A NEWLY founded football club that is bringing the joy of the sport to a part of Edinburgh has been boosted with sponsorship of a popular age group by CALA Homes (East).
Ratho United – which emerged in early 2020 to give local children an opportunity to train and play with their friends – was founded on an ethos of inclusivity, welcoming around 100 children from throughout the local area, with mixed boys and girls teams.
The CALA Homes logo will adorn the strip of its 2014 teams, which consists of six and seven-year-old boys and girls, training once a week and playing friendly matches, ahead of their first tournament in August.
Mikey Stewart, volunteer coach and committee member, said: “Given how young the club is, having CALA’s backing is a major boost.
“We have a great mix of youngsters, from the new homes here as well as the old – with some members joining from further afield because of the welcoming nature of our club.
“We’re reliant on the support of sponsors – the big next step for us is a more permanent home – as we’re currently moving between various locations.”
Craig Lynes, Managing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “While we sold our last home in Ratho two years ago, we recognise that our homes have left a big impression on the village.
“It’s really important to us that we get behind groups like Ratho United as their contribution to the community is invaluable. Their ethos of inclusivity is something that we’re delighted to support.”
CALA has played an important role in Ratho’s recent development, selling the final homes at its Craigpark development in 2019.
Prior to this it completed two further developments, The Moorings and The Glebe, while it even created a canal basin with berths for 14 barges, handed over to Scottish Canals.
Ratho United is a community football club for boys and girls aged between five and 10, with a clear vision to promote and develop health in fitness in children.
It also promotes sportsmanship, fair play, respect and self-discipline as well as the wider community spirit and development of friendships.
John Hunter Barrie, who worked on many colourful characters over his 38 year career with DC Thomson, is backing Scotmid’s mascot competition for children across Scotland.
The new character will become the face – and hands, feet, horns, fur and who knows what else – of Scotmid’s charity partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, better known as CHAS.
John has also shot a short drawing masterclass, sharing his top tips and tricks to help children design their friendly, feel-good mascot.
The winning entrant will see their design brought to life. They will also receive a framed print of their character, £200 of fundraising vouchers for their school/group, a CHAS and Scotmid goody bag with exclusive mascot merchandise.
As well as increasing awareness of the incredible work carried out by CHAS, Scotmid aims to raise £350,000 for the charity during the 2021/2022 partnership.
Shirley MacGillivray, Head of Membership and Community at Scotmid said:“The Scotmid and CHAS mascot competition is such an exciting opportunity.
“I used to love competitions like this when I was little and we’re so excited to see the wonderful designs. We look forward to having the winning mascot by our side at charity events.”
For nearly thirty years, CHAS has been offering full family support service for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
Each week, three children die from an incurable condition in Scotland, and the need for CHAS’ services on the rise.
There are currently more than 16,700 families across Scotland living with the constant fear and heartbreak that their child might die young.
Nicky Bridges, Associate Director of Outreach at CHAS, said:“This is a great opportunity to not only get kids involved in charity work, but to raise awareness of our charity partnership with Scotmid.
“We are so grateful to Scotmid for helping CHAS reach families across Scotland, even those in the most remote parts, and enable us to provide essential care to those who need it. The creation of this character is a further demonstration of the huge efforts made by Scotmid and we are extremely grateful for that.”
The competition will end on 24th September 2020.
Children can submit their entries to competition@scotmid.co.uk or send to Mascot Competition, Scotmid Coop, Hillwood House, Newbridge, EH28 8QJ
Tours focus on distinct neighbourhoods within iconic cityscapes
Invisible Cities, the alternative tour guide company that introduces locals and visitors to some of our greatest urban heartlands, is launching a new nationwide project.
The social enterprise, which has generally focused on city centres, is now delving deeper into local neighbourhoods and encouraging everyone to discover what is on the doorstep there – from Glasgow’s once-notorious Gorbals slum area to Manchester’s Fallowfield and the inspirational women of Edinburgh’s Leith.
Zakia Moulaoui Guery, CEO and Founder of Invisible Cities says, “Every year we take thousands of tourists and locals on our tours but, If there is one thing lockdowns have brought us all, it is a new appreciation for our local areas.
“Until now we have tended to focus on city centres or easily-accessible areas but we have realised that our local areas, neighbourhoods and some lesser-known places are also well worth exploring.
“As a result, we’ve created Invisible Neighbourhoods and curated a series of fascinating new tours detailing some really interesting facts and locations that will appeal to anyone visiting or living in these vibrant areas.”
Invisible Cities trains people who have previously experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city. Invisible Neighbourhoods, a series of tours, events and products, has been designed by these well-informed guides with support from local communities in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester – with more neighbourhoods in the pipeline.
In Edinburghchildren can discover the stories behind the powerful women of Leith, a port with a dynamic community and rich maritime history.
Through a complete Trail Pack, including a Leith tote bag, activity pack, stickers and colouring pencils, youngsters can learn who these inspirational women were and the extraordinary things they achieved – all while exploring this legendary waterfront.
In Manchester, consultations with the local community in Fallowfield, traditionally a student area with a diverse population, have helped to shape a brand-new local tour. Shorter in length than usual and free of charge for schools and local organisations, this tour aims to give people an insight into their own neighbourhood. It has been supported by The Manchester Wellbeing Fund and Barratt Homes.
In Glasgow the focus is on the Gorbals and Lauriston. With support from Urban Union, a walking tour will kick off soon with the possibility of self-guided trails also on the horizon for families to discover this lesser-known part of Glasgow.
