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Council welcomes Scottish Government’s support for capital’s poorest families

City of Edinburgh Council finance leaders have welcomed yesterday’s Scottish Government announcement that around 8,000 Edinburgh children from low-income families will benefit from a £320 uplift before Christmas.

As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty, children that are entitled to free school meals will receive payments of £160 per child in October and December.

This follows three payments that were made late in 2020 and early this year to eligible families by the Council, taking the total to £620 received by each child.

In Edinburgh, these were:

a Winter Support Fund payment of £100 per child in December 2020;

a Spring Hardship Payment of £100 per child in March 2021; and

a Summer Family Pandemic Payment of £100 per child in June 2021. This was issued along with the Summer holiday Free School Meals Payment of £92.50 per child.

This will take the total money distributed to children in low-income families by the end of 2021, over these five payments, to around £4.8 million.

In 2022, the Council also will deliver £520 payments per child in 4 instalments on behalf of the Scottish Government.

As detailed by the Scottish Government, this cash is equivalent to the Scottish Child Payment (SCP), a £10-a-week benefit which provides regular, additional financial support for families in receipt of qualifying benefits to assist with the costs of caring for a child aged under six years old.

Finance Convener Councillor Rob Munn said: “Many families are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and it’s more important than ever that we continue to support those most in need, particularly at a time of year when household bills are increasing. So we welcome this additional money from the Scottish Government, that will be administered through the Council, to give some added relief.

“As a Council we are committed to ending poverty and supporting the wellbeing of our residents and through building a better foundation for our young people we hope that we can create a better future for all.”

Finance Vice Convener Councillor Joan Griffiths said: “Direct support must go hand in hand with the ongoing financial support to ensure that no child is left behind as a result of these unprecedented times.

“Our teams from across Children’s Services have worked tirelessly to put in place a series of measures across the city to continue to support and monitor the effects the pandemic is having on our children. Thanks must go to all our hard-working staff and third sector partners who are providing these vital services.”

Gas Safety Week: Research reveals millions of homes could be a Ticking Timebomb

  • 40% of Brits skipped their annual boiler check-up in the last 12 months
  • 54% cited ‘cost’ as the main reason they don’t book a service
  • 18–29-year-olds were the biggest offenders, with more than half failing to book their boiler service
  • Despite this, 91% would get their boiler looked at within a week if it stopped working

With gas leaks, house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning all potential risks of a faulty boiler, many homes could be a ticking timebomb, as more than 40% of Brits admit they have failed to have their annual boiler check-up in the last 12 months.

In a poll of UK households ahead of Gas Safety Week (13th – 19th September), Millennials were the biggest offenders, with 54% choosing to skip their boiler service this year, compared with just 25% of people aged 60 and over. 

More than half of those who said they don’t get their boiler serviced on a regular basis – including a minority who have never had their boiler serviced – admitted it is because it simply costs too much (the average cost of a boiler service is £80*, the equivalent of a new pair of trainers or a family day out).

Furthermore, only 32% of respondents said they would spend any surplus home improvement budget on ensuring they get their boiler serviced, preferring instead to give a room a fresh lick of paint, the carpets cleaned or the gutters cleared.

This compares with an overwhelming 91% of us who would get our boiler looked at within a week or sooner if it stopped working, suggesting home safety has dropped to the bottom of our priority lists.

Indeed, when it comes to carrying out our own safety checks around the home, as a nation we’ve become pretty lax. Only 35% said they carry out a visual inspection of their boiler, while 53% of respondents fail to check and replace the batteries in their smoke alarm, and a worrying 63% do not check and replace batteries in their home carbon monoxide detector.

Darran Smith, Technical Manager for home heating expert, Alpha Heating Innovation, comments: “Our research shows a worrying number of homeowners in the UK are turning a blind eye when it comes to the safety of appliances in their home.

“Of particular concern to us is the number of people missing their annual boiler service. While we all enjoy the comfort and convenience that boilers bring in our homes, we should also appreciate the importance of ensuring their proper maintenance and be aware of the risks of unsafe appliances.

