Foster with Edinburgh is launching a new a recruitment campaign to find more foster carers for children from minority ethnic backgrounds.
The organisation is looking for host family foster carers for unaccompanied young people arriving in Edinburgh escaping the trauma of war and persecution.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the need for foster carers who have the skills, knowledge and cultural awareness to support them.
As well as a digital advertising and radio campaign, the foster team will be linking in with mosques, universities, cultural and voluntary overseas organisations to spread the word.
A series of events will start with a stall at the Asda superstore in Chesser tomorrow (Thursday 20 April) where anyone who wants to find out more can pop along from 11am until 2pm and meet the team.
Edinburgh has a number of children from minority ethnic backgrounds and unaccompanied migrants between 16 – 21 who require support.
Research highlights where possible children who require foster care should be matched with families who can reflect and promote their ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identities, as well as navigate discrimination.
There is currently a national shortage of approved foster carers, so matching children with carers who will best suit their needs is an ongoing challenge.
We are therefore keen to recruit foster carers from a range of diverse groups. As our host family foster carers support unaccompanied migrants age 16 plus, they can still work. A large part of their role is supporting our young people in coming to terms with their experiences, promoting their learning within a new country and helping prepare them for independence.
Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, explains more about the campaign and its importance. She said: “We have a number of children and young people from minority ethnic backgrounds who desperately need homes as they are unaccompanied migrants seeking asylum in the UK or may have been trafficked.
“We urgently need foster carers who can support these young people to feel safe, nurtured and cared for.
“Our foster carers come from all different backgrounds, but we know that young people from minority ethnic backgrounds face additional challenges and need understanding in relation to the impact of racism and of growing up in a society where their culture and heritage is different.
“I would encourage anyone who might be interested in taking up this amazing opportunity to change a young person’s life for the better to come along to one of our public events or contact us at fosterchildren@edinburgh.gov.uk.”
Foster carers are supported by way of a fostering fee to reflect the care they are providing, along with a maintenance allowance to cover a child or young person’s expenses while in their care. They also get full training and ongoing support from an allocated social worker to develop the skills and knowledge needed to foster.
Foster carers need time, space (physical and emotional), a sense of fun, patience, and commitment. They also need to have a spare room, be able to work confidently with others and take part in meetings in English. It’s also important to be able to support children and young people becoming part of a new culture who may have issues relating to their immigration status.
There are two further events planned at Asda Chesser on Tuesday 16 May and Friday 26 May which both tie in with Foster Care Fortnight.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a speech at Queen’s University in Belfast on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement
The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement will always be remembered as one of the most extraordinary political achievements of our lifetimes.
Because step by step, faltering at first, people on all sides began to do things that were once unthinkable, in the search for peace.
But you don’t need me to tell you that because many of you in this room created it.
It is humbling to be with you today.
And with the people of Northern Ireland, who have endured so much.
After three long decades where violence and terror were part of everyday life…
…a generation has grown up in a place that is vastly more peaceful, more prosperous, and more at ease with itself.
Of course, we meet here today in circumstances that are far from perfect.
But my argument today is this: the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement remains the best and only foundation for peace and prosperity.
And if we can take inspiration and instruction from the way peace was achieved 25 years ago… we can fulfil the true promise enshrined in that Agreement.
The promise of: Stable devolved government. A prosperous economy. And a more united society.
That’s the future for Northern Ireland we must build.
Now to do that, we must first ask why.
Why did peace talks succeed in 1998 when so many failed before?
I believe that’s because people on all sides showed courage, imagination, and perseverance.
First, those who worked for peace had the personal courage to keep going in spite of daily threats to them and their families.
And the political courage to take risks in pursuit of a higher goal.
John Hume, over his entire career, never relented in his insistence on non-violence.
David Trimble took enormous risks to do what he thought was right for the union.
And they were rightly honoured as the preeminent architects of peace, with a joint Nobel peace prize.
Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness persuaded Republicans to join a constitutional, power-sharing Assembly.
And, encouraged by the intensive efforts of Mo Mowlam, the leaders of loyalism also lent their weight behind the deal.
Female leaders from the Women for Peace and the Women’s Coalition worked so hard for peace.
And Bertie Ahern showed the wisdom and statecraft to see the historic opportunity.
At a critical moment, he recognised unionist concerns over the proposed North-South arrangements and stepped back.
