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“It’s time to End the Cage Age”

TV Dragon Deborah Meaden and vet Dr Marc Abraham OBE join almost 400,000 people calling on both the UK and Scottish Governments to End the Cage Age

Compassion in World Farming submitted a petition to the Scottish Government in Edinburgh and to Defra in London this week, calling for an end to the use of cages in UK farming.

Almost 400,000 people signed the petition urging all the governments across the UK to End the Cage Age and to usher in a new era in farming of which Britain can be truly proud.

Up to 16 million farm animals are trapped in cages every year in the UK. Sows are forced to nurse their piglets in crates, and egg laying hens endure their whole lives crammed in cages, with barely enough space to stretch their wings. These systems cause immense misery, are cruel and unnecessary.

Despite the Scottish and UK Governments promising consultations on the use of cages in farming, both have yet to take any meaningful action to free millions of animals from behind bars.

In their 2021-22 ‘Programme for Government’, the Scottish Government stated that they would “start consultation this year on proposals to… phase out cages for gamebirds and laying hens, and farrowing crates for pigs.”

This followed an SNP 2021 manifesto commitment to “adopt the highest possible animal welfare standards, including shifting to entirely free range, woodland or barn chicken and egg production.”

Despite these encouraging words, no further progress has been made.

In June, the UK Government announced they would bring forward consultations on the use of cages for laying hens and crates for farrowing sows but failed to set a timeline for this to happen.

As with the Scottish Government’s pledge, six-months later, these promised consultations have yet to happen.

Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, who added her name to the petition, said: “Both the UK and Scottish Governments have failed to deliver their commitments to review caged farming. This simply isn’t good enough!

“Cages inflict immense misery on enormous numbers of UK farm animals. They are cruel and unnecessary, as higher-welfare cage-free systems are viable. It’s time for UK and Scottish Governments to free millions of animals from a life of suffering behind bars.”

The names of 392,063 people who signed the petition – including Deborah Meaden – filled a cage, which was wrapped and presented to the Scottish Government as a Christmas ‘gift’ alongside placards which will read ‘Dear Scottish Government, All we want for Christmas is action on cages’.

A cage was also delivered to Defra by TV vet and author Marc Abraham OBE.

Sarah Moyes, Compassion in World Farming’s Senior Campaigns Manger, said: “Right now, millions of animals are suffering, in cages across the UK.

That’s why we have presented the names of almost 400,000 people to the Scottish Government today, who finally want to see action on cages. The Scottish Government and Defra have made pledges, now it’s time to follow through and deliver.

“It’s time to End the Cage Age.”

Experiences, quality time and managing expectations: advice on navigating the holiday season

As the holiday season approaches, for many families their celebrations could be looking very different this year due to the cost of living crisis, increasing fuel bills and squeezes on household budgets.

Educational and Child Psychologists from the British Psychological Society (BPS) have offered their expert advice to manage children’s expectations this festive season, and how to focus on the smaller things that can mean a lot.

“Families might be having to cut back not just on presents and gifts this year, but visiting family and friends, and it may not feel the same as previous years.

“This can cause anxiety and stress for both parents/carers and children and young people when anxiety is already high about paying bills and everyday costs during the winter” says Dr Abigail Wright from the BPS’s Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP).

“The festive season can often bring a whole range of different emotions for people, including joy and happiness, but also sadness and worry. These are likely to be heightened given the incredibly difficult times we are living in, and also following the disrupted Christmases of the last two years due to Covid,” adds Dr Denise Miller from the DECP.

However despite these challenges, BPS experts say there are ways to make sure children and the whole family enjoy the festive season, and find the joy in the little things:

Preparation is key. If you are worried about your children being disappointed with gifts, or not seeing as many friends and relatives, gently explain this to them early on, but also explain that it will still be a very special time for everybody.

Explain to children that the most important part of the festive season is spending time with family and friends. When they look back, children’s memories of the happy experiences of the time spent with loved ones will be far more important to them than the number of presents they receive.

In this vein, there may be opportunities to spend time with family and friends which create happy memories and experiences, but cost very little, such as going for a walk, visiting lights, watching a movie on television or playing games, going to a carol service or free musical performance, or borrowing books from the library.

