Art UK launches free visual literacy programme for every primary school

NATIONAL charity, Art UK, has launched a free programme, The Superpower of Looking®, to equip young people with the visual literacy skills that have become essential to successfully navigate the modern, image-saturated world.   

In the UK, it is estimated that young adults have a combined total of approximately 10 million photographs on their smartphones. Additionally, recent analysis found that by 2030 there will be 382 billion images on Google Images.

Against this expansive backdrop of our increasingly visual world and the rapid developments of AI, it is vital that young people are empowered to fully embrace the opportunities of digital advancements of the evolving world around them and the future advancement still to come.  

An evidence-based programme, The Superpower of Looking accelerates curriculum development by providing free resources that empower students to critically observe, analyse, question and interpret images and communicate with confidence.

This includes bespoke films, full lesson resources, teacher training videos, a lesson toolkit and access to Art UK’s digital database of artworks, which includes more than 300,000 pieces of work by more than 500,000 artists across more than 3,400 British institutions.  

This launch follows the completion of two successful pilots in partnership with 70 schools in England and Scotland which found that The Superpower of Looking:   

  • Increases pupils’ confidence  
  • Improves visual literacy skills across all assessed areas, including understanding new concepts, substantiating points with evidence during peer discussions, critical thinking and more  
  • Achieves high pupil engagement with lesson materials  
  • Increases pupils’ interest in cultural education spaces.  

Additionally, 95 per cent of teachers that participated in the pilots reported feeling confident incorporating the resources into their classes and 92 per cent said they would recommend the programme to their peers.  

Adele Darlington, EYFS Teacher and Art Lead at Leighfield Primary School, said: “The Superpower of Looking brings art to life in the classroom, for both students and their teachers. I’ve seen how the programme inspired my pupils to stop and look at the world around them through a more critical lens and with deeper focus, and have seen them carry this into other areas of their learning.  

“Watching my pupils’ enthusiasm in the classroom grow after The Superpower of Looking lessons has been inspiring. For children who may never have engaged with arts and culture or been to visit a gallery before, it’s been a genuinely transformative experience.”  

Katie Leonard, Head of Learning at Art UK, said: “At a time when digital mediums and imagery play an increasingly important and influential role, it is vital that we are empowering young people with the knowledge, confidence and skills to successfully navigate the world around them.  

“By launching The Superpower of Looking today, we are making more than 300,000 works of art from more than 3,400 British institutions available to young people across the country.

“It is our hope that by doing so, this programme will help embed visual literacy in the primary curriculum and make art an integral and accessible part of every primary school classroom in the UK.”  

The Superpower of Looking is supported by Freelands Foundation. For more information about The Superpower of Looking and to sign up to the programme, please visit: artuk.org/learn/the-superpower-of-looking.  

Scotland’s children have their say

New National Charter sets out what children want from school-age childcare services

Kindness, community, fun and fairness are the priorities children in Scotland have identified for a future funded school-age childcare offer, according to the new Children’s Charter launched this week.

As part of the Children’s Charter – which will be used to co-design a system of school-age childcare – young people also shared their views on why childcare is needed, how it is funded, the people who should run it and the sorts of activities it should include.

Around 125 children from primary schools across Scotland created five local Charters for the best out of school care for their community. The groups of children later went on to collaborate on a National Charter, which will guide a future nationwide system of school-age childcare.

Children’s Minister Natalie Don met with some of the participants to the Charter during its formal launch at St Mungo’s School in Alloa.

Ms Don said: “Developing a system of school-age childcare is a key priority for the Scottish Government. Giving children the opportunity to get involved at the heart of policy making ensures that we design services that better meet their needs in the future.

“As we publish the Charter during Challenge Poverty Week, all of the children that took part share our ambition to put fairness at the forefront in a future childcare system. Not only will it reduce barriers for children to access a wide range of activities and support, it will also allow parents and carers to enter or sustain employment or increase their hours at work.

“I am grateful to all of the children who participated so meaningfully in this important exercise. Their input is a vital part of our Delivery Framework, which I am also pleased to be publishing today.

