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Young people given chance to play key role in NSPCC work

· The NSPCC has recruited 15 young people from around the UK aged 13 to 16 to become part of a new Young People’s Board for Change

· The board gives young people the opportunity to have a say on what matters most to them to influence the work by the UK’s leading child protection charity

· Fourteen-year-old Rachel, from Angus, was selected for the board after her work on anti-bullying campaign ‘think b4 you type’

Young people have the opportunity to play a defining role in the NSPCC’s mission to prevent child abuse, with the launch of a new group.

The Young People’s Board for Change has been launched to give young people the chance to shape and influence the work of the UK’s leading child protection charity – and is a vital part of the NSPCC’s commitment to ensuring they are right at the heart of its decision making.

The charity has recruited 15 young people aged between 13 and 16 from across the UK, including Rachel from Angus, to represent the views of children and young people and help to shape the work of the NSPCC across the UK.

Members are from across the UK and have a range of backgrounds, with many having active roles in their local communities and doing a range of work to help others.

They will use the platform to raise awareness of what matters most to young people, take action and make change happen – while also having a key role advising staff and trustees.

The pandemic has had a huge impact on young people, with the NSPCC’s Childline service carrying out more than 61,000 counselling sessions on mental health since the start of the first lockdown in March last year.

But as we look to the future, the NSPCC believes it is vital that their voices are represented. The charity is calling for governments across the UK to put young people at the centre of its recovery plans – and as part of this, their views and experiences of the last year must be listened to.

Board members will take part in new experiences and opportunities, meet other young people, as well as develop confidence and learn life-long new skills, such as campaigning and public speaking.

Over a two-year period, members will be involved in sharing what’s important to them, take part in residentials, meetings and workshops, and campaign to share their views and opinions.

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 30) they met virtually for the first time – and members say they are excited about getting started in their new roles.

They are also keen to talk about the impact of the last year and what needs to be done to support young people in the coming months.

Board member Rachel, aged 14, said: “I know the last year been beyond difficult for so many people, but lockdown helped me realise what is important to me.

“I got so many opportunities to do amazing things in 2020 – I presented to the NSPCC virtual Annual Council Meeting, I helped to launch the ‘think b4 you type’ initiative and was asked to give interviews on radio and TV!

“Working with the Angus Youth Advisory Group on the ‘think b4 you type’ initiative, which resulted in our council changing the anti-bullying policy, reinforced my belief that we, as young people can make a difference and change things. We have a lot of really important opinions and solutions – we just need help and support to be heard and, and to a certain extent, be taken seriously.

“I’d love to take the things I’ve learned from this advisory group to a bigger platform and make a difference for young people outside my local area and think that this board is a perfect opportunity to be able to do that.

“When the Covid crisis has passed, I’m really looking forward to getting back to circus school. After school, I hope to go to university to study law, specialising in children’s rights. Beyond that – I don’t think there has ever been a Prime Minister who can perform circus skills routines, so maybe it’s time for that to happen!”

Recently, the NSPCC appointed Ife Grillo, 22, and Sheanna Patelmaster, 24, as trustees with a specialist focus on working with and supporting the Young People’s Board for Change. The recruitment of the board is the next stage of an important journey to better represent young people’s views and include them in the charity’s work.

Lucy Read, NSPCC Associate Head of Participation, said: “The last year has changed the lives of many young people across the UK but, as we now look to the future, the new members of our Young People’s Board for Change have a great opportunity to make their voices heard.

“We received over 300 applications from young people to join the board and during recruitment, I was impressed by the genuine passion young people had for the NSPCC’s work and a commitment to get involved and make a difference.

“We believe that a generation of young people should not be defined by the pandemic, so it has never been more important to listen to them and embed their views into everything we do. Children are the experts on their own lives, and there is so much that we can learn from their experiences.”

Safety First: New safety signage on Portobello beach

Police Scotland is working with the The City of Edinburgh Council and Maritime and Coastguard Agency to help make Portobello Beach safer for all.

This week, the Council will install new numbered signs on the top of the existing groyne beach defences at Portobello Beach.

In an emergency, direct experience tells us roads signs cannot be easily seen from the beach so the new signs will be much more visible, improving safety.

They measure approx. 600mm high and 450mm wide.

Numbered 1 to 6, the emergency services can use these numbered signs to plot your location in an emergency (see map).