Both children and adults may also enjoy creative activities including making things, drawing, and writing stories and poems. Acts of kindness in the community can also provide a sense of purpose. Perhaps you could set up a Christmas treasure hunt activity for your children and your friends.

If children do become upset because things are not as they expect and show ‘big’ emotions, a good approach to use is ‘emotion coaching’. This is an approach which acknowledges how the child may be feeling while naming the emotion and showing empathy before looking to simply ‘fix’ the problem. This might be discussing an activity which may support them feeling calmer and less upset, or simply having a hug!

Finally, Alison Greenwood of the DECP emphasises the need for parents and carers to look out for themselves, as well as their children at this time of year.

“As parents and carers, do make sure you also take care of yourselves and practice some self-care,” she adds. “Take part in activities you also enjoy, and that promote your emotional wellbeing. Connect with yourself and what is around you – and if you can, use the support of friends and family.”

Over 1000 child car thieves charged in just three years

  • Car theft identified as a gateway crime for young people who then go on to commit more serious offences such as burglary
  • 1,156 under 18’s were charged with vehicle theft between 2019-2021
  • Children as young as 12 have been charged with car theft in the past three years
  • Findings revealed by Direct Line’s “Truth about Car Theft” campaign, in partnership with the University of Huddersfield

New research from Direct Line Motor Insurance reveals 1,156 people under the age of 18 have been charged with vehicle theft in the past three years, the equivalent of more than one per day. The statistics also reveal that children as young as 12 have been charged with the crime.

More than half (53 per cent) of under-18s charged with vehicle theft in the past three years were aged between 15 and 16. However, 10 per cent of those charges were aged between 13 and 14. Seven children aged between 11-12 were also charged during this period. South Yorkshire Police revealed children as young as 10 have been arrested for car theft in each of the past three years2.

The figures show that 514 under-18s were charged with vehicle theft in 2019. The number of young people charged fell to 356 in 2020 and 286 in 2021 when pandemic travel restrictions were in force. However, there are concerns the number of under-18s charged with vehicle theft could increase again now that restrictions have ended.

The research is based on insight from Direct Line’s ‘Truth about Car Theft’ campaign with the University of Huddersfield.3 The study, based on detailed academic interviews of convicted car thieves reveals car theft can be a gateway crime to more serious offences.  During the interviews, one offender stated: “They say car crime is a gateway of crime. Yes. That’s how it was for me anyway. I’ve done everything. Town robberies and everything”.

Another said his family got him involved: “When I was young, my father, he told me when I was eight, I was driving round the park and his brother signed me up. My mum and dad split up…My dad came back on the scene and yes, he got me taking a few cars here and there. Then I went on being on my own, doing cars on my own”. 

A third offender started: “I got into drugs at a young age. I was about 14 when I fell into drugs and car crime just came hand-in-hand with it”. He used heroin and crack cocaine and was committing crimes under the influence of those drugs.

The offender explained why he ‘chose’ vehicle crime over other offences: “It was one of three options. It was either shoplifting, which is embarrassing and degrading. There’s burglary, which carries a lot more time, more jail, and then there’s car crime which is, we used to say when we were kids, taking candy from a baby.”

The notion of car theft as a gateway crime is supported by data from West Yorkshire Police. It shows 765 people aged under 18 in the region were charged with other offences between 2019 and 2022, having previously been charged with vehicle theft. Of these, 180 young people were charged with burglary having previously been charged with vehicle theft.

Professor Rachel Armitage, Professor of Criminology, University of Huddersfield, said: “Our research found many prolific car thieves start committing vehicle crime at a young age, often in their early teens.

“Unfortunately, car crime can often be a gateway crime to more serious offences.  Offending can sadly be driven by older family members, or to fund an illegal drug habit, so it is important we also consider how vulnerable children can be supported to help prevent them engaging in criminal activity in the first place.”  

  

Lorraine Price, head of motor insurance at Direct Line, commented: “More than one car theft each day is committed by a child or teenager, which is a sad reflection of our society.

“That children as young as 12 are being charged with vehicle theft is truly shocking.  Children should be focussing on school and having fun, they should be protected from older family members or associates seeking to lead them into a life of crime.”    

“Having your car stolen can be incredibly distressing and cause significant inconvenience for the victim. While car owners shouldn’t have to take additional precautions to protect their vehicles, they can reduce the risk of being targeted.” 