“Daily use of your household’s heating system can take its toll on the various components that make up your boiler. As such, making sure it is serviced annually is important so it can continue to function as intended. One of the most important reasons that you should have your boiler regularly checked is to ensure the safety of your household. When you’re watching TV together on the sofa or the kids are tucked up in bed, you want to know that your family is safe.

“A faulty or incorrectly fitted boiler can cause severe health problems such as carbon monoxide poisoning which, due to its odourless properties, can be a silent killer. Alternatively, you could also experience a gas leak without realising it, which in the most severe cases, can potentially cause a house fire.

“One of the most important steps you can take to ensure gas safety in your property is to have your appliance regularly checked by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. Although modern boilers are highly reliable; the better they are looked after, the better they will perform in the long term.”

* https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/boiler-service-cost/

Warning signs your gas boiler isn’t working properly:

·      Lazy yellow flame rather than crisp blue one

·      Pilot light that frequently blows out

·      Excessive condensation on windows

·      Unusual dark marks or staining around or on gas appliances

Signs that may indicate carbon monoxide poisoning:

·      Headaches

·      Dizziness

·      Nausea and vomiting

·      Tiredness and confusion

·      Stomach pain

·      Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

·      A fast and irregular heartbeat

·      Seizures

Downloadable ‘Home Safety Checklist’:

To help homeowners make the necessary home safety checks this autumn/winter, Alpha Heating Innovation has created a comprehensive Home Safety Checklist which is free to download from their website now.

Gas emergencies:

If you smell gas or suspect a problem with any gas fired appliance, don’t wait. Call the National Gas Emergency helpline free on 0800 111 999.

For further information, about Alpha Heating Innovation, visit:

 www.alpha-innovation.co.uk 

or for more on Gas Safety Week, visit 

www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gassafetyweek/

Climate Week ‘to put people at the heart of net zero journey’

Scotland’s Climate Week runs from Monday 13 September to Sunday 19 September

A week-long programme of events and initiatives launches across the country today to engage businesses, organisations and communities in Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency ahead of COP26.

Scotland’s Climate Week 2021 will turn the spotlight on the November summit by highlighting Scotland’s national and international actions on climate change while building awareness, generating conversations and encouraging commitment to further climate action.

Climate Week will include the launch of a series of Climate Festival events, part of a new engagement programme designed to empower local communities in the climate debate and ensure an inclusive approach which leaves no-one behind.   

Businesses, organisations and individual groups are being encouraged to take to social media to make a pledge they will commit to during COP26 to tackle climate change.

Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson said: “COP26 coming to Scotland is a unique opportunity to advance the society-wide transformation required for us to become a net zero nation.

“I am determined to make sure the conference reaches out far beyond the negotiations in Glasgow. It must reach every community and deliver a lasting legacy that accelerates our emissions reduction whilst making absolutely sure we do that in a way that’s fair and leaves no-one behind.

“Becoming a net zero nation will require a huge national effort with all of us embracing the significant changes and the chance to secure a better future for us all. It’s crucial that everyone takes this opportunity to get involved. Only by taking action together will we succeed in creating a fairer, greener and climate resilient society.

“In addition to being part of the events taking place up and down the country this week, businesses, organisations, community groups, and individuals can be part of the COP26 Call to Action by making a pledge on social media to commit to climate action for the two weeks of the summit and beyond.”

More details can be found at netzeronation.scot

Centre for Cities: Recovery gathers pace as UK emerges from Covid-19 pandemic restrictions

Centre for Cities has published the latest data on its High Streets Recovery Tracker, up to the end of August.

The data suggests that footfall in all of the UK’s largest cities and towns is now recovering as the UK emerges from pandemic restrictions.