Marker 1 – Pipe Lane
Marker 2 – Bath Street
Marker 3 – Bellfield Street
Marker 4 – John Street
Marker 5 – Bedford Terrace
Marker 6 – End of promenade at Joppa Road

Police will continue working with our partners as the year continues at Portobello.

In a coastal emergency, please dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Edinburgh businesses urged to apply for £4k Discretionary Grant

Eligible Edinburgh businesses who have seen a minimum 20% shortfall in their income as a result of Covid-19 restrictions since the start of the pandemic can now apply for a one-off £4,000 grants.

The City of Edinburgh Council has been awarded just over £10 million in the second tranche of Discretionary Grant funding and applications are open on the Council’s website.

This fund is aimed at reaching businesses who have otherwise ‘slipped through the cracks’ in terms of funding initiatives, meaning those who have not already been eligible for other financial support from central government since October (other than the furlough scheme, the self-employed income support scheme or the newly self-employed hardship fund).

To apply for a £4,000 grant, businesses must submit a self-declaration of their business’s income in January and February 2020 as well as January and February 2021. A 20% decrease in the average income over the two time periods will be required in order to be eligible.

In addition, businesses with employees that have successfully applied for Discretionary Grant funding, either in this or the earlier tranche in February, will have access to extra funding specifically to help them retain their staff. This will be applied through a tiered approach, depending on the number of people they employ, and for those businesses with employees on PAYE (not owners, directors or partners).

Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “This year has been incredibly difficult for businesses in our city, and we know how hard people have had to work to keep going. We now have £10 million available to help businesses in Edinburgh and we just want to get the funds out to them as quickly as possible.

“We want to make sure nobody’s missing their chance at accessing financial support so I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t already applied to visit the application page on our website, check the eligibility criteria, and apply today.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Vice Convener said: “We know businesses have been hit desperately hard in this pandemic and it’s crucial that we’re able to get this funding into the accounts of everyone who’s eligible and who hasn’t been able to access previous schemes due to not meeting the criteria. Please apply today and let us give you the money you’re entitled to.“

Yesterday’s launch of online applications marks the second phase of Discretionary Fund awards in 2021.

On 3 February, the Council invited applications for grants from the first tranche of Discretionary Funding allocated to the city, totalling just under £2.8m.

At that stage, grants were for £2,000 and aimed at businesses that could show a significant drop in income due to Covid restrictions introduced since October. Any businesses who successfully applied for this amount earlier in the year will now have this sum topped up to £4,000 to bring them in line with recipients in this second round of funding. They do not need to reapply.

During the first tranche the criteria was initially set at a 30% income loss, however this was later revised to 20% following ongoing dialogue with businesses. It is hoped more businesses will apply and enable themselves to benefit from funding in this second round in light of the revised income reduction threshold.

Applications will be open for a period of four weeks, or until all the funding has been allocated, and will be processed in the order they are received.

Semichem to close up to 22 stores

140 staff enter consultation process
Corstorphine and Wester Hailes stores set to close

Health and household goods retailer Semichem is consulting on the closure of up to 22 stores across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East of England. Edinburgh Semichem stores at Corstorphine and Wester Hailes are among those earmarked for closure.

Stores in Musselburgh and Dalkeith also face closure.

The closures have been prompted by ongoing challenges to high street trading, which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The business, which is owned by community retailer Scotmid Co-operative, is in talks with landlords in several locations and will make a final decision on a small number of the 22 stores in the coming months.

A total of 140 Semichem staff have now entered a formal consultation process. Management at Scotmid are exploring opportunities to redeploy as many as possible within its wider business.

Karen Scott, Head of Semichem, said: “The high street was already struggling to adapt to the pace of change in shopping habits, including out-of-town developments and the rise of internet shopping.

“That change has undoubtedly been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sadly, we have reached the point where it is no longer viable to keep some of our stores open.

“We are grateful for both Scotmid and subsequent government support, which has undoubtedly prolonged the life of many stores.

“Our priority now is to support affected colleagues at this difficult time. We are already looking for redeployment opportunities within the Scotmid group and will help all our staff both personally and professionally.”

Semichem was founded in 1980 and became part of Scotmid Co-operative in 1995. It currently operates 86 stores in shopping centres and on high streets across Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North East of England. Over the last three years, Semichem has invested £2.2 million in refitting stores and trialling a range of new retail concepts.

Karen Scott added: “The remaining stores in our Semichem portfolio are trading satisfactorily given the current circumstances.

“Like many other retailers, we are hopeful that, as restrictions ease, footfall will return to our high streets. I am also pleased to say that our investment programme will resume in the summer.”