How to reduce the risk of car theft

While car crime is never the fault of the victim, there are steps motorists can take to help reduce their risk of being targeted, or to help retrieve their vehicle if it is stolen:

  • Trackers: Using a tracker within your car can play a big part in getting your car retrieved
  • Alarms: Use of a motion-sensor alarm in your drive, particularly using a recorded voice, can deter a car thief from entering your car
  • Cleanliness: Having a tidy car also helps, as a car thief will see a messy car and typically think there is something of value underneath the debris
  • Bollards and CCTV: Consider installing a parking post or bollard to block in your vehicle on the drive and CCTV cameras to help deter thieves
  • Keys: Don’t leave them visible, use a faraday pouch to store keys at home to help prevent against relay theft
  • Entry/exit noise: For example, having a gravel driveway – noise is a deterrent for car thieves
  • Deterrents: A car behind a gate, lights, or even a dog are big deterrent for car thieves

NHS Lothian issues winter vaccines reminder as hospitalisations increase

Those eligible for the free COVID-19 and flu vaccinations are being urged to get their jabs as winter sets in and hospitalisations increase.

The reminder comes as Public Health Scotland (PHS) data shows that in Scotland, in the week ending 11 December 2022, there were on average 735 patients in hospital with COVID-19, an 18.2% increase from the previous week.

Admissions for flu are also on the rise with the highest hospital admission rate noted in patients aged less than one year old (18.5 per 100,000).

Parents and carers are encouraged to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible if they haven’t done so already. All primary and secondary school pupils and all pre-school children aged 2 to 5 (on 1st September 2022) are eligible for the vaccine, as well as children aged 6 months and over with an eligible health condition. The flu vaccine for children is a painless nasal spray which will help protect them and reduce the risk of them spreading the virus to more vulnerable people.

The vaccines are safe, effective and offer the best protection to those most at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and flu while also helping to protect the NHS at this, the busiest time of year.

Adults over 50 are entitled to get both free vaccines and further information on eligibility for each jab is available at nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines.

Pat Wynne, Nurse Director for Primary and Community Care with NHS Lothian, said: “We’d like to thank all those who have come forward for vaccination so far. The vaccines are the best protection we have against flu and COVID-19, and with hospital admissions due to the virus rising, it’s really important that that those who are eligible get vaccinated.

“If you are eligible and you’ve not yet had your winter vaccines, or if your child has still to receive their flu vaccine, please arrange to get this as soon as possible.”

Winter vaccines appointments for adults can be booked online at www.nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines or you can drop in to a local clinic.

For information on the flu vaccines for children, please visit NHS Lothian’s website.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Uptake for the winter vaccine programme is very encouraging with Scotland delivering more jabs per head of the population among over 50’s than any other UK nation. However, the number of hospitalisations from both COVID-19 and flu are on the rise.

“The vaccines help to prevent serious illness and the need for hospital treatment freeing up capacity as we move into what could be the most challenging winter in the history of our health and care service.

“We are concerned that flu-related hospital admissions have been rising, with admission rates highest among very young children, and we urge parents and carers to get their children vaccinated with the painless nasal spray offered to this group.

“As well as protecting the child, the vaccine helps to reduce the risk of children spreading flu to family and friends who are more vulnerable, which is especially important at this time of year when families are getting together more.”

New independent research highlights Scotland’s “hidden gem” universities

 

As thousands of students and families prepare for UCAS application deadlines just after Christmas, new independent research released today (Wednesday, 14th December) reveals universities making up “areas of excellence” across Scotland and the UK.

The team behind the renowned Complete University Guide have crunched the data to shine a light on some of the universities blazing a trail in Scotland, including those with some subjects that rank amongst the best in the UK. The message could not be clearer – “you don’t have to go far to go far!”.

With cost-of-living putting increasing pressure on students and families, the “areas of excellence” data highlights some excellent subjects in Scotland and across the UK that they might not have considered. 

