% (290 children) between September 2023 and 2024 (Scottish Government, 2025)
In Edinburgh, the number of children in temporary accommodation has grown by 74% since 2020 to a backdrop of rapidly increasing homelessness in the capital.
Shelter Scotland’s report calls for an increased supply of family homes, more work towards homelessness prevention, addressing the poor quality of temporary accommodation, and taking a ‘children’s rights-based approach’ to the allocation of temporary accommodation.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian Miles Briggs attended the launch event for this research in Edinburgh and said: ““It is completely unacceptable that so many children are left languishing in temporary accommodation for so long across Scotland. They should be living in safe, clean, and permanent houses of their own.
“The situation in Edinburgh is particularly concerning. Housing here has been in a state of emergency for years now. We cannot allow this to continue.
“This report is a shocking indictment of the SNP’s record on housing and makes important recommendations on housing, health, and education which will require cross-sector and cross-government reform and actions.”
@Miles4Lothian (Miles Briggs) will ask @scotgov for its response to the @shelterscotland‘s report ‘In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation’ at Holyrood this afternoon.
If you are aged 12 – 25 and are looking for support then get in touch with ourselves or find the contact information for your area in the poster attached.
NHS LOTHIAN has welcomed the publication of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry Interim Report into the delayed opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department for Clinical Neurosciences.
The planned opening of the new building at Little France was halted in July 2019 when final safety checks revealed that the ventilation system within the Critical Care area did not comply with national standards.
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Lothian said: “Patient safety was always our driving force in commissioning a first-class hospital building so we know that the discovery of a ventilation problem just days before it was due to open caused shock and significant concern for our patients, their families and our staff.
“We once again reiterate our sincere and unreserved apology to them all for the resulting delay to the transfer of patient services to the new facility. I am particularly sorry that patients and their families were let down at a time when they were already worried and vulnerable.”
Lord Brodie, Chairman of the Inquiry, acknowledged the huge operation that was put in place within hours to reschedule thousands of patients who were due to attend the new hospital and prevent families and patients from turning up to the wrong building in an emergency.
A total of 2255 appointments required to be rescheduled immediately – 1586 in paediatrics and 669 in DCN were affected.
The report found there had been no wrongdoing or attempts to conceal information.
Lord Brodie also noted the positive organisational culture in NHS Lothian and said there were a variety of channels through which concerns could have been raised, as well as whistleblowing policies.
But that it was a “lack of clarity” around technical building standards led to the issue around ventilation and the delay.
Mr Crombie added: “Lord Brodie has identified our failure to provide a clear design brief at the outset as critical to events as well as weaknesses in governance and understanding between contractual partners.
“We are sorry for these failures and also deeply regret that opportunities were missed by all parties over the course of the project to detect and rectify errors in the design of the ventilation regime.
“The report acknowledges the changes that have been put in place in NHS Lothian and the new guidance introduced since 2019 to ensure that lessons are learned and similar events can be prevented in the future.
“Finally, I’d like to thank the relatives of patients affected by the delay who took part in the Inquiry for their important contributions.”
The Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland is calling on housing associations and local authorities to recommit their support for their domestic abuse campaign, Make a Stand, at Scotland’s Housing Festival 2025, opening today (Tuesday 4 March 2025) at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
The professional body for people who work in housing is taking the opportunity of its annual conference in Scotland to raise awareness of the housing sector’s responsibility to victims/survivors of domestic abuse.
The Make a Stand campaign was launched in 2018 to encourage social landlords to commit to making positive changes in their practice to support victims/survivors of domestic abuse.
Despite over 70 social landlords in Scotland pledging support to the campaign, we know from our own research that most social landlords do not have an appropriate domestic abuse policy. This means they are not adequately addressing the main cause of homelessness for women.
While the Housing (Scotland) Bill currently being considered by Parliament will require all social landlords to have a policy, CIH Scotland is calling for Scotland’s social landlords to get ahead of the requirement and commit to a policy and approach that will help address the housing emergency for those experiencing domestic abuse.
In his opening address to over 500 housing professionals at Scotland’s Housing Festival 2025, Callum Chomczuk, national director of CIH Scotland will call on delegates to “recommit to Make a Stand to help improve housing outcomes of women and children experiencing domestic abuse.”
CIH Scotland recently submitted to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s inquiry on financial considerations on leaving an abusive relationship and within that evidence, cited its 2023 report Policies not Promises which highlighted the need for a consistent approach from social landlords to how victims are supported with financial concerns.
Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland stages its annual Housing Festival to bring housing professionals together from a wide range of disciplines to gain and share learning, collaborate and build relationships.
From motivational keynotes to roundtable discussions and networking activities, the festival provides access to a packed line-up of leaders and academics from a wide variety of disciplines, all committed to supporting everyone’s right to a safe place to call home.
We’d love for you to join us – whether you’re a seasoned pro or you’ve never picked up a pair of knitting needles. We have some pros in our group who can help you learn, or bring along your own project if you would like.
We’ll be having a natter, plenty of cuppas and some lovely pastries too!
Our sharing shelf is also stocked up on this day so it is a great time to be in the centre.
Join us for ECCAN’s Spring Assembly: Root to Plate! 
Whether you’re a foodie, work in the sector, or just curious about food sustainability and tackling waste, this is your chance to connect, learn, and take action!
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#FoodCommunity
