Category: North Edinburgh News

Online advice booklet launched to support Scotland’s kinship carers

A new online booklet is launched today to help people across Scotland who care for the child of a relative, or friend, after the vast majority (88%) of kinship carers said they were not given enough information about how to access vital financial and emotional support.

What Now? produced by the Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland (KCASS), includes a guide to the kinship assessment system, as well as contact details of organisations and support groups who can offer help and advice to carers.

Since 2010, there has been a significant increase across Scotland in the number of children being cared for by family member or friend because they are unable to live with their birth parents, an arrangement known as kinship care.

The latest Scottish Government statistics show there were 4,456 children formally looked after in kinship care in 2019-20, (31% of the looked after children population), compared to 3,172 children in 2009-2010 (20% of the looked after children population). **

KCASS, which is operated by Adoption UK Scotland and Adoption and Fostering Alliance Scotland in collaboration with the Child Poverty Action Group, is urging kinship carers and social workers to access What Now? online, or request a hard copy of the booklet, launched to mark the start of this year’s Kinship Care Week.

Susan Hunter, KCASS project coordinator, said: “Since its inception our KCASS Advisory Group, all of whom are kinship carers, has highlighted the lack of suitable information available to them, particularly at the start of their kinship journey. 

“All too often kinship carers get in touch with our helpline asking for assistance; they have taken on the care of children at short notice with no understanding of what this will entail for them and their family.

“Kinship carers describe feeling overwhelmed and very much alone. Where they have been provided with information, they have found this to be difficult to comprehend with terms they are not familiar with, leaving them confused and uninformed.”

Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “Kinship Care Week provides an opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute to the important role that kinship carers play in providing loving, secure, stable, and nurturing homes for children and young people who can no longer live with their parents.

“All kinship carers deserve to get the support they need, and I welcome publication of the What Now? booklet, which will help kinship carers access important information. I would like to thank members of the KCASS Advisory Group who ensured the voices of those with care experience were heard when the booklet was developed.”

Fiona Aitken, director, Adoption UK Scotland, said: “We’re proud to be facilitating Kinship Care Week as an opportunity for us to raise the profile of the carers who tirelessly provide loving homes for their children. 

“The week allows us to provide valuable opportunities for children in kinship families to take part in fun activities, workshops and group sessions for carers and learning and networking events for practitioners, encouraging all Scottish kinship care families, and those who support them, to take part.”

Robin Duncan, Adoption and Fostering Alliance Scotland director, said: “Kinship Care Week is a great opportunity to increase awareness of kinship care and give recognition to the carers for the remarkable, and often unsung, contribution they make. It also gives us the chance to spread the word about the new What Now? booklet so that this can be as widely available as possible helping to improve the availability and consistency of support to people when they take on the care of a child.”

This year’s Kinship Care Week takes place from 14th -18th March and features a range of webinars and discussion groups for carers, social workers, and childcare professionals. A full programme of events can be found at https://kinship.scot/kinship-care-week-2022/

Kinship carers or professionals can order a hard copy of What Now? by contacting KCASS at advice@kinshipscot.org, or by calling 0808 800 0006.

What-Now-booklet-2022_onlineDownload

Case Study

Michelle became a kinship carer to her two granddaughters five years ago. She says she and her husband were not given any advice or guidance at the time about kinship care or what was expected of them as carers.

She said: “When I first became a kinship carer I got a call out of the blue asking me to look after my granddaughters for a few weeks whilst social work got things sorted out at home. Five years later they are still with us.

“The day they arrived I heard the words kinship carer, something I had never heard of before and knew nothing about. My husband, daughter and I looked like rabbits caught in headlights with two little children. We were given no help, advice, or guidance as to what to do or what was expected of us, we felt so very alone and angry. We had no contact numbers and did not even receive a phone call. If I had been given this booklet then it would have made things a little easier. Just to know that we were not alone and that help was out there, it would have been an absolute lifeline.

“I suggested developing a booklet like this at the KCASS Advisory Group which I am a part of. I didn’t want anyone else to go through the horrible, sometimes debilitating situation I was left in. This booklet would have helped so very much.