Some key findings from the latest data:

  • By the end of August, average footfall in the centre of the UK’s largest cities and towns reached 64% of pre-Covid levels – up from 53% at the end of July.
  • Footfall was highest in seaside resorts and other tourist destinations. It exceeded pre-Covid levels in Blackpool, Bournemouth and Southend and came close in Brighton, York and Edinburgh.
  • Reading saw a 41 percentage point increase in footfall between the end of July and the end of August – the biggest increase in the country. This is likely to do be due to Reading Festival.
  • The increase in footfall that places saw in August was driven by evening and weekend leisure visitors rather than workers. Worker footfall remained low throughout the summer
  • Overall footfall in central London and the centres of other large cities also remained low throughout the summer – both compared to other cities and compared to pre-pandemic. In central London overall footfall at the end of August was just 43% of pre-pandemic levels. On the weekend it was higher, at 67%, but still trailing smaller cities.
Where did city centre footfall increase the most in August?
Increased the mostIncreased the least
RankCityAugust footfall increase (percentage point)Last week of August footfall level (% of pre-Covid)RankCityAugust footfall increaseLast week of August footfall level (% of pre-Covid)
1Reading41951Mansfield177
2Blackpool401602Portsmouth268
3Southend301233Sheffield357
4Edinburgh27944Northampton364
5Bournemouth241235Slough362

You can explore the all the data for the 63 largest cities and towns on our interactive tracker.

Centre for Cities publishes footfall and spending data on a monthly basis. The next release will be published in mid-October and cover the full month of September.

Christmas at the Botanics unveils more surprises for festive trail

The winter spectacle, Christmas at the Botanics, has confirmed more installations for this year’s trail when it opens on 25th November, including a new festive finale.  

Running for 32 nights at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, friends and family will be able to come together to explore 15 dazzling installations along the one-mile route and experience the outdoor twilight trail.   

The latest installations confirmed for this year include Digital Rain, Fireflies in the Wood and the cascading Sea of Light (above) which will feature as the festive finale:  

  • Digital Rain – is an immersive installation by Bespoke Lighting and Video, featuring LED pixels that ‘rain down’ on those below to create a shimmering shower of light.  
  • Fireflies in the Woods – is an enchanting installation from Electric Foundry, containing 100 points of light that twist through the tress to create a magical woodland wonderland.  
  • Sea of Light – brings an enthralling mix of sound and light technology, from award-winning company ITHACA, that flows across the landscape in spectacular, glittering waves.  

To meet current Scottish Government guidelines, reduced capacities and a one-way system will be in place for the comfort of visitors coming together to celebrate the festive season. Health and safety measures, in place to protect visitors, will be monitored throughout the run. 

Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “This year’s trail promises the arrival of new, exciting and atmospheric installations enabling visitors to enjoy the Garden landscape in a completely different way.   

“As we begin our landmark restoration programme, Edinburgh Biomes, we greatly appreciate the contribution that the trail makes to funding our plant research and conservation projects. By coming to the trail, visitors help to support our important work in Scotland and around the world. 

“I look forward to welcoming visitors from within the capital, Scotland, the UK and overseas to the Garden to experience this magical moment in Edinburgh’s festive calendar.” 

Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “This year’s easing of restrictions will allow more people within Edinburgh and beyond to safely visit this enchanting spectacle.

“We are excited to welcome new artists and a brand-new festive finale that is bound to impress. There is so much to look forward to and we can’t wait for people to visit this magical winter experience.”  

Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas.

A timed entry system will remain for the trail this year with visitors encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment.  

Christmas at the Botanics is one of 15 illuminated trails staged across the UK by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music. Christmas at the Botanics is presented in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the trail is created by Culture Creative.   

For more details visit https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/ and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram. 

Thousands of teenagers missing out on Child Trust Fund cash

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is today urging young people to check if they have a hidden pot of gold – in the shape of a Child Trust Fund (CTF).  

It is now one year since the first account holders started turning 18 and around 55,000 CTFs mature every month. This means their owners can withdraw funds or transfer savings into an adult ISA. Hundreds of thousands of accounts have been claimed so far, but many have not. 

CTFs were set up for all children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 with a live Child Benefit claim. 

