Category: North Edinburgh News

£1.5 million Levelling Up funding for Edinburgh Filmhouse

Community assets including pubs, music venues and sports clubs saved from closure thanks to a major £33.5million package announced by the Government

 More than 80 community assets including pubs, iconic music venues and sports clubs have been saved from closure thanks to a major £33.5million package announced by the Government today – and among the recipients is Edinburgh’s Filmhouse Cinema.

This investment from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’  Community Ownership Fund – the highest amount ever announced from the pot – will ensure these beloved establishments are protected, ensuring they will be around for generations to come.

This funding will maintain more community spaces for people to enjoy, helping to bolster local economies as well as contributing to the government’s wider mission to grow the economy. 

Nineteen sports facilities are being given a lifeline in this round, with £6.7million keeping football clubs and swimming pools afloat so that local people can continue to keep fit and healthy.

That includes £300,000 to reopen the Mirion Street Centre in Crewe, which burned down in a devastating fire in 2014. The funding will allow a local boxing club to redevelop the building so they can move into it, offering fantastic new opportunities to local people and allowing the group to move out of the run-down warehouse they currently use.  

Two cinemas will also now be kept open, including the Edinburgh Filmhouse which opened in 1979 but became run down over time and had to close in 2022. It will now receive £1.5million so that it can open its doors again, and the newly refurbished venue will screen the best new films from across the globe.  

Culture and Communities Convener, Val Walker gives her reaction to the UK Government committing £1.5m to Filmhouse Edinburgh Ltd as part of their Community Ownership Levelling Up Fund. 

Following the collapse of Edinburgh Filmhouse’s parent charity, the Centre for Moving Image (CMI), in October 2022, the Council has been working closely with key stakeholders to secure a future for cultural cinema in the Capital.

Last November the Council announced it would be contributing £60,000 towards the Filmhouse campaign. 

Culture and Communities Convener, Val Walker said: “I’m delighted to hear that Filmhouse Edinburgh Ltd is to receive significant funding from the UK Government as part of their Community Ownership Levelling Up Fund. We all want to see a positive outcome for the Filmhouse and this is a significant step along that road.

“Alongside the wider stakeholder group, we look forward to our continued dialogue and working alongside the Filmhouse. We’re committed to having a home for cultural cinema in the heart of the city and for the wider sector going forward. Edinburgh is rightly one of the world’s the great cultural cities and cultural cinema is an integral part of this landscape.”

Nine pubs have also been given almost £3million to keep them open so that they can keep pulling pints, including the Shrewsbury Arms in Kingstone, which has been in need of vital investment to keep it running. Now, with £178,000 from the Fund, the roof can be replaced and the pub can once again become the centre of community life.   

A further £1.9million will be spent on keeping four music venues open so that local people have access to live music on their doorstep. That includes £250,000 for Le Pub in Newport, which has sat proudly at the centre of the city’s music scene for 28 years. The venue hosts over 300 events a year but has been at risk of being sold, and this funding will ensure that it is protected for future generations to enjoy.  

This is the third round of the Community Ownership Fund, bringing the total spending from the pot to more than £103 million with 333 projects rescued so far as part of the government’s ongoing mission to level up towns, villages and cities across the UK.  

Jacob Young, Minister for Levelling Up, said: “We know how much these vital community assets mean to people across the country. They are an important lifeline for people young and old, and they’re the beating heart of our towns, cities and villages.  

“That’s why we’re stepping in to protect them with a major rescue package, so we stop these great establishments closing or being lost forever and ensure that they continue to sit at the heart of our beloved communities.”

In total this latest announcement of funding also includes: 

  • 33 community centres receiving £12.7million, so that they can continue to serve their communities;
  • Three theatres receiving £1.5million so they can keep putting on exciting local events;
  • Five community shops receiving £1.38 million to protect our high streets;
  • Nineteen sports facilities being given £6.7million so people have a place to play sport and exercise;
  • Nine pubs being given almost £3million so they can keep their doors open.

Other projects previously saved include rugby union club Blackheath FC in London – the oldest independent rugby club – which was given £725,000 in the second round of the Fund. This will allow them to buy their ground and facilities for the first time in their 165-year history.  

James Fleming, chairman of Blackheath Football Club, said: “The purchase will secure the ownership of the ground in perpetuity for the community of Blackheath Football and for future generations.  

“It is a momentous moment in the history of the Club and for the local community.”

Back on the Map in Sunderland were also given £168,000 in the second round to give residents the chance to create work on their local high street. 

Jo Cooper, CEO of Back on the Map, said:  “We believe this project and the wider high street revolution work will put Villette Road back on the map. Without COF funding these units would never have been brought back into use.  

“The funds have been vital and the project will be transformational for our community, creating jobs and stimulating footfall on a neglected high street.”

Scottish projects in this round will be supported with £3.8million of funding, with a further £2.8million for Northern Ireland and £3.1million for Wales.

So far, the Community Ownership Fund has awarded a total £17million for 47 projects in Scotland; £8.1million for 31 projects in Northern Ireland and over £7million for 24 projects in Wales. 

Since Round 1 of the Fund, Ministers have funded all bids which have passed the criteria for successful applications. This approach allows the Department to fund the maximum number of projects. In future windows ministers may choose to prioritise funding to underrepresented areas to help even out any regional imbalances. 

The Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young visited two Community Ownership Fund projects in Cumbria to mark the launch.

The Minister visited Cooke’s Studios in Barrow-on-Furness which has been awarded £910,000 from the Fund today (23 March).