“That is why I am so very passionate and determined that it should be given to all kinship carers when they take on the care of a child, just so they know that they are not alone and have all the information they will need.”

Councils are failing to deliver social homes for 7,500 homeless children, says Shelter Scotland

Council leaders are failing children across the country when it comes to social housing according to Shelter Scotland. 

Ahead of the local authority elections in May, the housing charity has said council leaders need to urgently step up in order to tackle the deepening housing emergency. 

In Glasgow alone there are 2,480 children stuck in temporary accommodation, while 1,515 children in the capital face the same situation. In Aberdeen, a household with children spend 103 days in temporary accommodation on average, while in Dundee that figure rises to 285 days.

Shelter Scotland’s analysis of council’s housing plans* shows that a minimum of 7,000 social homes are needed over the next five years in Edinburgh, 3,675 in Glasgow, 853 in Aberdeen and 655 in Dundee. 

Each of the local authorities in those cities failed to deliver on their previous affordable housing targets. 

Director of Shelter Scotland, Alison Watson, said: “Right now, thousands of households, including thousands of children, are trapped in temporary accommodation. Often, they’re living in cramped conditions which are entirely unsuitable. Many of them have been living in so-called temporary accommodation for months or, in some cases, years. 

“Living in temporary accommodation can have devastating effects. It disrupts children’s learning, it places huge strain on family life, it can ruin people’s health. In the face of a deepening cost-of-living crisis this problem is only going to get worse unless action is taken now. 

“As more people are exposed to the risk of homelessness, only social housing can stem the tide. The Scottish Government has promised the cash for new social homes, we need to keep fighting to make sure they’re actually built.

“With the local elections just around the corner our cities’ leaders can’t shirk their responsibilities. We need them to step up and finally contribute to building a future where everyone in Scotland, without exception, has their right to housing upheld. 

“The scale of the challenge is clear, but council leaders must rise to meet it. The thousands of children without the security and safety a permanent home provides can’t wait a second longer.”

Shelter Scotland has launched a new campaign asking people to demand that council leaders pledge to build social housing.

For more information and to sign the petition, visit:

https://act.scotland.shelter.org.uk/social-housing-edinburgh

Best things to come out of Scotland?

  • The television, flushing toilets, and the refrigerator are the best things ever to come out of Scotland, according to locals
  • Santander UK research highlights importance of international trade to Scottish companies – 48% currently trade internationally and 92% of these say it is critical to business
  • Scottish companies reveal what it takes to make it overseas, including top tips for international success
  • Scotland-based Snag Group shares its experience of taking its business international

The television, flushing toilets, and the refrigerator have topped the list of the best things ever to come out of Scotland, according to local residents.

In new research by Santander UK, Scotland’s residents have named the top ten things to come out of the country as:

  1. The television
  2. Flushing toilets
  3. The refrigerator
  4. Tyres
  5. Sean Connery
  6. Golf
  7. The toaster
  8. Encyclopedia Britannica
  9. The first cloned sheep (Dolly)
  10. Deep-fried Mars Bars

Many of these things have put Scotland on the global map, being well known, well used and much-loved in countries spanning the globe. Just as Scots are proud of their country’s greatest exports, people throughout the UK are pleased with what the nation has given the world. Santander UK’s research  has found that 82% of Brits think some of the best things in the world have originated in Britain.

As well as being a source of pride, British exports play a significant role in the day-to-day success of UK companies. Santander UK’s research shows that many businesses in Scotland see international trade as vital.

In Scotland, 48% of companies surveyed currently trade internationally, and 92% of these said it was critical to their business. The most-cited countries they trade in are France (52%), Germany (52%), Australia (41%) and Canada (41%). But international success doesn’t happen by chance.

John Carroll, Head of International and Transactional Banking, Santander UK said: “A lot of research, hard work, perseverance, and adaptation go into transforming home-grown British goods and services into exports that resonate with consumers abroad and take off internationally.

“It also pays to have the right contacts in place – be they in-country retailers or distributors – to make sure UK-produced products and services have visibility overseas and get into the hands of buyers quickly and efficiently.”