“The Framework sets out our key action areas for building a new system of school-age childcare and how we will continue to involve children, parents, providers and communities in delivering this.”

Irene Audain MBE, Chief Executive at Scottish Out of School Care Network said: “I welcome the launch today of the Children’s Charter for School-Age Childcare and the School-Age Childcare Delivery Framework.

“I firmly agree with the children’s priorities of Kindness, Fairness, Choice, Happiness, and Fun, in their ideal services, rooted in local communities where everyone is respected and looks out for each other, as this too is our ideal good quality service.”

Councillor Graham Lindsay, Education spokesperson at Clackmannanshire Council, said:  “Our approach as a Scottish Government School Age Childcare Early Adopter Community has reflected the ambition of Clackmannanshire Family Wellbeing Partnership to tackle poverty and inequalities.

“Our Child Wellbeing Project has encouraged community groups and childcare providers in Alloa to work together to provide school-age childcare which is funded for priority families and this is already making a huge impact.

“St Mungo’s children thoroughly enjoyed participating in creating the National Children’s Charter for School Age Childcare and it is wonderful to see their hard work reflected at the launch today.”

Currently, all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are able to take up 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare in Scotland. Work is underway with local authorities and other partners to phase in an expanded national offer for families with two-year-olds, as well as targeted early delivery of all age childcare for low income families. 

School age childcare: national children’s charter – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Frederick Street assault: Police release CCTV image

POLICE have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with an enquiry into an assault which took place in Edinburgh on Sunday, 4 June, 2023. The incident took place around 12.20am on Frederick Street.

The man is described as being white, 19-25 years of age, around 5ft 8in in height, with short dark hair shaved at the sides and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing black skinny jeans, a white t-shirt with black writing, and black trainers with white soles.

Police Constable Jordan Cowie of Howdenhall Police Station said: “We are keen to speak to this man who may have information to assist with our enquiries. I would encourage him, or anyone who recognises him, to please contact us.”

Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 0360 of Sunday, 4th June, 2023, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

‘Seismic’ victory for Labour in Rutherglen and Hamilton West

LABOUR has won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.

The contest was brought about by the sacking of former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier after she broke Covid rules.

The Labour victory was widely expected given those circumstances, the SNP’s current difficulties and the deep unpopularity of the Tory government at Westminster;

Labour’s Michael Shanks amassed more than double the votes of his SNP opponent Katy Louden. In what predictably turned out to be a two horse race, all of the other candidates lost their deposits.

It was Labour’s first win in a Scottish by-election for twelve years and doubles Labour’s representation at Westminster. The party sees this as a springboard to nationwide success in next year’s general election, which Labour is also predicted to win emphatically.

‘Seismic’ was the Labour party’s agreed word of choice on the night , but was the result really seismic? An impressive victory, certainly – but the turnout in this so-called ‘crucial’ by-election was a miserable 37 per cent. Nearly two in three voters simply couldn’t be bothered.

VOTES WERE CAST AS FOLLOWS:

  • Gloria Adebo (Scottish Liberal Democrats) – 895
  • Bill Bonnar (Scottish Socialist Party) – 271
  • Garry Cooke (Independent) – 6
  • Andrew Daly (Independent) – 81
  • Cameron Eadie (Scottish Greens) – 601
  • Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India – 34
  • Niall Fraser (Scottish Family Party) – 319
  • Ewan Hoyle (Volt UK) – 46
  • Thomas Kerr (Scottish Conservatives) – 1,192
  • Katy Loudon (SNP) – 8,399
  • Chris Sermanni (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) – 178
  • MICHAEL SHANKS (Scottish Labour) – 17,845
  • David Stark (Reform UK) – 403
  • Colette Walker (Independence for Scotland Party) – 207

Healthy Heart Tip: Smoking & Heart Health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Smoking & Heart Health

Smoking isn’t good for you, we’ve all heard this by now. We know that smoking is responsible for 76,000 deaths a year in the UK, but what impact does smoking actually have on your heart? If you’re a smoker, why is stopping smoking most likely the most impactful thing you can do to improve your health and reduce your risk of heart diseases?