The “areas of excellence” data for Scotland reveals:

  • Dundee holding the first place in the UK for Forensic Science, while they rank number two across the UK for Medical Technology & Bioengineering.
  • Physiotherapy is a UK-leader at Glasgow Caledonian, ranked 5 in the country.
  • Queen Margaret is the best in the UK for Complementary Medicine, while they’re in the top 5 for Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy.
  • Physiotherapy at Robert Gordon sits comfortably in the UK Top Ten at number 7.
  • Education at Stirling goes from strength to strength, sitting at ninth place for the whole UK.

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said: “The Complete University Guide is the gold standard for university rankings in the UK, and has helped countless students choose the university and the course that is right for them.

“While invaluable, the league tables do not tell the whole story, with some tremendous success stories lost beneath the headlines.

“Today’s research shows applicants the excellence that exists on their doorstep or closer to home. I am confident that the new “areas of excellence” will work alongside the annual league tables, showcasing those universities offering first-rate courses in Scotland and across the UK.”

The research also reveals other “hidden gems” across the UK, with Universities providing sector-leading subjects that many students may be unaware of. These include:

  • City, University of London Communication & Media Studies 1 1%
  • Edge Hill Tourism, Transport, Travel & Heritage Studies 2 3%
  • Staffordshire Childhood & Youth Studies 4 8%
  • Hull Paramedic Science 1 3%
  • Ulster Pharmacology & Pharmacy 3 7%
  • Lincoln Social Work 5 6%
  • Kent Art & Design 6 7%

Simon Emmett, Chief Executive Officer of IDP Connect, said: “The Complete University Guide’s mission has always been about helping students make the right decisions about their future.

“Today’s publication of the “areas of excellence” builds on this work, and reflects the changing landscape that students are entering university in and equips universities with key student research to use alongside their own data insights.

“The current challenges facing students and families, from cost-of-living to accommodation, have informed this new CUG research, acknowledging that there are factors impacting university applications that simply did not feature a decade ago. The research shows that it can pay to stay local, or to consider some world-class options in less well-known universities.

“This independently collated data has also enabled us to build new tools to help students and families choose the university that is right for them. Our new Uniselect tool takes the complexity out of researching university options and puts the student in the driving seat, allowing them to shape their future based on what is important to them. They get results which are clear, unbiased and based on what they want to know.”

Big Hearts spread Christmas cheer through Festive Friends campaign

  • Big Hearts Community Trust, the official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, is taking part in Festive Friends
  • All 42 community trusts and SPFL clubs involved for the first time, as well as Cowdenbeath (43 in total)
  • Over 4,000 people across Scotland will be supported by Festive Friends this year
  • A record £133,000 has been committed to this year’s campaign
  • This year’s campaign will see the continuation of last year’s doorstep visits to people who are at risk of social isolation
  • While there will also be physical events across the country, including Christmas lunches and dinners at stadiums

Heart of Midlothian FC are bringing Christmas cheer to those that need it most this year by taking part in the biggest-ever Festive Friends programme during the holiday season.

Festive Friends is a brilliant opportunity for clubs to give back to their local communities.

The SPFL Trust programme is now in its seventh year and, for the first time, all 42 SPFL clubs are taking part in the campaign, including Heart of Midlothian FC through their official charity Big Hearts.

Cowdenbeath will also deliver Festive Friends after being granted a year’s grace following their relegation to the Lowland League.

The campaign has the largest-ever fund this year, a total of £133,000, which means the SPFL Trust will be able to support an extra 1,000 people via clubs and community trusts.

As such, the programme is expected to support over 4,000 people this year across Scotland.

It’s been a difficult year so far for everyone with the cost of living crisis, but, of course, winter is always a particularly tough time for the elderly, who are at higher risk of social isolation.

Festive Friends brings Christmas cheer and companionship to elderly people who are socially isolated and at risk of being alone during the festive season.

Almost 9,000 people have enjoyed Festive Friends in the last six years and that number is expected to reach nearly 15,000.

Hampers usually contain food, snacks, essential toiletries, gifts, games and more. Some clubs even send video messages from managers and players; others have players make personal deliveries.

This year, given the current crisis facing the country, the SPFL Trust has also organised for Age Scotland Friendship Line flyers to be distributed in each hamper featuring helpful information.

This year Big Hearts Community Trust staff and volunteers welcomed over 100 older people to Tynecastle, where they get to enjoy a hot Christmas lunch and receive a festive food hamper to take home. 

SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid said: “Festive Friends is one of our biggest events at the SPFL Trust and for our colleagues at clubs and community trusts.