The most common adaptations and measures Scottish businesses have undertaken to ensure their success overseas are:

  • Changed the pricing structure (41%).
  • Increased their social media presence (37%).
  • Introduced new products or services (37%).
  • Adapted the product or service to suit the local market (33%).
  • Marketed and advertised it differently (33%).

It isn’t all plain sailing, as local businesses have worked hard to overcome the common challenges of understanding the different rules and regulations (41%), extra costs (30%), and understanding the tax implications (30%).

Of the Scottish companies that don’t currently trade overseas, the reasons behind this are the belief that their business is too small (43%) and their product or service is unsuitable for an overseas market (26%).

Despite this, 27% of these businesses aspire to take their products and services overseas in future. However, only 12% have a plan in place to make this happen. They say grants (23%) and less red tape (19%) would encourage them to take their business international.

Overwhelmingly, Scottish companies are positive about trading abroad, with 64% agreeing ‘the future is bright for British business operating internationally’. Contributing to this optimism are their beliefs that the pandemic has opened up more opportunities (56%), consumers are supporting British businesses more (53%), the world is becoming easier to trade in and increasingly opening up business opportunities (34%) and freedom from EU regulation (34%).

Santander UK’s research has also revealed Scottish business owners’ and decision makers’ top tips for international trade success:

  • Invest in obtaining market intelligence on your sector in the country you want to trade in (38%).
  • Make sure there is a market for your product or service before you start (29%).
  • Ensure your UK business is doing well first (29%).
  • Don’t take too big a risk to start with (29%).

Inclusive clothing e-retailer Snag Group is a Scotland-headquartered company for which overseas trade is crucial. Now in its fifth year of trading, international sales represent 50% of all sales for the business, which sells recyclable hosiery and clothing for people of all sizes direct through its websites.

With customers in 90 countries, Snag Group plans to expand sales further in the US, and key to this has been the acquisition – with support from Santander UK – of a new warehouse in Livingston, which significantly increases its capacity to store, process and package stock.

Snag Group Founder and CEO Brie Read said: “We began selling our products internationally through our website soon after we began operating and three years in, over half of our sales were overseas.

“With Brexit looming and the uncertainty that came with it, we decided to establish a warehouse in the Netherlands to ensure we could get our products to international customers quickly and efficiently. Localisation has been imperative to our international growth.

“Other measures crucial to success are offering payment service providers that are trusted within each different country and giving our customers the full Snag experience, from localised websites and communications to having native speakers available within our customer service teams. Having our website available in native languages has increased our conversion rate within Europe alone from 4% to 8%.

“My advice to UK companies considering taking their business international is that it may seem like a mammoth task but there’s so much fantastic help available to support you. Lots of research and an ‘all-hands-on deck’ approach are necessary, but it’s well worth knowing that your customers are benefiting like our Snagglers!”

John Carroll, Head of International and Transactional Banking, Santander UK added: “It’s clear from the research that international trade can play a crucial role in helping Scottish businesses to emerge from the pandemic and get back to growth and with the right support and partners, these internationally trading businesses can thrive. 

“Later this year, we will be launching a new online platform where we will share our years of experience and knowledge in one place to help Scottish businesses with tailored support to find their way when expanding overseas. We’re here to help these businesses with support that goes beyond banking as they navigate the challenges.”

Santander’s international team has dedicated market specialists that have access to extensive local networks and knowledge around the world, and a long track record of helping businesses implement their international growth strategies.

This support ranges from working with them to identify new markets, helping them with shipping and logistics options, and organising virtual trade missions to introducing businesses to trusted local partners, potential new customers and vital networks in key destinations.

For more information on the international support available, visit:

www.santandercb.co.uk/trade-internationally/moving-international-markets

Get … set … Yeti!

A NEW, ten-issue digital magazine is launching next month, aiming to help children prepare for school.

Using storytelling and character-led material, and developmental activities, the magazine promises to give families loads of fun learning and sharing together.

With content that is designed specifically to build strong foundations for starting school, the engaging characters also teach children about building learning resilience through working on a ‘Growth Mindset’.