Trimble himself, in his last public appearance, at this university, just weeks before he passed away…
… embraced his old counterpart and thanked Bertie for giving him the space to act.
These acts of courage were more powerful than a thousand bombs and bullets.
Because there is nothing glamorous about violence.
There is nothing glorious about terror.
Squalid acts are always justified with some false dream about what they will achieve.
But they have never worked – and they never will.
Instead, let us glorify moderation; romanticise respect; and make heroes of those with the courage to reject absolutes, not kill for them.
Second, making peace required leaps of imagination.
To conceive of a system for sharing power between traditions.
To design an agreement with three strands of equal importance…
To enshrine the principle of consent – so that Northern Ireland remains a part of the United Kingdom for as long as its people wish…
…while protecting the aspirations of those who seek a different future through peaceful means.
And for the first time…
…the people of North and South were both given the opportunity to support this deal…
…and they did so, in overwhelming majorities.
And let us never forget the crucial work after 1998 to build a broader consensus – helped by the leadership of Dr Ian Paisley.
Third, the peace took extraordinary perseverance.
In the aftermath of the Shankill bomb and Greysteel massacre in 1993, many thought the peace process was over…
…but just two months later John Major and Albert Reynolds delivered the Downing Street Declaration.
George Mitchell persuaded all parties to sign up to the principles of democracy and non-violence, without which the talks could not have begun.
In the difficult final hours, President Clinton’s timely interventions helped get the deal done.
And whenever people walked away, Tony Blair sought to bring them back…
…always committed, always attuned to the concerns of all parts of the community.
Together with Bertie Ahern, he showed us what’s possible when the UK and Irish governments work together…
…a partnership I know will continue alongside my friend, Leo Varadkar.
And in the spirit of perseverance, it’s also fitting to recognise the contribution of the security forces.
Like my predecessors, I acknowledge that at times they made mistakes.
But we must also recognise their bravery, suffering, and sacrifice – and that of the police.
Without their courageous service, there would have been no peace process at all.
They created the conditions that ultimately allowed their own presence on the streets to be reduced or entirely withdrawn.
So: courage, imagination, and perseverance. hose qualities brought an imperfect but enduring peace to a place taught to believe no such peace was possible.
So to all those who led us to that peace… including those here in this hall and those no longer with us… …let us take this moment to say to you: Thank you.
For those of us, like me, who inherit this extraordinary, even intimidating legacy…
…our challenge today is to fulfil the promise of the work that you began.
To honour your legacy, we need to create a more stable devolved government in Northern Ireland.
And that means getting the institutions up and running.
I believe there are two tasks.
First, to remove the biggest block to the institutions returning.
That’s why, when I came into office, I made it a priority to fix the Northern Ireland Protocol.
And we were deeply conscious of the lessons of history as we did so.
That’s why our aims were to:
Balance and respect the aspirations of all parts of the community.
Protect the relationships between East and West as much as North and South.
And persist through careful, detailed negotiation.
And I pay tribute to Ursula von der Leyen who I am so pleased to see here today.
The Windsor Framework is a breakthrough moment.
It solves practical problems and, crucially, strengthens Northern Ireland’s place in our Union and our UK internal market.
It gives the Assembly significant new powers – ready for when it sits again.
And I am confident we can build broad support for it across all communities.
So I share people’s frustration that the institutions are not back up and running.
But that points to our second task.
We must keep working to persuade all parts of the community that returning to the institutions is the best path.
And we will do that.
We will talk, we will listen, we will try to persuade – and we will not give up.
And I want to speak directly for a moment to the representatives of unionism…
…who include many diverse voices and whose concerns with the Protocol we have focused on addressing.
I urge you to work with us to get Stormont up and running again.
That’s the right thing to do on its own terms.
And I’m convinced that it’s also the right thing to do for our union.
I am a proud unionist.
We believe passionately that Northern Ireland is stronger within the UK…
…and the UK is stronger with Northern Ireland within it.
But we must also build support beyond those of us who already identify as unionists.
To do that, we have to show that devolved government within the United Kingdom works for Northern Ireland.
The fact that the institutions have been down for nine of the last 25 years should be a source of profound concern.
Over the long term that will not bolster the cause of unionism – I believe that deeply.
So we need to get the institutions up and running – and keep them up and running.
And let me also say to those who would seek to reform the institutions right now: I understand your frustrations.
But history reminds us that nothing in Northern Ireland has ever been achieved by trying to get round one community or another.