“It’s all about coming together to have a real impact in the lives of elderly and isolated people over the festive period – reaching more people than ever this year.

“It’s the Christmas spirit in action as we see the power of football in spades – with clubs spreading cheer in their communities.

“Scottish football is trusted to support, and our recent research shows that almost 83% of people live within ten miles of a SPFL ground – because of this clubs and their associated community trusts are well positioned to effect this type of change in their communities.

“This year 43 SPFL clubs are involved making it our biggest programme yet, supported by a record-breaking fund of £133,000. We look forward to supporting more elderly people than ever before, after all kindness never mattered more.”

Big Hearts Operations Manager Innes Shirreff said: “Big Hearts are delighted to have the support of the SPFL Trust’s Festive Friends programme again this year, which will help us to provide two social gatherings for older people at Tynecastle Park.

“Across the 12th and 13th December, we welcomed over 100 individuals and provided a three-course lunch, as well as gifts and entertainment. These lunches form a key part of our winter engagement for older people and provide an enjoyable afternoon out, in a warm and welcoming environment.

“We are proud to be part of the wider community of football clubs, trusts and foundations across Scotland working to ensure vital support is provided to those who need it during the festive season.”

Big Hearts’ Festive Friends participant Henry Craig, who is 70 years old said:
“Today has been outstanding, the food was excellent, the atmosphere, the friendliness of the staff, the former Hearts players in the room – everyone had a great time. Well done to the people at Big Hearts for organising.

“I’m a Hearts’ supporter and a season ticket holder and I’ve been involved with the charity for almost a year. I love the companionship I get when I come to the stadium. The opportunity to get together for a festive meal was amazing, thank you.” 

For more information on Festive Friends visit: www.spfltrust.org.uk/festivefriends

Pubs, clubs and shops across the UK saved for local communities by £6.7 million rescue package

More than 30 pubs, clubs, theatres and other venues at risk of closure have been saved and placed in the hands of local people thanks to £6.67 million of government levelling up funding

  • Funding will help community groups take ownership of local institutions that have fallen into disrepair or are under threat of closure
  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced second round allocations from £150 million Community Ownership Fund (COF)
  • Scheme will help restore Moor Pool Snooker Hall in Birmingham, refurbish changing pavilions in Falkirk and rescue an 180-year old village shop in Llandyrnog

More than 30 pubs, clubs, theatres and other venues at risk of closure have been saved and placed in the hands of local people thanks to £6.67 million of government levelling up funding.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has today announced allocations from the second round of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund.

The funding will help community groups take ownership of local institutions that have fallen into disrepair or are under threat of closure and give them a new lease of life, ensuring they continue to provide vital services, create opportunities and boost local economies

Successful projects include the Margaret Haes riding centre in Bury, which supports people with disabilities, historic pubs in Warrington and Limpley Stoke and grass-roots sports clubs in Falkirk and Devon.

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said: “We’re putting beloved pubs, clubs and heritage sites into the hands of local people to ensure these cherished institutions and the vital services they provide are guaranteed for future generations.

“With the government backing announced today, these places will continue to thrive, make a difference to people’s lives and be run by the local community for the local community.”

Combined with Round 1 projects, this additional funding takes the overall total to £16.74m for 70 projects, with £2.0m allocated to Scotland, £1.6m to Wales and £1.3m to Northern Ireland.

Successful projects include:

  • The Margaret Haes riding centre in Bury will be saved from closure so it can continue to provide vital services to people with disabilities and their carers.
  • Grass-roots sports clubs in Falkirk and Devon will more than £249,000 to transform dilapidated changing pavilions into modern, inclusive, multi-purpose facilities for everyone in the community.
  • The Kingswood community centre in Southwark will receive £180,000 in funding to reopen the library and community space for weddings, birthdays and art classes.
  • The historic Albert Park in Glasgow’s Southside will also benefit from £100,000 of levelling up cash to restore the clubhouse and pavilion
  • The ‘Haverhub’ in Pembrokeshire, a social enterprise nestled in the heart of the historic Quay Street and Riverside Quarter, will take ownership of their building so they can provide a variety of educational courses for local people.
  • A village pub in Kent, The Honest Miller, has been saved from closure so it can return and serve food and drinks to locals overlooking the Kent Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
  • The Aberystwyth and District Hospice provides vital support to people with chronic and life limiting conditions and their carers. The grant will give the local community the funds they need to buy their premisses outright and make the building more accessible for its users.
  • On the Isle of Arran, Scotland the doors of the Lochranza Hotel Bar will open again to welcome locals to enjoy their selection of malt whiskies.
  • The Zion Community Arts centre in Bristol will retain its place in the community and provide space for local history groups and businesses.
  • The “Heart of Newhaven” in Edinburgh will be reinvented into a vibrant space for theatre groups, choirs and local enterprise.
  • In Northern Ireland, the Glór Uachtar Tíre community centre will be transformed into a multi-generational bedrock providing a café and office space, Irish language preschool, a youth radio station and creche facilities.