The magazine’s founder also hopes that the structure and activities will support families concerned about the impact Covid19 has had on younger learners, both preparing for primary and those who may have recently started at school.

Creator of the ‘Get Set Yeti’ universe, Carol Arnott, is a seasoned educator who champions the importance of parents as ‘their children’s first educators’.

Carol explained: “We want to give parents and carers the material to enable them to do the little things at home that have a big impact on their children’s readiness to start learning at school with confidence.”

One parent, experiencing Get Set Yeti’s material, said: “This has all been fun and will go a long way to help and support my child while he’s learning.

“We really enjoyed everything we made and my child loved the fact that Mummy made them with him.”

Another commented: “I feel the material made things that I would like to achieve more enjoyable, as I’m more confident in what I’m doing with my son.”

‘Get Set Yeti’ magazine will be launching mid-April, full of comic strips, stories, songs, puzzles and printables.

At only £4.99 an issue, check out the ROARSOME yetis at:

www.getsetyeti.com/magazine.

No laughing matter – Heather learns to smile again

One moment, Heather McFarlane was watching a Peter Kay routine on TV in bed with her husband. The next, it looked like she was sound asleep. But Heather wasn’t asleep. Her laughs had triggered her cataplexy, a symptom of narcolepsy, which meant that despite appearances, she was wide awake.

Heather, 47, from Jordanhill in Glasgow, explained: “I was laughing and within a split second it looked like I was asleep, but I was lying there and I couldn’t move any muscles. It was horrible. I was still awake and conscious, but I was essentially trapped in my body.”

Heather first noticed things were not right in 2010, while she was on maternity leave with her third child. She was struggling to stay awake. She then noticed that emotions, such as laughter or smiling could trigger an attack. Her face muscles would droop and her legs would give way.

In her job, teaching children with additional needs, she would retreat to the staff toilets where she would end up asleep. People would talk to her and she would struggle to stay awake. She had to give up driving the school bus.

She said: “It was horrendous. When I laughed, I had a kind of shutdown, as if I had rebooted in a split second. Like the power had gone out and come back on again. I had to stop watching funny things on TV and avoiding funny situations with the kids.

“It saw part of me disappear. I even had to learn to function as a different kind of mum to the one that I was.”

Heather sought help from her GP and in 2013, was referred to a specialist team at Glasgow Royal Infirmary for support, where she was finally diagnosed. Such is the rarity of the condition, it can often take 10 or more years for a patient to be diagnosed, during which time, some are dismissed as being lazy or unproductive.

While there’s no cure for the condition, the team worked to find out the best clinical treatment, as well as other support required to help Heather keep her job and live a more ‘normal’ life.

Margaret Docherty, a Nurse Practitioner at the sleep clinic, has been pioneering treatment approaches, with her expertise sought by colleagues right across Europe.

She said: “Narcolepsy can be completely devastating for people’s lives. It’s about finding the right treatment and support for the person, everything from psychological support, to medication and understanding their lives and needs. My driver is how we can improve things for people – that’s what matters.”

The team prescribed Sodium Oxybate, a purified form of GHB, as part of a range of treatments to help Heather stay awake during the day and asleep at night.

“It was a game-changer in lots of different ways,” added Heather. “I’ve been able to get some of my life back.”

Dr Eric Livingston, Respiratory Consultant and Clinical lead at the clinic, said: “When we get the medication right, it can transform lives, allowing people to drive their cars again, or get back to work or university – instead of people thinking they are tired or lazy.

“Some people have been told for 30 years that they are lazy, before they even get a diagnosis, but we can support and get them back to a full life again.”

Dr Livingston paid tribute to his team, not least Margaret. He added: “I deal with the narcolepsy and clinical symptoms, but the service Margaret provides is unique. She can see the big picture about how it impacts on people’s lives.

“She has done amazing work with these patients and, along with our service being a pioneer in providing new medications, it’s really making a positive difference.”

Heather has been supported by her colleagues at Hazelwood School in Glasgow and remains at work – with a beanbag on hand, in case it’s needed for her less frequent attacks. She’s also found ways to smile and laugh again.