“Honest Politics for Real People by Real People”

Renew Scotland launches Scottish Election campaign

Renew Scotland has launched its campaign for the Scottish Parliament election in May 2021 and unveiled its initial set of candidates who will stand on the regional lists.

“Renew Scotland aims to give the people of Scotland the choice of a different path, one that will lead to political reform, consequences for politicians who break the rules, elected officials that put the needs of their constituents first and a raft of policies that put Scotland’s people and their needs at the heart of government,” said Renew Scotland’s Joint Leader, Heather Astbury.

“Scotland has been governed by the SNP since 2007, 14 years, and in that time, they have failed to improve the lives of Scots in the crucial devolved issues that they have been responsible for.

“As a reminder, the issues that are devolved to the Scottish Parliament are the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation. The power to set a Scottish rate of income tax has also been added recently.

“The latest statistics show that Scots now have the lowest life expectancy of any country in Western Europe and lower than many in Eastern Europe, with the causes being linked to poverty and deprivation.”

Renew was set up in 2017 by a group of people disillusioned by the current state of British politics. The party has fielded candidates in some local council elections, the EU Parliament election in 2019, the 2019 General Election in 2019 and several by-elections. Renew now has elected Councillors and a growing grassroots support base.

Not funded by large corporations, overseas donors, trades unions or lobby groups, but by its membership, Renew Scotland believes it can genuinely represent the people.

Bruce Henderson, Joint Leader of Renew Scotland, explained: “We have no party whip system, and we are not funded by any group with an agenda to push, so we can propose the policies we believe will benefit our constituents and fight for what is best for them and for Scotland.

“We believe strongly in the need for a criminal code that politicians and elected officials are subject to. The ongoing destruction of the moral code of people in public office is becoming normalised and we must put an end to it.

“People in positions of responsibility, such as elected officials, must be held to a higher standard than the rest of society, not use their power and influence to break or bend the rules for their own personal gain.

“The rise of poverty in Scotland has also become normalised and this is a disgrace. We seem to accept that older people will die in winter because they can’t afford to heat their homes properly; that children will go to school hungry because their families can’t afford to feed them.

“This needs to stop. We are a relatively rich country and yet we have levels of poverty that should be a national embarrassment. Renew Scotland will work to end poverty in Scotland; not just child poverty or fuel poverty but all poverty.”

Renew Scotland supports the right of the Scottish people to decide their future and would support calls for a second referendum on Independence if that was the will of the people.

Bruce Henderson added: “Much has changed since the 2014 referendum, especially Brexit, and what the people voted for then, to remain in the UK and the EU, is no longer an option. However, we don’t believe it should be just a binary yes or no, in or out Brexit-style question.

“If Independence is chosen as the path the people of Scotland want to go down, then we need to spend time working out what that path would lead to. We need an agreement from the rest of the UK about our continued relationship and we need to reach an agreement with the EU.

“We need a blueprint for how our finances and currency would work and we need to have a realistic view on what impact becoming independent would have on the people of Scotland. Once all of that is clear, then it needs to go back to the people of Scotland for a confirmatory vote before any final decision is taken.

“Without that we are voting based on assumptions and potentially misleading information from people or groups with vested interests. The future of Scotland and its people is too important to be used as a political football.”

Renew Scotland is working with Volt Scotland in this election and is fielding candidates on the regional lists as follows:

Glasgow

Ben Meechan

Andrea Kozlowski, Volt Scotland, standing for Renew Scotland

West of Scotland

Peter Morton

North East Scotland

Colin McFadyen

Mid Scotland & Fife

Bruce Henderson

Stefan Diesing, Volt Scotland, standing for Renew Scotland

Lothian

Heather Astbury

Anna Freemantle-Zee

Small steps make a big difference

AS NHS 24 prepares for the busy Easter holiday, people across Scotland are being encouraged to take small steps to make a big difference to their health.

NHS services are often busy during public holidays and local services may be operating slightly differently so it’s a good idea to plan ahead for common illnesses and minor accidents which can be managed at home.

NHS 24’s 111 service is usually busy during the long weekend, with a lot of calls about medicines and common ailments.

NHS 24’s Medical Director, Dr Laura Ryan said: “It’s always good to be able to manage common illnesses, and it’s especially important this year. Having pain killers at home such as paracetamol and ibuprofen means you can quickly and easily manage symptoms.