The Minister heard how this investment will be used to carry out essential renovations so that it can become Barrow’s flagship community-led arts centre, which will deliver a range of community services like art exhibitions and a community cinema. 

Signal Film and Media Co-Director Kerry Kolbe said:  “We’re thrilled to have secured such a substantial investment to our project in Barrow, to fund this exciting and long-hoped-for transformation of our community building.

“Having a whole new ground floor entrance, reception and cafe alongside new and improved exhibition, training and workshop spaces will make Cooke’s Studios accessible to so many more people as well as making an even bigger difference to the thousands of residents who already use Cooke’s Studios each year.  

“The new facilities will make our business model sustainable long-term and support the growth of an even stronger creative and heritage offer that we hope Barrow can be proud of.

“We’re very grateful to the Department of Levelling Up for their funding and can’t wait to get started!”

The Minister also visited the Roxy Cinema in Ulverston on Thursday, where he saw how £300,000 funding announced in an earlier round of the Fund is being used to renovate and restore the historic building.

The funding is preserving it for future generations and making it more accessible to the local community. He also met with the Roxy Collective, the local group responsible for the building.  

The next round of the Community Ownership Fund, Round 4, is the final round. There will be two bidding windows in Round 4 to allocate remaining funding. The next bidding window, Round 4 Window 1, will open on 25 March 2024 and close on 10 April 2024. 

Fun family favourites leap into action on the big screen this Easter at Vue

A host of brand-new animated adventures and all-time family favourites are landing at Vue this Easter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality family time at the big screen during the school holidays.  

For the first time in almost a decade, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master Po bounces back onto this big screen with a hilarious new chapter, in Kung Fu Panda 4 on 28 March.  

Facing his most fearsome foe yet in the many forms of the powerful sorceress The Chameleon, Po (voiced by the iconic Jack Black) must use his courageous Dragon Warrior martial arts skills to defend the Valley of Peace. However, he’s not alone, as he must team up with the crafty fox thief Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina) in this butt-kicking mission to ensure the world remains peaceful and at balance.  

This Easter break will also see some familiar heroes take up the call when Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings paranormal pranks and ghostly grins to Vue from 22 March. Returning to New York City, the Spengler Family from Ghostbusters: Afterlife must unite with the original Ghostbusters to take on an evil force that threatens the world with a second Ice Age.  

With a cast that includes newer names such as Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard and original ‘busters Bill Murray and Dan Akyroyd, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire looks to provide eerie thrills for the entire family this half term.  

Sweeter than a spoonful of sugar, both Mary Poppins and its recent sequel Mary Poppins Returns are heading back to the big screen at Vue this Easter, marking 60 years since the release of the iconic first film.     

Making its debut on the big screen after exclusively releasing on streaming platforms, Disney’s recent adventure Luca will be playing at Vue from the 5 April. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, this animated adventure tells a coming-of-age story about one young boy’s unforgettable summer filled with gelato, scooters and his new best friend – who turns out to be a sea monster from a secret world below the ocean.  

Vue will also be bringing back some of the biggest family films from the past year, perfect for Easter viewing including the chocolatey charm of Wonka from 29 March and Disney’s Wish from 5 April as part of the Vue Mini Mornings series, shown every day across Half Term at 10am.  

Robert Lea, Head of Screen Content at Vue Entertainment, said ‘We’ve got a great selection of new films and big screen entertainment on show this Easter providing the perfect way to enjoy quality time with the family over the school break.  

‘With film screenings from just £4.99 online at selected venues the big screen experience at Vue is the perfect treat during the Easter holidays. 

‘Even better, our Vue Mini Mornings at 10am, will continue to show the latest kids’ films at just £2.49 a ticket if purchased online and £3.49 in venue. Parents and children can come along, switch off and immerse themselves in great stories.” 
 

Tickets are available now at www.myvue.com. 

Success for young entrepreneurs from George Watson’s at Young Enterprise Scotland Regional Finals

 A team of pioneering young entrepreneurs from George Watson’s will be heading to Hampden Park to take part in the Young Enterprise Scotland National Finals.

Teams from Stewart’s Melville, Mary Erskine, Preston Lodge, St Georges, George Watson’s, Boroughmuir and George Heriot’s took part in the Lothian Regional Final for the Company Programme at Edinburgh Napier University, which saw George Watson’s take the crown with their business ‘Snappets.’ 

Snappets sells croc charms in a range of shapes and sizes, with the goal of producing a product that is suitable for everyone and promotes creativity.

The winners were presented their award by Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern.

The Young Enterprise Scotland Company Programme is an immersive programme which provides a real-life learning opportunity that introduces young people from S5 and S6 to the realities of the world of work. 

Participants are required to start their own company, running through the key milestones of developing an idea, conducting market research, creating the product or service, promoting that product and ultimately trading it. 

Over 2,000 young people take part in the Company Programme every year in Scotland.

Young Enterprise Scotland, Chief Executive, Emma Soanes said: “The George Watson’s team is an inspiration and I wish them every success in the Scottish finals later this year.

Setting up and running their own successful company is a wonderful experience and will have given them new skills to take forward into their learning and future careers. So, whatever happens at Hampden Park, they are already winners.”

The Lothian Company Finals were sponsored by Edinburgh Napier.

The winning team will now go on to represent the Lothian region at The  Young Enterprise Scotland Company Programme Finals, which are part of the three-day Festival of Youth Enterprise, running from 28th to 29th May at Hampden park.