So any conversation about reform can only begin once the institutions are up and running again…
…and if it attracts widespread consent.
The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement left us an extraordinary and precious legacy.
When we look back in 25 years from now…
…surely we should aspire for our legacy to be nothing less than this:
That the institutions have been up and running for every single year.
Because our focus must be on the future.
Getting the institutions back up and running is our most pressing challenge to honour your legacy.
But that’s only the beginning.
Together we must fulfil the true promise of the 1998 Agreement.
That future enshrined in the very words of the text – of “sustained economic growth”, and where we tackle the problems of “a divided society”.
I will give everything to help deliver that vision.
Because I talked earlier about learning the lessons from history.
One thing I took from George Mitchell is the idea that the agreement itself is only 20% of the task – the rest is delivery.
Once the Agreement was done, people asked of Tony Blair: Would he walk away?
He didn’t.
And neither will I.
Because there is work to be done.
So let me tell you what I’m going to do.
First, economic growth.
Progress has been remarkable – in April 1998, Northern Ireland had the highest unemployment rate in the UK.
Today – it’s the second lowest.
But we need to do more.
In 25 years, when we look back, I want to see that Northern Ireland has changed.
From an economy too reliant on the public sector…
To a thriving, dynamic economy built around the power and innovation of private enterprise.
I talk a lot about the idea of levelling up.
About making sure young people feel they can fulfil their dreams and aspirations in the place they call home.
That idea has particular resonance here in Northern Ireland.
And we won’t achieve it without a cascade of new investment – to create jobs and opportunity.
That journey has already begun.
Last week, President Biden came – and told the world to invest here.
He didn’t say that out of sentimentality.
He said it because he can see the opportunity for American businesses.
And because of the enormous potential of this place.
The potential of the people – resilient, ingenious, determined.
The potential of your businesses…
…with world-class strengths in cyber, life sciences, financial services, and the creative industries.
And one of Europe’s most thriving start-up scenes.
I know that journey to prosperity won’t be easy – and we aren’t there yet.
But this is my commitment to you:
I will use the full force of the UK Government…
…to help you make this one of the best places in the world…
…to start and grow a business, create jobs…
…train and learn new skills…
…and attract investment.
And just as we want to look back on a more prosperous, dynamic economy…
…so in 25 years, I also want us to look back on a more integrated and contented society.
Of course, we cannot simply wish away those social realities that have been present for decades.
The tragic loss of Lyra McKee and the attack on DCI John Caldwell remind us how far we still have to go.
But people are already voting with their feet in the choices they make for their children’s education and their social and sporting lives.
A growing body of the electorate does not define themselves solely as Unionist or Nationalist, British or Irish.
A growing portion of people sample life in a different part of these islands but still return.
And a growing number of local communities are signalling that their patience with thuggery is over.
But there’s yet more to do.
In 25 years’, should not the poisonous grip of the paramilitaries… those gangsters and drug dealers who wrap themselves in the fake cloak of legitimacy… be broken once and for all?
In 25 years’, should not a fragment of a peace wall be nothing more than a stop on the tourist trail?
In 25 years’, should integrated education not be the norm rather than the exception?
Of course, we won’t build that better future overnight. And it won’t be easy.
Every time I visit Northern Ireland, I feel more optimistic and hopeful.
Because to paraphrase the late David Trimble…
…there may be hills ahead of us, but there are mountains behind.
I want to close by reflecting on an extraordinary story.
Just weeks before the agreement, two lifelong friends, Damien Trainor and Philip Allen, were murdered at Poyntzpass.
One was a Protestant, the other Catholic.
The people who murdered them may have hoped to sow chaos and division and derail the peace talks.
They failed.
Because the story of this remarkable friendship inspired one of the most decisive breakthroughs of the whole peace process…
…the agreement to share power between equal first and deputy first ministers, in a co-premiership, with one from each community.
As Mark Durkan, the SDLP’s lead negotiator, said at the time: “The stories of Philip and Damien’s special friendship… could be a parable for the sort of society that we might create if we could reach agreement”.
And he was right.
That is the promise of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
Deputy First Minister outlines priorities for sustainable growth
Fair work and more efficient public services will be at the heart of Scotland’s economy, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison pledged today.
Plans to deliver real benefits to the people of Scotland through a strong, green economy, underpinned by the most progressive tax system in the UK, are outlined in the Scottish Government’s Portfolio Prospectus which pledges firm actions to be achieved by 2026.