“If you’re got wee ones at home a first aid kit is handy and our first aid pages on NHS Inform can advise what to do if anyone is unlucky enough to have an injury- they cover everything from burns and scalds to bumps and scrapes.

“Our 111 service gets a lot of calls about medicines so it’s worth remembering that your local pharmacist can help with much more than prescriptions, they can offer advice, treatment or further referral if required.

“COVID-19 guidelines are still in place, and all up to date information- including how to book a test, guidance on isolation, and info on the vaccination process, is available at www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus.

“We’re all crossing our fingers for a sunny Easter, and some simple steps mean you can relax and enjoy the holiday.”

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/easter.

GMB tells Scottish Government to go further on NHS pay as rejection recommended

GMB workplace representatives in NHS Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service will recommend its members vote to reject the Scottish Government’s pay offer when a consultative ballot is launched next month.

The recommendation to reject comes ahead of a public demonstration by NHS nurses and staff later today at George Square, Glasgow, against the Scottish Government’s pay offer for 2021-22.

GMB Scotland will launch a consultative ballot of its entire NHS Scotland and Scottish Ambulance Service membership from Monday 12 April, which will run until 12.00 hours on Wednesday 5 May.

GMB Scotland Organiser Karen Leonard said: “The offer doesn’t value our members properly, it doesn’t restore the pay they’ve lost after a decade of cuts, and it doesn’t secure their future. That’s why are recommending its rejection.

“We see this pay offer for what it is: a pre-election punt by an outgoing Health Secretary that looks better than it really is when put up against the insulting 1 per cent increase for our NHS colleagues in England.

“It’s been a wretched year for our NHS workers and the COVID-19 pandemic has not only pushed them beyond their limits, but it’s also exposed the many underlying problems in our NHS because of its managed political decline over the last ten years.

“After all the applause, we strongly believe the Scottish Government can and should go further on our members’ pay, and it’s the least Ministers can do after everything our NHS staff have done for all of us.”

Sunday parking restrictions to be introduced next month

Changes to some parking restrictions will come into force in Edinburgh from Sunday, 11 April.

The city council is introducing Sunday afternoon parking restrictions in the city centre, as well as rolling out shared use parking bays across the city, meaning either permit holders or pay and display customers can use the same spaces.

Sunday parking charges recognise the fact that, under normal circumstances, Edinburgh is now a seven-day city, with many shops, restaurants and visitor attractions open throughout the week.

New controls, in place from 12.30pm to 6.30pm every Sunday, will help us manage the way people park, which can restrict traffic movement, impact on the ability to service shops and businesses and, most importantly, pose a safety risk to other road users. The changes will bring us in line with many other UK cities which already charge for Sunday parking, including Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.

Shared use parking, which is being introduced in Controlled Parking Zones one to eight, increases accessibility to parking spaces for both residents and visitors, allowing for more flexibility. This has also allowed us to introduce visitor parking permits to these zones, making it easier for people to visit residents.

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “These updated controls are about improving conditions in the city centre, creating a safer environment and tackling inconsiderate parking, as well as providing greater flexibility for residents to park nearer their homes.

“Under normal circumstances, there is no doubt Edinburgh is a seven-day city, and we simply must address this as restrictions begin to be lifted and people return to the centre for shopping and socialising.

“We want to support businesses to recover from the COVID pandemic and greater parking controls on a Sunday will encourage customer turnover, allow more access for servicing and create a more pleasant atmosphere for everyone.

“The Parking Action Plan was developed with the city’s residents in mind, and measures like shared use parking will provide greater flexibility and the opportunity to park closer to home for many permit-holders.

“Along with Sunday parking controls, these changes are central to our broader ambitions to manage demand and rethink the way people move around Edinburgh.”

The new controls are being introduced as part of the Parking Action Plan, which was approved by Transport and Environment Committee in 2016. The plan is key to realising our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 and supports the City Mobility Plan, a ten-year strategy to rethink the way people and goods move in and around the city, reducing the dominance of traffic and creating streets and spaces for people.

Parking initiatives will help reduce car use and congestion, improve safety and air quality and encourage walking, cycling and public transport use.

Controls will help people with mobility impairments, both those who rely on public transport (which is often impeded by poor parking) and blue badge holders, who can be impacted by unrestricted parking leading to fewer available spaces. We also want to provide better flexibility and deliver best value for residents.

Sunday parking restrictions will cover Controlled Parking Zones one to four, incorporating city centre streets like George Street, Castle Terrace and Chambers Street. Shared use parking will also be implemented here, as well as zones five to eight, which includes areas of the city such as Stockbridge, New Town, Newington and Bruntsfield.