As we kick off October (commonly known as Stoptober), this week’s healthy tip focusses on the physical impact smoking has on your heart health in an attempt to motivate you to finally ditch the habit that could cost you your life.

Cigarettes contain 4,000 chemicals

Many of these chemicals are extremely harmful to your body and include carbon monoxide, tar, and nicotine. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood.

Tar is a toxic chemical which accumulates in your lungs, forming a sticky residue. Nicotine is the addictive substance and when consumed it increases your heart rate and blood pressure.

Cigarettes increase your risk of heart diseases

Consuming the above-mentioned chemicals make the walls of your arteries ‘sticky’ which encourages fatty deposits circulating in your blood to stick to the artery walls.

These build up over time and reduces the amount of oxygen-rich blood travelling through your arteries which can result in a heart attack or stroke.

It is time to stop

It is never too late to quit smoking. Even if you have smoked all your life, health benefits can be seen within only a few hours of quitting. After one year of not smoking, you reduce your risk of having a heart attack by 50%.

There is a wealth of support available to help you quit, speak to your GP to discuss your options. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it – good luck!

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/health-tips.

Disabled workers: #AskDontAssume

The UK Government has launched a new disability awareness campaign, #AskDontAssume (writes TUC’s EMMA KOSMIN). Disabled people have had to point out that the campaign is offensive and harmful. But the government are not listening to disabled people. 

The campaign encourages the public to ask disabled people questions about their lives. This can often be intrusive and upsetting.  

The irony is that this is the same government that have done so much to stigmatize disabled people. They have cut services to the bone, and used disabled people as a scapegoat. And they have taken no meaningful action to address systematic barriers.  

In fact, disabled workers are on the sharp end of the pay and cost of living crisis created by the government.  

Seven in ten (69%) disabled workers now earn less than £15 an hour. That’s compared to half (50%) of non-disabled workers.  

And disabled people are much more likely to be on zero hours contracts. 

We need action from the government, not a fluffy PR campaign that will lead to even more harm.

Here are five things that the government should do, that would actually be helpful: 

1. Raise the minimum wage to £15 an hour as soon as possible, to tackle the low pay that impacts disabled workers. 

2. Stamp out insecure work by banning zero hours contracts and ending fire and rehire. 

3. Make employers put reasonable adjustments in place for disabled workers. And bring in fines for employers that don’t. 

4. Bring in disability pay gap reporting. Employers should have to publish how much they pay disabled workers, compared to non-disabled workers. 

5. Make flexible working the norm for everyone.  

Disabled workers need a pay rise and better terms and conditions at work – not another meaningless PR exercise. 

HS2 North axed: Act of betrayal or exciting new opportunities?

  • UK Government to redirect vast HS2 savings into unprecedented transport investment across the country, benefiting more people, in more places, more quickly.
  • Scotland to benefit from funding to enable better links between the Cairnryan ferry terminals serving Northern Ireland and South West Scotland.
  • A total of £36 billion in savings from HS2 will be reinvested in hundreds of transport projects across the UK.

Network North will build better connectivity across the North and Midlands, with faster journey times, increased capacity, and more frequent, reliable services, according to the Westminster government.

And connections will also be strengthened across the United Kingdom, following recommendations made in the Union Connectivity Review.

Scotland will benefit from funding to solve the pinch points on the A75 between Gretna and Stranraer, providing better links between the Cairnryan ferry terminals serving Northern Ireland and southwest Scotland – recognising the importance of east-west connectivity within the UK.

The move comes alongside further investment in the connections with the M6 and Cumbria, and the A77 towards Glasgow.

Successive governments have promised it, but we ( the UK Government) are delivering long-awaited upgrades to the A1 coastal route between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed, improving the route to Edinburgh and strengthening transport links between Scotland and England.

We will continue to work with the Scottish Government to deliver the benefits of this investment package and improve connectivity across the country.