These include:
creating the UK’s most progressive tax system to deliver public services, tackle poverty and grow the wellbeing economy
increasing the number of workers earning at least the real living wage, while narrowing the gender pay gap
making Scotland a leading European start-up nation, in which more businesses are created and grow to scale
growing international exports while diversifying into new markets
laying foundations to produce 5 Gigawatts (GW) of hydrogen production by 2030, as part of a Scottish hydrogen supply chain
implementing a New Deal for Local Government, including a fiscal framework, to tackle collective challenges and improve outcomes
The Deputy First Minister was joined by Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray on a visit to Dear Green Coffee Roasters in Glasgow – a company based on fair work principles and sustainability which embodies the vision for a wellbeing economy.
Ms Robison said: “The Scottish Government’s Policy Prospectus lays out the practical measures we will take to transform the economy, deepen our relationship with business and maximise the value of our public spending.
“Developing a wellbeing economy is not just good social practice, it makes sound economic sense. By focusing on strong public services, we can help disabled people, the long-term sick and those with caring responsibilities to get back into work. While paying a fair wage, and reducing the gender pay gap, can produce a committed workforce which in turn will help increase productivity and improve staff retention.
“We will work in partnership with local government to update the way it is financed and improve collaboration. Underpinning this will be stable, sustainable public finances delivering people-focused public services and supporting Scotland’s net-zero goals.
“Our resources will be focused where they can have the maximum impact, such as laying the foundations of a hydrogen supply chain and supporting internationally competitive green technologies, health and life sciences and advanced manufacturing.”
The Scottish Government’s Policy Prospectus is based on three missions: equality, opportunity and community.
It’s been revealed this week that it is taking up to EIGHTEEN MONTHS for some potholes to be repaired
Louise Thomas, car insurance expert at Confused.com, comments: “It’s common to see potholes this time of year, as cold weather and rainfall cause damage to roads. Potholes can be dangerous for road users, which is why it’s so important to report them if spotted.
“Our latest research reveals that almost 1 in 4 (23%) drivers have had their cars damaged because of a pothole. And the damage has costed £174, on average, for drivers to fix or repair.
“With rising motoring costs a continuous challenge in the current climate, potholes can be a costly annoyance. But drivers can make a claim, which could help to reduce how much they’re paying out themselves.
“To make a claim, drivers should:
1. Check for damage and gather evidence with clear photos or videos
2. Report the pothole to the local council
3. Ask a mechanic to confirm the damage and get a quote for the repair
4. Submit the claim to your insurer
“Our tips on how to make a pothole claim can help drivers through the claims process, so that they could potentially receive compensation for the damage caused.”
Residents and staff at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh enjoyed celebrating the Grand National last week when the released their own Strachan House sprinters, which joined in a fitness session on Friday 14th April.
Sadly despite our residents putting them through their paces our horses never made it to the big one on Saturday!
Residents and staff got together to watch the races, and celebrated in style by having an afternoon of fitness and music which entailed not only two race horses joining us but a good old friend Mr T Rex. Mr T Rex is also a firm favourite with the residents and has made a few guest appearances in the past. As always it was hilarity from start to finish.
Mandy Head of Activities said “we are always finding different fun ways to keep our residents active and engaged and this was certainly a fun way to end the week. Everyone wanted a sneaky dance with Mr Rex not to mention the fun exercise session that our horses demonstrated.
!Sometimes you just have to have some out right fun and laughter and this afternoon certainly had everyone jumping for joy!”
Gordon Philp, General Manager at the home, said: “We’ve had a fantastic time celebrating Aintree’s Ladies Day, it is such a great session and we all had fun cheering on the horses and jockeys as they joined in the getting fit with the residents – although that Mr Rex was eyeing up one of horses as a tasty snack!”
Moira Ingram, a resident at the home, commented: “I love the staff when they dress up, it is such a fantastic spectacle and I’m sure the laughter could been heard in the streets.
“I haven’t got a clue about horse racing, but it certainly was comical to watch!”
The varied life enrichment programme at Strachan House keeps residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
Edinburgh Restaurant Named Venue in AA Restaurant Guide 2023
Award-winning Italian restaurant Divino has just been named a top destination in the prestigious AA Restaurant Guide 2023.
There are some great events happening at Divino this month, all offer a unique night out and a fun way to get together with friends or family and enjoy great food and wine without the need for a special occasion to celebrate!