Find out more about the changes and the Parking Action Plan on the Council website.

Purchasing for public good could generate billions for disadvantaged communities

Public bodies and housing associations are being urged to use their purchasing power to tackle inequality within local communities in a new guide published today Monday, March 29th 2021 by the BetterForUs campaign 2020-4.

‘Procurement for Community Public Good’ provides a route map to how commissioners and communities can collaborate to deliver change across the UK through the adoption of fair procurement principles.

The Guide highlights how authorities can make use of existing laws to tackle disadvantage. It also pinpoints the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals in developing coherence and consistency in delivering public value commissioning across the UK.

The Guide is published in advance of BetterForUs research which shows that commissioners are not effectively making use of existing powers within current procurement law.

Regulation 20 of the Public Contracts Regulation 2015 and Regulation 21 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations provide that commissioning bodies can reserve contracts for positive action programmes and organisations that tackle disadvantage.

Between 2015 – 2020 only eight organisations chose to make use of such provision, with Scotland and Wales leading the way and England and Northern Ireland falling behind.

The UK government is currently reviewing procurement law which is a devolved matter in the UK and the BetterForUs Campaign is urging it to retain positive action programmes as an integral part of levelling up.

Katharine Sutton, Director of BetterForUs said today: “Lack of investment in the everyday economy is leading to neglected communities and widening inequalities within the community.

“Public commissioners can help shape local markets and connect them to the needs of people thereby strengthening public services and building community resilience.

“If only one percent of the procurement spend in the UK was reserved for positive action employment programmes this would generate £2.9 billion for local communities.

“Now is the time for public authorities and housing associations to maximise their public spend by providing sustainable employment with fair pay and conditions where people are treated with respect.”

Calor offers £85,000 in grants and kickstarts search for Rural Hero of the Year

Leading off-grid energy supplier, Calor, has launched a nationwide search for the very best rural community projects, with £85,000 in grants up for grabs.

The Warwickshire-based firm is also launching an exciting new award, the Rural Hero of The Year, which will celebrate those who have gone the extra mile for others during the pandemic.

Designed to provide a helping hand and much-needed funding across the UK to rural community groups who aren’t connected to the mains gas grid, the 2021 Calor Rural Community Fund launched on Wednesday 10th March and entries are open until Wednesday 21st April.

This past year, communities have had to support each other from a distance like never before and in recognition of this, Calor has also launched its Rural Hero of the Year Award so that special individuals could be recognised for the great community work they’ve done.

The award is a separate category within the Rural Community Fund, where people can nominate themselves or someone in their local community who went above and beyond to help others during 2020.

That could be a neighbour who provided Zoom story-telling classes for children in the local village, someone who did the food shopping for the elderly neighbours in their area, or any other deserving initiatives throughout the pandemic that shows how an individual helped their local community out in some way. Entries are open from Wednesday 10th March until Wednesday 23rd June.

The winner of the Rural Hero of the Year award will be presented with a commemorative trophy and special prize from Calor recognising their outstanding contribution to community spirit in 2020.

Andy Parker, Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Calor, said: “We’re passionate about engaging with and helping rural communities across the UK. Through the Rural Community Fund we are incredibly proud to have been able to support 214 projects with over £460,000 generated through donations and Calor contributions over the last four years.

“This funding is absolutely vital to these projects and it’s been incredible to see these grants bring to life everything from local football teams’ new facilities to outdoor learning centres for primary schools.

“We understand that this past year has been particularly hard which is why we wanted to recognise those individuals who have put their heart and soul into helping others.

“It’s one of the many reasons we launched our Rural Hero of the Year category which will celebrate those who have gone above and beyond to help their community throughout the pandemic. We’re incredibly excited to see all of the entries for this and the Rural Community Fund, over the coming months.”

The Calor Rural Community Fund gives applicants the chance to win funding of £1,000, £2,500 or £5,000 for anything from vital renovations and upgrades to public facilities, through to new equipment for children’s groups in often remote areas of the country.

Applicants for the fund will be listed on the Calor Rural Community Fund website and then encouraged to share their project through social media to gain points. Those projects with the highest number of points in each funding category will become shortlisted finalists, and will be reviewed by a Calor Committee before being announced as Finalists.

To find out more about the Calor Rural Community Fund and the Rural Hero of The Year award, as well as more detail on how to enter and get involved, head to communityfund.calor.co.uk.