TUC slams Conservatives’ decision to axe northern leg of HS2 as a “huge act of levelling down”

Commenting on the prime minister’s speech to Conservative Party Conference, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Tories have broken Britain. Today the Prime Minister confirmed what everybody already knew – he has neither a plan or vision for fixing it.

“Whether it’s failing to deliver HS2, presiding over the longest pay squeeze in modern history or record hospital waiting lists – the Conservatives’ record in government has been dire.

“We urgently need political change. The country cannot afford the Tories for one day longer. It’s time for a general election.”

Commenting on the decision to axe the northern leg of HS2, Paul said: “This a huge act of levelling down – however Rishi Sunak tries to spin it.

“The northern leg of HS2 would have created thousands of good jobs and boosted growth across the North and the Midlands.

“But these economic benefits have been squandered by the Conservatives’ gross incompetence. This failure is on them and them alone.

“The public will be rightly sceptical about more promises on transport investment for the north and the Midlands. Who can trust the Tories to deliver on anything?”

Baby loss memorial book

Charities and health professionals help design book – now open for applications

A Memorial Book is now open for anyone who has experienced pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks.

The book, produced jointly by the Scottish Government and National Records of Scotland, will give parents an opportunity – if they wish – to commemorate their loss with a physical record.

It was developed after listening to people who have experienced a pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks of pregnancy and is a free and entirely optional service.

Launching the book during a visit to the baby loss charity, Held In Our Hearts, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “The loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy has a profound impact on everyone affected, and the Scottish Government has listened to parents who told us how difficult it was that they often felt that their loss was not recognised.

“We have worked with health professionals, Royal Colleges, baby loss charities and National Records of Scotland to develop a Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss, which provides a record of the loss, and a commemorative certificate.

“I am pleased that this is now open for applications from anyone who has experienced pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks. I am very grateful to everyone involved in making this a reality.

“I hope this will provide acknowledgment and a measure of comfort to those who have experienced the terrible sadness of a pre-24 week pregnancy or baby loss.”

Welcoming the announcement Nicola Welsh, Chief Executive of Held In Our Hearts, said: “The loss of a much-wanted baby at any stage of pregnancy, can be incredibly painful and isolating. 

“A family are left grieving for a life they wished for and until now, for pre-24 week pregnancy and baby loss, there was no formal way to recognise that these little ones existed. 

“The Memorial Book will, for the first time, provide the opportunity for families to have their little ones’ names added to the National Records of Scotland.  We hope that by memorialising these little lives in this way, it will provide much needed comfort and recognition to these families.”

Chief Executive of Sands, and Chair of the Baby Loss Awareness Alliance, Clea Harmer said: “We hope that anyone who has been affected by pregnancy and baby loss prior to 24 weeks will find comfort in this new Memorial Book.

“We understand how vital it is for those who experience a bereavement at any stage in pregnancy to have their baby acknowledged and remembered and know that their babies’ lives mattered.”

National Records of Scotland will hold the Memorial Book, process applications and issue certificates.

The service is free of charge, completely voluntary and historical applications are welcome, as are applications for more than one loss.

Applications can be made by going online to:

www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/memorial-book-of-pregnancy-and-baby-loss-prior-to-24-weeks and downloading and printing the application form.

Briggs: Reduction in people receiving alcohol treatment ‘deeply troubling’

  • Reduction in people receiving alcohol treatment in Lothian
  • A 1,000 fewer people receiving treatment compared to eight years ago
  • Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Lothian Miles Briggs says the fall in the number of people starting alcohol treatment in NHS Lothian over the last decade is “deeply troubling.”

Figures obtained by Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs, from SNP Drugs and Alcohol Minister Elena Whitham, show that across Scotland the number receiving treatment has fallen by a staggering 40 per cent.

In 2013/14, 32,556 accessed alcohol treatment programmes, but by 2021/22 that figure had dropped to 19,617.

In Lothian there has been a 30% percentage drop in those accessing programme.

In 2013/14 in Lothian 3303 accessed programmes, but in 2021/22 that figure stood at only 2303 – a drop of 1000 people.

These figures follow news that the highest number of Scots since 2008 have lost their lives to alcohol in the last year at 1,276.