Veneto Regional Menu Nights – April 20th and 27th – Chef Andrea has developed a three-course menu with canapés, mains and petit fours for £39 celebrating the northern region known for its fresh seafood and famous cicchetti. Guests can add paired wines for an additional £26.
Sardinia Wine Night – April 30th – Featuring 5 fabulous wines from the island of Sardinia paired with matching canapes, guests at Divino will experience the rich & complex flavours of the region for just £25 beginning at 5pm.
Wednesday Jazz Nights – Every single Wednesday, enjoy live jazz from 7:30pm onwards, the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine and good company.
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has today announced the fifth Ignite Fellowship awardees – including Edinburgh-based author Tim Tim Cheng.
The Ignite Fellowship supports established writers embarking on a significant project. The Fellows receive a £2,000 bursary and tailored creative support to suit their individual projects.
Gail Anderson, (above) based in North Ayrshire, and Gaelic writer Rody Gorman, based on Skye (below), have also been awarded Ignite Fellowships this year.
Tim Tim Cheng is a poet and teacher from Hong Kong, whose writing explores womanhood, multilingualism and psycho-geography.
Her debut pamphlet Tapping at Glass was published by Verve Poetry Press earlier this year, and she also co-edited an anthology of Hong Kong poetry, Where Else, coming out with the press on 27 April.
Tim Tim Cheng will use the Ignite Fellowship to work on her forthcoming debut collection, inspired by her time in Scotland.
Tim Tim Cheng (above) said:‘I am so grateful for the award. I am working on my first full poetry collection as I try to settle down as a new immigrant.
“The support will surely help me focus on making the book better!
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Congratulations to our three new Ignite Fellows, who are very deserving of this award.
“The Ignite Fellowship provides writers with essential mentoring, financial assistance and practical support that will help them reach new heights in their careers.’
The UK workforce expanded in the three months to February, driven by young people leaving full-time education and moving into work, but the longer-term problem of rising ill-health continues to worsen, the Resolution Foundation said in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics yesterday.
The UK workforce continued to expand in recent months, with employment up 170,000 on the quarter, and economic inactivity down 230,000. The fall in inactivity was driven by full-time students: the number of people inactive due to being a full-time student was down 180,000 on the quarter.
The labour market has loosened overall, with short-term unemployment (up to 6 months) rising by 52,000 to above normal pre-pandemic levels, and vacancies falling by 47,000 on the quarter.
Less encouragingly, inactivity among older workers aged 50-64 remains high – up 298,000 on pre-pandemic levels – while the number of people inactive due to ill-health rose to a record high of over 2.5 million.
Reversing this trend – which predated the pandemic – is a huge priority that is likely to take years to address, says the Foundation, and a key test of the new Health and Disability White Paper.
Nominal pay growth strengthened in February, driven by the gap between public-sector (5.3 per cent) and private sector (6.1 per cent) pay growth closing. However, with inflation still at double digits, pay packets continue to shrink in real terms.
Louise Murphy, Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said:“Britain’s workforce continued to expand in early 2023 as thousands of full-time students moved into work. But while the young entered work, but the old and sick did not. Reversing these trends are a major problem for policy makers across government to confront.
“Strong growth in the public sector has helped to close the gap in pay growth with the private sector. But the picture remains that almost all workers across Britain are seeing their pay packets shrink in real terms, which will continue for the foreseeable future.”
Commenting on the Resolution Foundation’s Low Paid Britain Report, which criticises the UK’s lack of decent sick pay, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Nobody should be plunged into financial hardship if they become sick.
“But Britain has one of the most miserly sick pay rates in Europe.
“This is disproportionately punishing low-paid workers and leaving them without a safety net.
“We must fix our broken sick pay system by making statutory sick pay available from day one and raising it to the level of the real living wage.
“The lack of decent sick pay cost us dear during the pandemic. The government should have learned this lesson.”
On the need for a higher minimum wage and sector-wide fair pay agreements, Paul Nowak added: “Let’s not kid ourselves. Low-paid workers remain under huge financial strain.
“Energy bills have shot up by £67 a month and food prices are through the roof.
“It’s time to put an end to low-pay Britain once and for all. That means getting the minimum wage to £15 per an hour as soon as possible.
“And it means introducing industry-wide fair pay agreements so that all workers have a minimum set of pay and rights.”