She added: “The team have been amazing. It’s not just the condition they are interested in, it’s me as a person –  and not just me, but my wider family as they know this impacts all of us.

“It’s hard to live in Glasgow and have to avoid things which are funny – now I don’t have to.”

Tackling the cost of living crisis

Support is being expanded to improve the energy efficiency of homes and tackle energy costs.  

In response to the cost of living crisis, three key Scottish Government energy efficiency and heat programmes will be boosted from April.

These include:

  • Expanding the Home Energy Scotland (HES) advice service, which provides free, impartial advice available to all households in Scotland on making homes warmer, greener and easier to heat. Capacity will be increased by 20% to support an extra 12,000 households a year, whilst a service offering bespoke advice to the most vulnerable households will be doubled.
  • Widening the eligibility criteria of the Scottish Government’s flagship Warmer Homes Scotland fuel poverty programme to include more groups within the 60 – 75 years age range.
  • Increasing the level of funding individual fuel poor households could benefit from through the local authority-led Area Based Schemes.

More than £160 million of funding is being invested this year to help make Scotland’s homes and buildings warmer and more efficient, supporting efforts to tackle fuel poverty whilst helping householders manage their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie said: “Everyone needs a safe, warm place to call home. I am acutely aware that soaring energy prices will be causing many people to worry about the cost of their fuel bills and it is vital that people struggling with energy bills get the information and support they need, while governments step up with appropriate actions.

“We are using all powers and resources available to us to support people through the cost of living crisis and the Scottish Budget last month included a package of measures to provide immediate help with rising bills. At the same time, powers relating to energy markets remain reserved and we have repeatedly called for the UK Government to urgently take further, tangible actions to support households.

“However, immediate help also has to go side by side with longer term action. Investing in energy efficiency is the best buffer against the ebb and flow of global energy prices.  That is why we are boosting energy efficiency programmes today and over the whole parliamentary term.”

Householders can access free and impartial support through Home Energy Scotland to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Home Energy Scotland can be contacted on their freephone number 0808 808 2282 or via the Home Energy Scotland website. 

The George marks Women’s History Month with new literary partnership 

InterContinental Edinburgh The George is celebrating Women’s History Month by launching a new partnership with female-owned bookstore, Rare Birds Book Shop, to encourage guests to explore Scotland’s female literary greats. 

The partnership will pay homage to the hotel’s impressive literary ties and its most-famous former guest, writer Susan Ferrier, with a new experience: ‘Scotland’s Inspiring Females Package’.

The package offers guests, who book a stay from 8th March 2022 (IWD), the chance to add an accompanying book bundle from trailblazing Scottish female authors, hand-selected by Rare Birds Books.  

Included in the ‘Scotland’s Inspiring Females Package’ is Jackie Kay, Scotland’s former Makar, with her debut novel Trumpet, a fictionalised chronicle of the life and death of transgender jazz artist Billy Tipton; quintessentially Edinburgh author, Muriel Spark and her story of a glamorous outspoken teacher, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; as well as Susan Ferrier’s Marriage.  

Susan Ferrier, who resided at the hotel when it was a collection of luxury Georgian townhouses in the 18th century, is widely referred to as Scotland’s answer to Jane Austin.

Her debut book, Marriage, was published in 1818 and tells the story of an English heiress, who elopes with a handsome Scot to live in a castle in the Highlands. Characters in the novel were based on real acquaintances she met during her time at The George, such as iconic Scottish poet Robert Burns and author Sir Walter Scott. 

Books will be beautifully packaged and ready for guests in their room on arrival alongside a charming booklet with insider information on each book and its author. The package includes room, bed and breakfast and prices start from £289.  

Rare Birds Book Shop, located in the heart of Stockbridge, is on a mission to champion women’s writing, by helping enthusiasts to discover great books by great women. Founded in 2017 it has built a vibrant community of booklovers around the world through its book club.  