Debra Batchelor, Trustee at the Margaret Haes Riding Centre said: “Thanks to this funding, the riding centre can secure the property for present and future generations to benefit from the experiences of being with horses – to empower children and adults with learning disabilities, physical and mental health disabilities, and emotional and social challenges, to lead active and fulfilling lives through equestrian activities.

“This would not have been possible without the award from the Community Ownership Fund . We can now unlock so many exciting opportunities to develop our facilities and experiences, and further benefit our community. Dreams can come true!”

Cllr Steve Roche, Horrabridge Parish Council said: ““Horrabridge’s King George V Memorial Sports Pavilion support’s the village’s 20 football teams, from age six to walking seniors, including four girls teams. 

“This major grant is the key to providing a new pavilion, fit for purpose. The old pavilion has served us well, very basic, but in a bad state of repair and this grant will help us to save this valuable community asset.”

Further information:

  • The prospectus for the second round of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund updated the fund to make it more clear and extend the eligibility requirements, following feedback from previous applicants.
  • This second round of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund will build on the success of the round one, which saw over £10 million awarded to 38 successful projects across the UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-ownership-fund-first-round-successful-bidders

NHS 24: Prescription advice for holiday closures

Know how to stay on top of prescriptions – festive advice from NHS 24.

NHS 24 are advising people in Scotland to check their prescription medication and ensure they have enough to last throughout the festive holidays.

Dr John McAnaw, a pharmacist and NHS 24’s Associate Clinical Director, explains why it’s essential that people put health at the top of their festive ‘to-do’ list,

‘Over the holidays every year, NHS 24 receives thousands of calls from the public who have run out of essential prescribed medication. This can obviously be a very stressful situation for most people, however, by being organised and ordering any required prescriptions in advance, this would avoid this scenario and ensure that the 111 service can help more people who require urgent healthcare advice.

‘Due to both Christmas and Hogmanay falling on a weekend this year, many pharmacies and healthcare providers will be closed for a period of four days on each occasion. Therefore it is so important that people plan ahead, order only what they need and pick it up in plenty of time before these holidays.

‘To ensure you have all medication you require, please check what medication you already have and order any additional supplies you need by Friday 16th December. This will give both your GP practice and pharmacy time to process requests at what is already a very busy time of year for them.’

Dr McAnaw’s advice is part of a NHS Scotland national health campaign ‘Healthy Know How.’ The campaign provides advice on how to stay well and enjoy the festivities, avoiding the need to get medical help over the holidays.

Tips include:

  • Know how to stay on top of prescriptions. Order only what is needed and pick them up in plenty of time before the festive holidays.
  • Know how to be prepared for common illnesses. Ensure you have some remedies in the house.
  • Know how to check symptoms if you do become unwell. NHS inform’s symptom checkers can give you all the health advice you need online.
  • Know how to get the right care, in the right place. Further medical advice can be found during the week by contacting your GP, pharmacist, dentist or optometrist. For out of hours or during holiday closures call NHS 24 on 111.

More details on the Healthy Know How campaign can be found here – 

www.nhsinform.scot/winter

British Gas Energy Trust awards six figure grant to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland charity

Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) has been awarded a grant totalling more than £196,000 to support the families of babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions through the cost-of-living crisis.

The funding has been provided by the British Gas Energy Trust – an independent charitable trust that supports families and individuals facing financial hardship and energy debt, directly and through local and national money and energy advice services and charities.