Parents or guardians set up these accounts with Child Trust Fund Providers – usually banks, building societies or investment managers – using vouchers provided by the government. If an account was not opened by the child’s parent, HMRC set one up on the child’s behalf. 

Between 2002 and early 2011, about six million CTFs were opened by parents or guardians, with a further million set up by HMRC. 

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said: “It’s fantastic that so many young people have been able to access the money saved for them in Child Trust Funds but we want to make sure that nobody misses out on the chance to invest in their future. 

“If you’re unsure if you have an account or where it may be, it’s easy to get help from HMRC to track down your provider online.” 

Some young people may not know they have a CTF – or some parents or guardians may have forgotten who they set the account up with. To help them find their accounts, HMRC created a simple online tool.  

Any young people unsure about whether or not they have a CTF should first ask a parent or guardian if they remember setting one up. Once they know who their provider is, they should contact them directly – and either request to withdraw the money or transfer the funds into an adult ISA or other savings account. 

For those who cannot access the tool, HMRC will provide alternative, non-digital routes to finding a CTF provider upon request. HMRC will send details of the provider by post within three weeks of receiving their request.  

The accounts were set up to encourage positive financial habits and a saving culture among the young account holders. HMRC is working with the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) and the CTF providers to continue to provide financial education to the beneficiariescation to the beneficiaries.   

At 16 years, a child can choose to operate their CTF account or have their parent or guardian continue to look after it, but they cannot withdraw the funds. At 18 years of age, the CTF account matures and the child is able to withdraw money from the fund or move it to a different savings account.

Police events to mark World Suicide Prevention Day

Yesterday saw the first of Police Scotland’s events to mark World Suicide Prevention Day which is on Friday (10th September).

We are grateful to Veterans First Point Lothian and Ithrive Edinburgh who joined us at Whitefoord House and also at the Gyle Shopping Centre to raise awareness of the support available to people affected by suicide.

Police are holding two events today, both of which run from 11am until 2pm:

They will be at Ocean Terminal along with Projekt 42PenumbraChris’s House and The Edinburgh Crisis Centre.

A team will also be at the Veteran’s Cafe in The Stafford Centre with Veterans First Point Lothian and Ithrive Edinburgh

Leading with Kindness: Carnegie UK urges organisations to put kindness at their heart

Nearly two years ago, Carnegie UK first convened a Kindness Leadership Network (KiLN), made up of members from different sectors spread across England, Scotland and Wales, with the stated aim of supporting and challenging organisations to move kindness ‘off the page’ and into practice.

As with many things, COVID-19 changed the nature and timetable of this programme of work, but it also presented opportunities for embedding kindness in organisational responses to the pandemic.

Today, we are delighted to launch a set of materials that tells the story of KiLN which we hope will inspire and support other organisations to join this growing movement in seeking to put kindness at the heart of their practice.

1.       Our main report, Leading with kindness, narrates the journey we’ve been on since 2019: how KiLN members adapted to COVID-19, and what we learnt about what is possible when kindness becomes an operating principle.

2.       The report culminates with a Commitment to Kindness, which distils the collective experience of KiLN members into six goals designed to enable organisations of all kinds and in all places to sustain and deepen their focus on kindness.

3.      Alongside this, we worked with Simon Anderson and Julie Brownlie to produce Getting the measure of kindness – a guide that aims to support organisations to develop their approach to the persistent challenge of measurement.

4.      Finally, over the next week we’ll be releasing a number of digital stories that aim to communicate the value and importance of kindness in a new way for people within organisations, and people interacting with organisations (look out for these on social media).

However, we don’t just want to share this learning; we want it to lead to action that improves wellbeing.

Therefore, if these reports resonate with the journey that you and your organisation are on, we invite you to endorse the Commitment to Kindness, to use it as a framework to enhance your organisation’s approach to implementing kindness, and to join a growing movement of ‘kind organisations’.