Rachel Wood, (above), founder and owner of Rare Birds Book Shop, said: “There’s nothing we love more than helping readers discover writing by women, and what better way to help visitors discover Edinburgh’s rich literary history than by shining the spotlight on three brilliant Scottish writers, whose work has captured the imagination of readers around the world.”  

Kieran Quinn, Hotel General Manager at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, said: “We are so proud of our historical ties to some of Scotland’s greatest literary experts, so it felt only right that this International Women’s Day, we launched a new offering for guests to delve back into the work of those women who once stayed and were inspired by where we now call home and learn more about more modern Scottish female authors too.” 

For more information, please visit https://edinburgh.intercontinental.com/offers/ 

Fore Play Crazy Golf to deliver smiles on International Day of Happiness

1000 free photobooth sessions across Edinburgh + Glasgow

Fore Play Crazy Golf are ensuring their customers go home happy, celebrating International Day of Happiness for a whole weekend from 18th-20th March. It’s time to say cheese as Fore Play make their fun photo booth free for 1000 customers across the weekend in Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

Determined to put a smile on punters’ faces, Fore Play Crazy Golf’s photobooth-fun will be FREE for 1000 customers across both venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow for one weekend only, giving customers the chance to take home a special memento of their visit. With the extra magic of added props, Fore Play’s photobooths are the perfect way to make memories and round off your International Day of Happiness with 500 customers in each venue able to take advantage of the free snaps. 

The Glasgow venue has also teamed up with locally-produced liqueur Liquid Oats, as part of the new #MadeInGlasgow campaign, putting smiles on faces with a special tasting session of the velvety drink.

Fore Play Crazy Golf and Liquid Oats are both part of a new hospitality-led campaign to attract visitors back into Glasgow and support incredible independents with over 60 venues across the city taking part in a new Food and Drink trail.

The trail encourages people to dine and drink their way around the city with Fore Play’s speciality dish, ‘She’s a Belter’ taking centre stage.

The delicious buttermilk-fried chicken burger is stacked on a toasted brioche bun with homemade slaw and spicy chipotle mayo. To accompany the signature dish is the ‘Long Irn Iced Bru’, a mouth-watering blend of vodka, gin, cointreau, bacardi, tequila, lime juice and Irn Bru.

Scottish vegan cream liqueur, Liquid Oats will be stopping by Fore Play’s Glasgow venue for a special tasting session on Friday 18th March from 5pm – 7pm, allowing customers to sample the sweet blend of whisky and oats, all handcrafted locally and sustainably in Glasgow. If you’re feeling confident, sample Liquid Oats for a pre-putting libation, or save it for the perfect post-round treat! 

From sipping on playful cocktails, to enjoying tasty gourmet burgers to tackling their signature crazy golf courses, you’re guaranteed to have a little pep in your step after your time on and off the green at Fore Play Crazy Golf.  

Ts&Cs

  • Photobooth – 1 photo session per group. A photo session includes 4 x shots taken and 1 x printed photo. Up to approx 150 customers per day, per venue. 
  • Liquid Oats tasting session until stock runs out.

Book now at https://foreplaycrazygolf.co.uk/

Have you seen missing teenagers?

Police are appealing to the public for help to trace two teenagers reported missing from Musselburgh who are believed to have travelled within the East Lothian area together.

Ivana Scott, aged 15, and Noah Holmes, aged 14, were last seen around 4pm on Friday, 11 March, when they left Loretto School in Musselburgh.

They were seen walking along Goose Green Road in the town heading in the direction of Levenhall Links area.

Ivana is described as around 5ft 7in, of slim build with short brown hair and when last seen was wearing black jeans, a grey hoodie and a red beanie hat.

Noah is described as around 5ft 7ins, of slim build with brown hair. He was wearing black trousers and a maroon/purple hoodie when he was last seen.

Inspector Alan King said: “Concerns are growing for Ivana and Noah and we are urging anyone who may have seen them or know where they are to get in touch. In addition, if they see this appeal, please get in touch with us to let us know you are safe and well.

“It is believed they may have travelled to the Port Seton area or elsewhere in East Lothian. Noah is from Edinburgh so they may also have gone there.”

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2558 or 2513 of Friday, 11 March, 2022.