For more details visit https://yes.org.uk/news/regional-finals-2024-07-03-2024

Fair Work milestone reached

Record number of Real Living Wage employers in Scotland

The number of Scottish employers registered as paying the real Living Wage has hit a new high of 3,500.

The milestone was reached ahead of the tenth anniversary of Living Wage Scotland, a programme launched by Poverty Alliance with Scottish Government funding to encourage more firms to pay the real Living Wage. The rate is reviewed annually and currently stands at £12 an hour.

Proportionately, Scotland has around five times more accredited real Living Wage employers than the rest of the UK. Latest statistics also show nearly 90% of workers aged over 18 in Scotland are paid the real Living Wage or above – the highest percentage in the UK.

On a visit to one of the most recently accredited firms, Atlas Winch & Hoist Services in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Wellbeing Economy Secretary Màiri McAllan thanked the growing number of employers committed to keeping pace with the real Living Wage. 

Ms McAllan said: “Fair Work is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s ambition to move towards a wellbeing economy that benefits employees and the planet alongside traditional economic indicators.

“More than 64,000 workers have had a pay rise as a result of accreditation, making a real and ongoing impact for people in Scotland.  

“All public sector grants in Scotland now include a requirement for recipients to pay the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for workers to raise concerns. We firmly oppose the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.

“While employment powers are reserved to the UK Government, we will continue to use our Fair Work policy to drive up labour market standards for workers across Scotland. Fair Work is good for workers, good for employers and good for the economy.

“Every firm which has declared its intention to be a real Living Wage employer provides peace of mind for its staff, particularly during the cost of living crisis. I thank all the 3,500 Scottish businesses that have now taken that step.”

Atlas Winch & Hoist Services director Conor Lavery said: “We have long paid at least the real Living Wage as it helps to attract and retain a motivated team. As a rural company it is very important to retain the right people and the real Living Wage helps support this.

“We recently decided to seek real Living Wage accreditation to signal our ongoing commitment to our staff, some of whom have been with us for more than 20 years. We want to do as much as we can to support our workforce and try to be as flexible as we can, understanding life’s challenges outside of work.” 

Poverty Alliance director Peter Kelly said: “The Poverty Alliance believes in a wellbeing economy beyond the injustice of in-work poverty.

“Thanks to the leadership of more than 3,500 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland we are now able to celebrate a decade of incredible impact. The real Living Wage provides a stronger foundation for workers to build better lives for themselves and their households, and a better Scotland for all of us.

“We commend every employer that has chosen to join the Living Wage movement: they are paving the way to a new kind of economy, where more workers earn what they need to thrive, and we encourage employers not yet accredited to get in touch.”

EICA:Ratho bouldering facility benefits from sportscotland investment

Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing arena at Ratho has benefitted from a major funding investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.

The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena has received £100,000 towards bouldering redevelopment which will improve opportunities to progress at all levels of the sport.

The redevelopment will ensure that Ratho becomes the only climbing centre in the UK with Olympic standard facilities for all three climbing disciplines (lead climbing, speed climbing and bouldering).

This investment has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.

Welcoming the investment, Emma Ogilvie-Hall, Head of Operations at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted and very grateful to receive the sportscotland funding that means we can replace our outdated bouldering facilities at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA).

“With indoor bouldering now the most widely practised form of climbing it will ensure that the EICA can continue as a world class venue for all three climbing disciplines – lead, speed, and bouldering – while continuing to provide climbers of all ages and abilities with access to opportunities to participate in and progress through the sport. 

“It will also mean that Scotland is able to host bouldering competitions and national training camps and allow the EICA to keep our national and international profile as a world-class climbing facility.”

The EICA:Ratho is among 18 projects across Scotland to share a total of £1,506,263 from sportscotland to develop existing facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity.

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “The aim of the Sports Facilities Fund is to support sustainable and inclusive projects with their ambitions of using sport and physical activity to enhance the lives of their local communities. This investment would not be possible without National Lottery players who continue to raise vital funding for sport across Scotland.

“The physical and mental health benefits of sport are well documented, but equally important is the ability to create a space where everyone is welcome to participate at their own level.

“Projects like this one at the EICA not only create opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity but can also provide a place for communities to come together.”

The Sports Facilities Fund prioritises projects that widen access to participation or allow people to progress further within their chosen sport locally by removing barriers, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation, and for under-represented groups.

In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise within sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact that their plans will have, ensuring they meet the needs of their local communities now and in the future.

Chief Constable presents her first Annual Police Plan

Chief Constable Jo Farrell presented her first Annual Police Plan as Scotland’s Chief Constable during a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority yesterday, Thursday 21 March.

Chief Constable Farrell also provided a wide ranging update on how Police Scotland is delivering for the public.

The Chief outlined action to secure important court outcomes following murders and attempted murders in the west of Scotland; the latest sentence as part of a major public protection investigation into the sexual abuse of young and vulnerable people in Edinburgh; an initiative to tackle housebreaking and motor theft in Forth Valley; and drug seizures.

The Chief also highlighted a programme of equestrian training for young people in the east end of Glasgow which was designed and arranged by a Sergeant based in the city and reflected on the annual Bravery Excellence Awards​ held last month.

More information about the meeting, including the Annual Police Plan and the Chief Constable’s report, is available here.​​

Chief Constable Farrell’s speaking note is repeated below –

I want to start by reaffirming our apology to the family of Emma Caldwell following the conviction of Iain Packer at the end of February.