Finally, we would love to hear your thoughts and reactions, which you can share with the team via ben.thurman@carnegieuk.org and with others at @CarnegieUKTrust

#CommitmentToKindness.

With best wishes

SARAH DAVIDSON

Chief Executive, Carnegie UK

Twitter: @CarnegieUKTrust

www.carnegieuk.org

Turn the Tables

Edinburgh homeless project changing lives through DJ’ing nominated for major national award

An Edinburgh based social enterprise whose mission it is to use DJing to change the lives of people affected by homelessness, is appealing for votes in order to be crowned National Lottery Project of the Year.  

Turn the Tables beat off stiff competition from more than 1500 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding.   

There are 17 shortlisted finalists from across the UK, who will compete in a four-week public vote to be named the inaugural National Lottery Project of the Year. Winners will receive a £3,000 cash prize for their project and an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy.  

Turn The Tables was started in 2018 by Robbie Tolson, an Edinburgh-based professional DJ, when he volunteered at a homelessness charity. He set up DJ workshops for people living in hostels and temporary accommodation with the vision to share his passion for DJing and live performance.  This grew into Turn The Tables.   

A National Lottery grant received during the pandemic was a lifeline for the organisation and has enabled them to further expand their work in Edinburgh and Glasgow with The Homelessness DJ project.

Participants graduate through three creative stages from beginner to professional, with the programme culminating in a live stream performance. Some recent graduates of the project have done so well they have been offered positions as Turn The Tables resident DJs and have been booked to perform live under the Turn The Tables banner at major events including the recent Riverside Music Festival in Glasgow.  

Robbie Tolson, founder of Turn The Tables, said: “We are delighted to have been made a finalist in this year’s National Lottery Awards, especially after such a tough year.    

“Our belief is that nobody should live their life without live music. That’s why we have created a safe environment for vulnerable people, who often avoid music venues and events, to not only experience live music but to also be the headline act.   

“We are so proud of all the people involved in this project and the positive changes being made by so many.  To be recognised for that is an honour and we really hope people will get behind us and give us their vote.”    

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, added: “In these challenging times that we still find ourselves in, we see so many examples of inspirational work throughout our communities, driven by these very projects.

“It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, that brilliant projects like these, are possible.    

“Turn The Tables are doing some incredible work in their local community and they thoroughly deserve to be in the finals of the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2021. With your support, they could be a winner.”  

To vote for Turn The Tables, please go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.  Or simply use the Twitter hashtag #NLATables. Voting runs from 9am on 6th September until 5pm on 4th October. 

Delayed Discharge in NHS Lothian returns to pre Covid-19 levels

The number of days that patients who have been delayed from leaving hospital because of no appropriate place to go to has risen to 7,829 for July 2021, the latest month statistics are available for.

This is an increase of 2,004 from 5,825 delays throughout June and triple the number of bed days occupied from delayed discharge at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when 2,531 delays occurred.

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic SNP Ministers made the decision to move hospital patients into care homes, to free up hospital space for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. It later emerged that patients being moved from hospitals to care homes where not tested for Covid-19 leading to higher rates of Covid-19 deaths in care homes than anywhere else in Scotland.

The level of delayed discharge in NHS Lothian has now returned to pre- pandemic levels with the number of bed days in hospital for delayed discharge being 11 higher than March 2020, 7,278, when hospital patients where moved to care homes.

Edinburgh and the Lothians were in the process of recovering from a Social Care crisis before the pandemic hit, with the peak of delayed discharge in hospitals being in October 2018, when 11,855 combined days when patients were not able to leave hospital, despite being back to health.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “These figures are very concerning, with the number of patients being stuck in hospital without a suitable destination, returning to pre pandemic levels.

“In Edinburgh and the Lothians there has been a long standing challenge to provide social care, which started to shift towards care in the community.

“We are now seeing increasing numbers of patients not able to leave hospital and the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board are planning on closing more care homes.

“Patients leaving hospital must have a suitable destination to go once recovered, so that we are not in a position where people are waiting days on end in hospital, when they don’t need to be there.”