In the light of these figures, Mr. Briggs has now demanded that SNP ministers back the Right to Recovery Bill in Parliament.

That would enshrine in law a right to access treatment for anyone in Scotland who needs it most.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Miles Briggs said: “The drop in the number of people accessing alcohol treatment programme in Lothian is something I find deeply troubling.

“It is a shameful reflection of how the SNP have mishandled Scotland’s problems with alcohol that there has been a 30% decrease in the numbers accessing treatment programmes since 2013/14.

“This fall is replicated right across the country, and it is astounding that SNP ministers would allow treatment places to be so dramatically reduced at a time when alcohol deaths across the country are at their highest level since 2008.

“This latest example of incompetence will come as no surprise to anyone witness to the SNP’s failure to tackle Scotland’s drug death emergency, and once again it is the most deprived people in Lothian that these cuts are harming the most.

“These concerning findings only reaffirm the need for SNP ministers to finally back the Right to Recovery Bill.

“This legislation would enshrine in law the right for those suffering from addiction in Lothian to receive potentially life-saving treatment and has been backed by frontline experts and charities.

“I will continue to put pressure on the SNP-Green government to give this bill their backing, so it becomes law as quickly as possible.”

Ayrshire and Arran: 2013/14 (4777 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (1546 patients received treatment)- decrease of 13%

Borders: 2013/14 (431 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (310 patients received treatment) Down 28%

Dumfries and Galloway 2013/14 (922 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (918 patients received treatment) Down 0.4%

Fife 2013/14 (1635 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (1092 patients received treatment) Down 38%

Forth Valley 2013/14 (1491 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (773 patients received treatment) Down 48%

Grampian 2013/14 (1761 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (1214 patients received treatment) Down 31%

Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2013/14 (11895 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (4901 patients received treatment) Down 59%

Highland 2013/14 (1531 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (735 patients received treatment) Down 52%

Lanarkshire 2013/14 (5727 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (4789 patients received treatment) Down 16%

Lothian 2013/14 (3303 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (2303 patients received treatment) Down 30%

Orkney 2013/14 (54 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (23 patients received treatment) Down 57%

Shetland 2013/14 (73 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (54 patients received treatment) Down 26%

Tayside 2013/14 (1651 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (912 patients received treatment) Down 44%

Western Isles 2013/14 (305 patients received treatment) 2021/22 (47 patients received treatment) Down 84%

Santa fundraising events unveiled for children’s charity CHAS

‘BREAKFAST WITH SANTA’ EVENTS UNVEILED AT THE CENTRE LIVINGSTON

The Centre, Livingston has unveiled plans for its first-ever ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events in the run up to Christmas, with proceeds going to children’s charity CHAS, which provides the country’s only hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The six breakfast events, which will run on the first three weekends in December,  include tucking into a hearty buffet breakfast in The Wintergarden, adjacent to Aerial Adventures, a visit to see Santa in his Grotto and the chance to join in some festive fun activities, hosted by Santa’s elves, including party games.

Tickets for the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events on the 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th and 16th & 17th of December are £14.95 for children, which includes a present from Santa, and £10.95 for adults, with £3 from every ticket sold going to CHAS. 

Tickets are available at The Centre, Livingston website www.thecentrelivingston.com

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston said: “We’re really excited about our first-ever ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events this year in the run up to Christmas and to be able to raise funds for the children’s charity, CHAS.

“It’s a great way to combine a visit to see Santa and join in some Christmas party fun-filled activities for all the family whilst enjoying breakfast together and raising money for a very worthy cause at the same time.”

Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS said: “We are so grateful and honoured to be chosen as the beneficiary for the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events at The Centre, Livingston.

“This amazing initiative promises to infuse the holiday season with warmth and joy while allowing us the opportunity to raise crucial funds for the families we care for.

“Being the sole provider of hospice services for babies, children and young people facing life-shortening conditions in Scotland, every contribution is crucial in enabling us to continue our mission.

“The generosity of The Centre and all those attending these heart-warming events will make a real difference in the lives of these children and their families.”