Emma Caldwell, her family, and many other victims, were let down by Strathclyde Police in 2005. I am sorry.

I am grateful that I was able to meet Emma’s family and for the opportunity to offer that apology directly and to listen to their perspective and experience and I pay tribute to their dignity and strength in the years since her death.

It is important that Emma’s family and the public get answers to the many questions they have.

On Thursday, March 7, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs set out that there will be an independent judge-led statutory Public Inquiry to understand what went wrong, to ensure lessons are learned for the future and to provide answers to the victims and survivors involved.

The Lord Advocate has indicated she is taking advice on instructing a police service from outside Scotland to look further at allegations against officers.

Policing in Scotland has reflected and learned from the initial investigation and subsequent re-investigation.

Significant changes have been made in recent years to improve organisational culture and our response, particularly in respect of investigative structures, victim care and processes to these types of crimes. 

The delivery of our Violence against Women and Girls Strategy demonstrates our absolute commitment to tackling the violence and abuse that disproportionately affects women and girls.

We now await confirmation of the details of the Public Inquiry. I reiterate my support for the Inquiry and undertake unconditionally that Police Scotland will engage fully with that process. We will fully assist any further steps instructed by the Lord Advocate.

Organisational learning never ends and I am committed to relentlessly improving how Police Scotland respond to and serve the public, and to ensuring officers and staff uphold our values and help to deliver justice for victims.

We will enter the new financial and reporting year with a refreshed leadership team, having appointed new Deputies and with plans for recruitment for Assistant Chief Constables. I will ensure the Force Executive shares and delivers on a change agenda for policing that puts our communities at the heart of everything we do.

My first Annual Police Plan as Police Scotland’s Chief Constable continues to place trust, confidence and performance at the top of our agenda and reflects the priorities and commitments I have directed for the service in the year ahead.

Since taking command, I’ve been clear my operational focus is in three areas – first, addressing threat, harm, and risk; second, prevention, problem solving and proactivity; and third, looking after the wellbeing of officers and staff so they can deliver for the public.

This report shines a light on some examples of how Police Scotland is delivering for the public across the first two areas – securing important court outcomes following our response to murders and attempted murders in the west of Scotland; the latest sentence as part of a major public protection investigation into the sexual abuse of young and vulnerable people in Edinburgh; an initiative to tackle housebreaking and motor theft in Forth Valley; and drug seizures.

Just yesterday, three men were jailed for a total of 59 years in relation to the murders and attempted murders in the west of Scotland.

Also this week, Benjamin Young was given a lifelong restriction order and sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison. Young had previously been convicted of 32 charges including serious sexual offending against children in the Argyll area following work by our National Child Abuse Investigation Unit.

In my written report I’ve also outlined the safeguarding of 22 vulnerable people and 16 arrests during a County Lines week of action which also resulted in the recovery of illegal drugs, cash, and offensive weapons, including a firearm.

These hugely positive results are an example of our determination to tackle organised crime and the criminals who profit from drugs, and target the vulnerable, This action is in support of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.

I’ve also highlighted a preventative programme of equestrian training to support better life chances for young people in the east end of Glasgow which was designed and arranged by a Sergeant based in the city, Lauren Semple.

Building positive relationships with communities and identifying diversion opportunities is an essential part of how we prevent crime.

Through the programme, young people spent time with officers and were provided with a platform to succeed, be empowered, trusted and to develop their social and professional capabilities as they approach adulthood.

The young people involved undertook a Scottish Qualifications Authority qualification in horse care as part of the programme, forging potential future career pathways and opportunities.

In the first year, 22 young people enrolled, and four participants progressed on to higher SQA levels, with a 100% success rate for all participants on the original programme.

Officers also reported broader benefits across community complaints, attendance, and incidents of anti-social behaviour and violence, reducing demand on policing and partner resources.

I want to recognise and thank Sergeant Semple for her work with organisations including the Scottish Racing Academy (SRA), Tannoch Stables, Horse Scotland, the Scottish Police Recreation Association, Hooves and Paws Equestrian Centre, and campus officers across five schools in Glasgow to identify and support the candidates through this programme.

The best of Scottish policing, as well as heroic acts by members of the public, was also celebrated at our Bravery and Excellence Awards, held at Police Scotland Headquarters, Tulliallan, on Friday, 23 February.

It is inspiring to hear from officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public and, at the same time, energising to reflect on the support communities provide to policing.

The awards, and the daily police work I see and hear about, underlines that our officers and staff are our greatest asset.

My third area of focus is my duty to nurture and support officers and staff, provide clear leadership and give them the training, skills and best modern technology to do their job.

I will continue to update the Authority on progress around Body Worn Video, which is an absolute priority for me, and which is outlined as a key milestone in my Annual Police Plan.

My report today also outlines significant progress on a programme to increase the number of Specially Trained Officers who are trained and equipped to carry Taser from 500 to 2,000, an important tactical option which can de-escalate situations and protect public and officer safety.

Of course, to focus on these three areas we need a sustainable, fit for purpose service and the ability to better understand and explain how we can deliver for the public. This month we present two plans – my Annual Police Plan and the budget for policing – which will be important to ensure we progress a necessary second phase of police reform in 2024-25.

I share the Authority’s commitment to producing and delivering balanced budgets for policing. There are very positive indications that the 2023-24 budget will be delivered without the requirement of further contingency funding from the Scottish Government which policing had previously requested. Our confidence around this has allowed us to notify Scottish Government that we will not require the contingency.