CHAS is the single national provider of hospice care to children in Scotland. CHAS offers support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families through its hospices in Kinross and Balloch, a specialist team in every children’s hospital in Scotland, and in the community.

The funding package will be used to deploy additional Family Income Maximisation Officers to offer money and energy advice in our hospices, in homes, in hospitals and virtually.

Specific skills sessions will focus on the running of household appliances and will provide useful money and energy-saving tips like batch cooking. Eligible families will also be able to apply for emergency fuel vouchers, and necessary appliances like air dryers and hot water bottles – alongside other practical measures like warm bedding will be available.

Rami Okasha, CHAS CEO, said: “We are so thankful to the British Gas Energy Trust for awarding us this grant which will help the families that we support across Scotland and enhance our current money and energy advice service.

“The families we support have a child with a life shortening condition. Many of these families, as well as living with the psychologically devastating knowledge of the impending death of a much loved child, encounter many practical and economic disadvantages.

Many families are also providing round the clock care and don’t have a choice in turning off their heating or equipment that keeps their child alive. At a time where these families should be making happy memories together, they are living with fear and worry.

“This fund will allow us to provide 1-to-1 intensive support for families in emergency situations who may require advice around energy tariffs, cost of running household appliances and saving money when cooking. It will also allow us to provide emergency fuel vouchers helping ease the strain of travelling costs. 

Jessica Taplin, CEO of the British Gas Energy Trust, said: “The rising cost of living means more people are experiencing financial difficulty for the first time, and are struggling to pay their bills.

“ Some of the families CHAS help are facing a devastating time, as a Trust we are committed to working to support those most affected by the terrible impact of poverty, and this new funding partnership will help provide intensive support for families in emergency situations – so hopefully they have one less thing to worry about.”

Since the start of the cost-of-living crisis, Centrica – the parent company of British Gas – has put together a support package for households worth more than £25m, which will continue to grow.

This funding includes 18-month grants paid to more than 20 advice centres and charities across England, Scotland and Wales, including CHAS.

For more information about the British Gas Energy Trust, to find out about the support that’s available, and to apply for a grant, visit:

 https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/.

Foysol Choudhury MSP: Speak out about Islamophobia

Responding at the end of Islamophobia Awareness Month, which ran during November, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “Islamophobia and other religious and racial hatred is a stain on our society that needs washing out urgently.

“The theme this Islamophobia Awareness Month was tackling denial: tackling the denial that Islamophobia exists in Scotland and tackling the denial about the effect it can have on recipients of Islamophobic abuse.

“I tried to encourage all my constituents this month to speak out when they experienced abuse, or saw it being perpetrated.

“By raising awareness that these problems exist, we can all support each other, encourage more victims to speak out and inform parliamentarians and law officials about what constituents are facing daily.

“I know from an event I attended with the organisation MEND that many victims of Islamophobia feel unable to raise this issue with their MSPs, whether this be due to worry about the consequences, a lack of supportive access to MSPs or language barriers.

“MEND can offer you support on these issues and help you to reach out to parliamentarians, so I would encourage those struggling to contact them.

“I was glad to see that Islamophobia Awareness Month also coincided with Interfaith Week.

“Religious hatred and intolerance affects all and so I believe that religions should be working together to foster peaceful relations and end abuse such as Islamophobia and Antisemitism.

“By working together and joining each others’ celebrations, we can learn more about our differences and be unified it our common aims of equality and peace.

“It was also interesting to learn during Islamophobia Awareness Month that many Islamophobic attacks are also carried out against those who aren’t even Muslim.

“For example, I heard of a Sikh man who was a victim of Islamophobic attack because the attacker mistook him for a Muslim.

“These forms of Islamophobia also have a devastating effect on recipients of the abuse and we must develop more robust reporting and monitoring frameworks for hate crime so that these intricacies can be better understood and better support can be given to victims.

“Whilst this Islamophobia Awareness Month has brought many saddening factors to light about how far we have to go until we live in an Islamophobia free world, it has also highlighted the positive impact of how we can work together to provide each other with support and hopefully end religious intolerance and abuse once and for all.

“If I could give everyone one takeaway this Islamophobia Awareness Month, it would be to speak out about Islamophobia, provide support for religious communities and work with all to create a better, more tolerant and peaceful world.”