This has been achieved by significant focus right across the Service and driven by the Force Executive. It has been extremely challenging and has had operational implications, some of which we have seen pulling through in our performance reporting.

I want to thank everyone who has driven this effort to reduce what was a forecast pressure of around £19m. This has been delivered through really challenging action including a pause on staff recruitment other than for business critical roles; a delay in officer recruitment which has had implications for our resourcing; and by having a very tight grip on overtime spend.

Policing in Scotland’s record of fiscal discipline and rigour has been an important component of stability and credibility in recent years and it is vital that we maintain the progress that has been made.

We propose a balanced budget for policing for 2024-25 and progress on a second phase of police reform is crucial to live within funding while maintaining service and tackling threat, harm and risk.

Our funding allocation for 2024-25 allows us to restart police officer recruitment and next week I will welcome around 200 new recruits into Police Scotland.

We are also carrying out targeted recruitment in rural areas and although our staff recruitment pause remains in place, we are recruiting in priority areas such as C3.

What is equally important, though, is the number of experienced officers performing frontline, operational policing for our communities and how we give those officers the best services and support to do their jobs.

The second phase of police reform will inform how we shape, train, enable, equip and deploy our greatest asset – our officers and staff – to best meet the evolving needs and complexities of our diverse communities at best value.

Where we can release officers, whether through our own redesign or through working differently with partners, I am committed to returning those officers to frontline, operational policing.

My Annual Police Plan outlines a new approach to performance reporting which will help us to better understand and explain our level of service, using hard data across key measures to also inform how we deploy resources and enable effective scrutiny and benchmarking to drive a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

I’ve been clear since taking command Police Scotland will be willing to challenge ourselves so that we continually improve; and so that we are high performing.

Our performance focus must revolve around effective prevention, problem-solving and proactivity which is synonymous with demand reduction.

Our new Performance and Accountability Framework outlines measures across five key themes – Trust and Confidence; Threat, Harm and Risk; Prevention, Problem Solving and Proactivity; Our People; and Enabling Services.

I want police leaders to use the framework to take a values based approach to identify trends; investigate what sits behind them and intervene so that we are high performing and deliver for the public.

Equally, where success has been achieved and evidenced, it is essential we share these examples of good practice and policing delivering for the public with our colleagues and external audiences.

The framework will illustrate performance more clearly and by using hard data. But it is not about chasing targets and we will not drive key measures through practices which are not aligned with our values and which do not genuinely deliver for the public. Policing should not hit targets but miss the point.

Our aim is to bring the frontline of Scottish policing to the strongest position possible within the resources available and that we tackle threat, harm and risk and move from being reactive to high volume but lower risk incidents towards greater prevention and problem solving.

In addition to the planning for a new operating model over next few years, we are beginning to consider longer term plans in terms of where policing will be by, for example, the end of this decade. This work is at a very early stage.

As I’ve been clear, ensuring Scotland continues to be a safe place to live and work is my commitment and priority as Chief Constable.

Benefit levels in the UK: MPs call for annual uprating guarantee

Committee calls for cost of living benchmark

The UK Government must outline the extent to which benefits should be supporting people with daily living costs and bring forward a plan so that benefit levels meet the new benchmark, a House of Commons committee said yesterday.

The Work and Pensions Committee’s report on benefit levels in the UK also calls on the Government to introduce a new ‘uprating guarantee,’ to uprate working-age benefits and the Local Housing Allowance rate each year, to end the uncertainty faced  by people claiming benefits.

The Committee also recommends that the Household Support Fund, which enables local authorities to help those in need, be made a permanent part of the social security system.

The recommendations follow a year-long inquiry launched after the Committee’s recommendation in its 2022 cost of living report to review the adequacy of benefits levels. The 2022 report highlighted evidence that a root cause of the financial challenges faced by households “lay in the fundamental inadequacy of social security support”, but the Government insisted that there was no objective way of deciding what benefits should be.

In response to that challenge, Thursday’s report says that the Government should develop a framework of principles and set a benchmark and objectives linked to living costs to measure the effectiveness of benefit levels.

If DWP finds that it is not meeting these objectives, it should set out how it intends to reach them, for example by increasing benefit levels when the financial situation allows.

The report also says that the Government should make an ‘uprating guarantee’ to increase benefits annually, based on, for example, prices. It would be required to set out its reasoning to Parliament if it decided to deviate from this guarantee.

On the Household Support Fund, the Committee welcomes the extension announced in Spring Budget 2024. The report says that it should become a permanent feature of the social security system to improve the ability of local authorities to plan their provision of discretionary support to households.

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “It is right that our benefit system incentivises work, but it should also provide an effective safety net for jobseekers, people on low incomes, carers and those with disabilities.  

“We have heard plenty of evidence that benefits are currently at a level that leaves many unable to afford daily essentials or meet the unavoidable extra costs associated with having a health impairment or disability.

“The Government has previously said that it is not possible to come up with an objective way of deciding what benefits should be.  Our recommendations are a response to that challenge, and the ball is now back in the Government’s court.

“On top of acknowledging and acting on a new benchmark and objectives linked to living costs, Ministers should commit to consistent uprating of benefits each year.  It is time to end the annual ‘will they or won’t they’ speculation and all the worry that brings to those who rely on the social security system for financial support.

“The Household Support Fund has provided a vital layer of additional support for households during the cost of living crisis.

“The Government should build on the extension announced in the Budget, and make it a permanent part of the social security system to allow councils to continue to reach those in their local areas who most need help.”

A full list of the Committee’s conclusions and recommendations is available on P74 of the report. The Report is also available in British Sign Language, audio and EasyRead formats.

Residents invited to discover the history of Edinburgh’s Muirhouse house and Mains farm

Step back in time and explore the excavation site with guided tours led by archaeologists at an open day tomorrow (Saturday 23 March).

The excavation, which is being undertaken by AOC Archaeology, is being carried out ahead of the Council’s redevelopment of the site of the former Silverlea Care Home into much needed new homes. The site will include 142 high quality sustainable homes, including wheelchair-accessible ground-floor dwellings in a mix of social rent (91) and mid-market rent (51) each benefitting from coastal views and access to parkland.

The redevelopment forms part of the £1.3 billion wider Granton Waterfront regeneration, which is delivering thousands of new homes along with commercial and cultural space, a primary school, a health centre, and a major new coastal park.

Discoveries at the site include the remains of the 18th-19th century Murieston Mains farm and evidence for the estate surrounding the former 16th century House. This includes a culvert/flue that may have been used for heating the walled garden. Midden deposits from the 19th and 20th century, including bone, pottery, and milk bottles, have also been found which provides insight into the daily life of the estate.

It follows the discovery of a fossil plant remains, uncovered in a reused sandstone block possibly quarried in Craigleith, believed to be over 300 million years old. The fossil contains fragments of giant Club Moss and Horsetail, which grew in tropical swamps during the Carboniferous Period.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the site at 14 Muirhouse Parkway, Edinburgh, EH4 5EU from 10am-3pm to view the artefacts on display, with archaeologists on hand to talk about their discoveries.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: ““It is fantastic to see work continuing at pace at our £1.3 billion Granton Waterfront site, the largest sustainable regeneration project of its kind in Scotland. Archaeology projects, like the site at Edinburgh’s Muirhouse house and Mains farm, help us to get a glimpse of the area’s past.

“Our city has a rich heritage, but these discoveries continue to expose new aspects of its fascinating, varied history. The open day on Saturday is a chance for anyone with an interest to come and have a look at the historical work taking place, and to learn from the expertise of our brilliant archaeologists.”

Opening tomorrow: Before and After Coal burns bright in Portrait gallery

Before and After Coal: Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities  

Portrait gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh  

23 March – 15 September 2025 – Admission Free  

Before and After Coal | Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities | National Galleries of Scotland 

It’s 40 years since the Miners’ Strike in 1984. To commemorate this historic event, a new exhibition at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh explores the history and lasting impact of coal, through photographs and voices from Scottish mining communities. 

Opening tomorrow (Saturday 23 March), Before and After Coal: Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities is the first exhibition of its kind to be held at the National Galleries of Scotland.

This free exhibition is a celebration of Scotland’s mining history, created in collaboration with mining communities from across the country, artist Nicky Bird and the National Galleries of Scotland. Support has been provided from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and the Scottish Government. 

Before and After Coal: Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities takes over the Portrait’s Robert Mapplethorpe Photography Gallery and the adjacent Upper Great Hall until 15 September.

There are over 70 objects to discover, including photographs, banners, contact sheets, personal mining memorabilia and video footage, all documenting real lives and lived experiences.

The exhibition is a tribute to Scotland’s mining history, told by those who shaped it, lived it, and continue to be impacted by it. Hear stories from miners about their work, families and the remarkable community spirit of mining towns and villages. Through film, audio and anecdotes, they, and those who live in the communities today, express their feelings about what has changed since 1984 and the legacy that has endured. 

In 1982, American photographer Milton Rogovin came to Scotland to capture images of Scottish miners at their pits, in their homes and during their leisure time. Born in New York in 1909, Rogovin was one of America’s most significant social documentary photographers.

Initially training as an optometrist, he was profoundly affected by the Great Depression which swept across America throughout the 1930s. Turning to photography to express his views, Rogovin used his work as a medium to show the often-forgotten faces in society.  

Now, artist Nicky Bird has revisited and updated Rogovin’s photographs through her project Mineworkings, meeting with former mineworkers and their families who were connected with the original images taken during Rogovin’s time in Scotland.

Originating from research starting in 2018, Mineworkings was granted support from Creative Scotland’s open fund for individuals in 2023, made possible with funds from the National Lottery. 

Through community outreach work from 2021 to 2023, the National Galleries of Scotland also conducted a series of workshops and events with people from former mining communities in Fife, East Ayrshire and the Lothians.

Participants shared the stories behind Rogovin’s photos, as they recognised their fathers and mothers, grandpas and grannies, workmates and friends. Some even saw themselves, 40 years on.  

During the National Galleries of Scotland’s workshops, former miners and their families posed for portraits in front of the original Rogovin images, some donning orange miners’ overalls and helmets in tribute.

These photographs, together with video footage, banners and other objects on display in the exhibition, tell the stories of life in Scotland, Before and After Coal. Local school students in former mining communities also contributed to the development of the exhibition, volunteering their thoughts about Scotland’s mining past and the impact it has had on them today and may have in the future. 

See Milton Rogovin’s original photographs on display for the first time, side by side with Nicky Bird’s updated images, highlighting the stark contrasts and nostalgic similarities of a life before and after coal mining. Works on display include portraits of former miners such as Place and Return with Jim Rutherford, 2023.

Living and working in East Ayrshire, Jim Rutherford was photographed by Milton Rogovin during his visit to Scotland in 1982; an image Rutherford had long forgotten about and only saw for the first time during the Mineworkings project.

Striking a similar pose, Jim was photographed again, this time by Nicky Bird in 2023, over 40 years on from the forgotten Rogovin image. Displayed together, these images show not only the inevitable changes that are brought with time and the disappearance of an industry, but also the enduring similarities that shine through people and the places significant to their stories.  

Visitors can also see work created for the exhibition by the community engagement participants and local school children within Scotland’s mining communities.

Reflecting on the past and considering the future, the participants have interpreted Scotland’s mining story in their own way through film, song, physical objects as well as iconic protest banners – a lasting and instantly recognisable element from the miners’ history.

The documentary film After Burn (2024), which presents the experiences of former miners and their families from Fife, Ayrshire and Midlothian, forms a central part of this community outreach work.

On display to the public for this first time, the film gives a first-hand account about what it was like to be a miner, or live within a mining community, and what has happened to those communities now the mines are gone.

The voices of younger people are also weaved into the exhibition, as they consider today’s challenges of global heating and online culture – in contrast to the miners past experiences. Harnessing their creativity and inspired by the mining roots of their hometowns, this new generation of school children have used ‘the art of protest’ and rap videos to express themselves. 

The exhibition is accompanied by a free audio guide, which includes stories from former miners involved in the development of this exhibition and Paula Rogovin, Milton Rogovin’s daughter. Authentic anecdotes, reflective thoughts and infectious humour throughout the audio guide will elevate the messages behind the work on display, bringing visitors even closer to the people at the heart of this exhibition.  

The commitment to community outreach will continue throughout the exhibition’s run, and into the future. Visitors to Before and After Coal will be able to record their thoughts, memories and feelings sparked by the exhibition on a memorial wall within the gallery space, building on the legacy of the Mineworkings project.

There will also be an opportunity to step into history and prepare for a day down in the pits with replica miners’ overalls and helmets available to try on.  

Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “Working with Scotland’s mining communities on this remarkable project has sparked a new way of creating an exhibition at the National Galleries of Scotland.

“It was integral from the beginning that Before and After Coal should be created by the experts – the people who have experience of living and working in the mining communities across the country.

“This free exhibition is the story of mining in Scotland, told by those who lived it; real stories told by the people who are in them and reflections from generations who are still impacted by what’s gone before.  

“From the initial show and tell sessions, through to the development and now opening of the exhibition, there has been an unwavering passion to harness the community spirit that is so important to those whose lives have been shaped by coal mining.

“Each participant is at the very heart of Before and After Coal, and it simply wouldn’t have been possible to bring this show to life without their input. Thanks to all of them for trusting us with their history, as well as the unwavering commitment, thoughtful insight and infectious humor that they’ve brought in abundance!

“We can’t wait for our visitors to discover the images and voices of the Scotland’s mining communities and hope they will join us in sharing their own memories of this important, and ever-relevant, era in Scotland’s history.” 

Nicky Bird, artist and creator of Mineworkings said: “It has been a real privilege working with such a range of brilliant individuals and community groups across Ayrshire, Midlothian and Fife. 

“The generosity of time and willingness to share stories, memories, and experiences with me has been incredible. Without them, it would not have been possible to retrace the journey that Milton and Anne Rogovin made in 1982 – but more than that – to understand what this means today.

“There has been a very real and urgent sense that ‘the time is now’ to make sure that mining history and its legacies, in all its complexity, is not forgotten.” 

Before and After Coal: Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities opens at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh on Saturday 23 March 2024 and is free for everyone to enjoy. 

Before and After Coal | Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities | National Galleries of Scotland 

Failure to tackle poverty will be ‘a betrayal of Britain’s children’

CHILD POVERTY REACHES RECORD HIGH

  • controversial two-child limit on benefits a key driver, says CPAG 

YESTERDAY’S official poverty statistics show child poverty has reached a record high with an estimated 100,000 more children pulled into poverty last year.  

The DWP’s annual Households Below Average Income shows 4.3 million children (30%) were in poverty in the year to April 2023. It shows:

  • 100,000 more children were pulled into relative poverty (after housing costs). That means 4.3 million children (30% of all UK children) were in poverty – up from 3.6 million in 2010-11.
  • 69% of poor children live in working families
  • 46% of children in families with 3 or more children are in poverty, up from 36% in 2011/12.
  • Poor families have fallen deeper into poverty: 2.9 million children were in deep poverty (i.e. with a household income below 50% of after-housing-costs equivalised median income) 600,000 more than in 2010/11
  • 36% of all children in poverty were in families with a youngest child aged under five
  • 47% of children in Asian and British Asian families are in poverty, 51% of children in Black/ African/ Caribbean and Black British families, and 24% of children in white families
  • 44% of children in lone parent families were in poverty
  • 34% of children living in families where someone has a disability were in poverty 

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group and Vice-Chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said: “In a general election year, nothing should be more important to our political leaders than making things better for the country’s poorest kids.  

“But child poverty has reached a record high, with 4.3million kids now facing cold homes and empty tummies. 

“We know that change is possible but we need to see a commitment from all parties to scrap the two child limit and increase child benefits. Anything less would be a betrayal of Britain’s children.”

Liv Eren 20, who grew up in poverty, says: “As an 8-year-old I couldn’t go on the school trip, as a 12-year- old I was wearing last year’s school blazer and that feeling – that knock to your self-esteem –  never really leaves you.  

“People say growing up in hardship can motivate you, but what could I do aged 8 or 12?. It’s awful.”

Schools are seeing the effects of rising child poverty every day.

Tom Prestwich, Headteacher at Jubilee Primary School in Lambeth said: The levels of poverty we are seeing in school now and the numbers of children affected by it, are the worst I have seen.

“This can have a significant impact on our pupils’ ability to learn and on their overall wellbeing. Pupils who are coming to school hungry, pupils who are overtired because they are struggling to sleep in difficult home conditions, pupils who are cold or uncomfortable because of the clothes they have to wear are all at a disadvantage right from the start of their day.

“We do as much as we can to counteract this. We have breakfast clubs, give out fruit and bagels every day, give out old uniforms and support as much as we can with parents battling for improved housing but it does feel like the gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged families is widening.

“This is happening at a time when school budgets are ever more stretched and our capacity to help and support families is reduced as a result.”

Simon Kidwell, head teacher at Hartford Manor Primary School in Cheshire, and president of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “At my school even working families are accessing local food banks and seeking support with uniform and school trip expenses.

“We hear from our members how schools are increasingly finding themselves having to step in and support pupils and families, with local authority budgets stretched to breaking point.”

In addition to the rise in relative child poverty (measured as living on less than 60% of today’s median income) the DWP’s figures show an increase in the number of children in absolute poverty (measured as living on less than 60% of what the median income was in 2010). 

Since absolute poverty should always reduce over time as living standards generally rise, the increase is a clear warning that not only are more children being dragged below the relative poverty line, but living standards for children are falling over time, their hardship deepening.  

Commenting on the publication of the latest official figures on UK poverty, which show that the number of people living below the poverty line in working households is 1.6 million higher than in 2010, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Hard work should pay for everyone.  But millions of working families in this country are struggling to cover even the basics.

“In-work poverty has rocketed over the last 14 years.

“The Tories have presided over epidemic levels of insecure work, brutal cuts to social security and years of feeble wage growth.  

“Working people deserve far better.”

Households Below Average Income statistics can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023

Scotland’s poverty levels remain broadly stable

Latest Accredited Official Statistics and Official Statistics published

Covering the period until March 2023, the latest statistics show little recent change in poverty levels for children and pensioners. Poverty for working-age adults is slightly higher than in recent years, which could be driven by people becoming economically inactive as a result of the pandemic.

The four child poverty measures in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act (relative and absolute poverty, combined low income and material deprivation, and persistent poverty) are broadly stable over the recent period. These measures are based on single-year figures which tend to fluctuate year on year, and the three-year averages provide a robust indication of trends.

While the poverty risk is much lower for children where someone in the household is in paid work compared to those in workless households, not all work pays enough to lift the household above the poverty line. Over two thirds of children in poverty live in a household with someone in paid work. This proportion has increased markedly over the past decade or so as more people move into employment.        

Other key points are:

  • Working-age adults (21%) and pensioners (15%) are less likely to be in relative poverty after housing costs compared to children (24%).
  • Relative poverty has been broadly stable for all age groups. Adults under 25 are more likely to be in poverty than older adults.
  • Minority ethnic households are more likely to be in poverty compared to white British households. Muslim adults have higher rates of poverty compared to adults of Christian and those with no religion. Some of this difference may be explained by these households being younger.

The two full statistical publications are available here:

Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland contains statistics on poverty, child poverty, poverty risks for various equality characteristics, household income and income inequality for Scotland. This report also includes statistics on household food security.

The data comes from the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Family Resources Survey, Households Below Average Income dataset. Comparable UK income and poverty figures are published on the same day by DWP.

Figures are presented as three-year averages of each estimate. Three-year estimates best identify trends over time. Data collected during the year between April 2020 and March 2021 are excluded from the most recent estimates as response rates were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  As a result, estimates covering this period are for two years rather than three.

The four child poverty measures in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act are based on single-year figures.  These are available in the reference tables and in the child poverty summary.  

Persistent Poverty in Scotland presents estimates of the proportion of people in Scotland who live in persistent poverty. The data comes from the Understanding Society Survey, and the latest statistics cover the period from 2018 to 2022.

These poverty statistics are used by the Scottish Government and other organisations to monitor progress in tackling poverty and child poverty, and to analyse what drives poverty and what works for tackling poverty and income inequality.

Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Key poverty measures:

Relative poverty: A person is in relative poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the current UK median. Increases in the proportion of people living in relative poverty indicate that the gap between the poorest and middle income households is widening.

Absolute poverty: A person is in absolute poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the UK median in 2010/11, adjusted for inflation. Increases in the proportion of people living in absolute poverty indicate that prices are rising faster than the incomes of the poorest households.

Combined low income and material deprivation identifies the number of children in families that cannot afford basic essential goods and services because of a low income (below 70 percent of the middle household income).

Persistent poverty identifies the number of people in relative poverty for three or more out of four years. People who live in poverty for several years may be affected by it through their lifetime.

Household income is adjusted for household size.

The poverty publications present poverty figures before and after housing costs. Before housing costs figures are a basic measure of household income from earnings and benefits. After housing costs figures subtract spending on rents, mortgage interest payments and other unavoidable housing costs from this basic income.

In Scotland, poverty statistics focus mainly on poverty after housing costs. The poverty estimates in the child poverty summary refer to relative poverty after housing costs.

Further information on income and poverty statistics within Scotland is available.