Regular Invisible Cities tours are also available in York and Cardiff.
Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has returned for its sixth year and sports clubs across Edinburgh can now apply for a share of £50,000, with one lucky club in with the chance of securing a £2,500 funding boost.
Launched in 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is an initiative that aims to help people of all ages and abilities take part in physical activity within their local communities by offering sports clubs the chance to secure essential funding.
From gymnastics and youth tennis to local sports trusts, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland. This year, Aldi’s prizes will again focus on developing grassroots sports, giving local sports clubs the opportunity to receive funding ranging from £500 to £2,500.
Through Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund, over 458 clubs across Scotland have benefitted from a funding uplift of more than £240,000, helping sports clubs across the country maximise their potential and encouraging more people to engage with physical and sporting activity.
In 2020, Aldi supported a selection of sports clubs across Edinburgh including Forth Canoe Club, City Star Majorettes, Edinburgh Pony Club and Leith Archers (pictured).
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said:“Since 2016, the Scottish Sport Fund has given a wide range of sports clubs the chance to benefit from essential funding to help attract new members and invest in much needed equipment and resources.
“The past year has been increasingly challenging for sports clubs across Scotland and has highlighted the important role they play in promoting both physical and mental wellbeing.
“We look forward to welcoming applications from a wide range of local sports clubs and I’d encourage any club based across Edinburgh to get involved and take advantage of this excellent funding opportunity.”
Team GB athlete, Katie Archibald, said:“Local Sports clubs have played a crucial role not only in starting and developing my career but those of all past and present Team GB athletes, and it is often understated the amazing role that sports clubs play in promoting both physical activity and an active lifestyle.
“Aldi’s continued investment in supporting local Scottish sports clubs is admired by all Team GB athletes and those clubs that will benefit from the Scottish Sport Fund are crucial in helping to nurture the next generation of Olympic athletes.”
Sports clubs located across Edinburgh and surrounding areas have until 27th September to apply. Sports clubs can be based in Edinburgh, the Lothians or the Borders to be eligible to apply for this round of funding.
One applicant will be selected to receive £2,500 of funding, two aplicants will each receive £1,000 of funding, while several other applicants will each receive £500 of funding towards their sports club.
Applications will be selected at random to receive each of the funding brackets.
The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria, from rugby clubs to after school groups and everything in between.
All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within four to six weeks from the region’s deadline.
Please see the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions for more information.
Climate action central to Greens and SNP cooperation deal, says Green’s Lorna Slater
Action on tackling the climate emergency is central to the draft cooperation deal agreed between the Scottish Greens and Scottish Government, according to Lorna Slater the co-leader of the Scottish Greens and an MSP for Lothian.
The draft policy programme, published last week, would see two Scottish Green MSPs taking ministerial posts, marking the first time Green politicians have taken a role in government anywhere in any of the UK nations.
They would work to deliver a shared broad policy agenda that will tackle the climate crisis, create thousands of quality jobs, including many in Lothian, and make Scotland fairer.
If the deal is ratified by party members, Greens in government would decarbonise the transport network and the way buildings are heated, as well as creating thousands of jobs expanding Scotland’s renewable energy capacity.
Under the proposals, the parties would work together on legislation to grow onshore wind, invest in active travel, public transport and a green industrial fund, and bring in new protections for nature, including the establishment of at least one new national park. There would be a decisive shift away from spending on major road projects.
Scottish Greens would also lead on a new deal for tenants, including a national rent control system and better rights for tenants in the private rented sector. This would be particularly welcome in Lothian.
The parties would collaborate to bring forward overdue equalities and land reform legislation, as well as a joint bill on a new referendum on independence for Scotland. The Scottish Greens will also work in cooperation to deliver a National Care Service and on Education reforms.
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Greens MSP for Lothian said:“The world is on fire, and we have to act now. This deal would put Greens at the heart of decision-making at a crucial time for Scotland, particularly in areas like transport and heating where emissions are high. Scotland can step up efforts to decarbonise homes and transport and accelerate investment in renewable energy.
“This is a cooperation agreement, rather than a coalition. The Greens and SNP are very different parties, and we would maintain those different policy agendas, but, if approved by our members, this deal would see Green MSPs taking the lead on a broad legislative programme for Scotland.
“With Greens in government we would be able to deliver the kind of investment and legislation that people in Lothian want to see. This will allow us to tackle Scotland’s emissions, protect nature, advance tenant’s rights, bring forward overdue equalities legislation and deliver a referendum on independence.”
The deal would see two Scottish Green MSPs appointed as Ministers, with further details on portfolios and individuals due to be published later this week.
The leaders and MSPs are engaging with members on the deal before the Scottish Green Party holds an EGM on Saturday (28 August) to decide whether to proceed.
4,323 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Scotland yesterday – highest ever figure
Cases more than DOUBLE in one week
City of Edinburgh Council Leaders have appealed to the public to keep sticking to the rules and looking out for one another, as Scottish Covid cases more than double in one week.
Their plea follows an update by the First Minister yesterday, when she urged those who were eligible for the vaccination to take it up, while reminding people to continue following the ‘basic steps’ to reduce risk, including hand hygiene, distancing where possible and good ventilation indoors. She also confirmed plans to establish a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid crisis by the end of 2021.
Most Covid restrictions were removed when Scotland moved out of level 0 on 9 August. This included the need to physically distance in most settings and for close contacts of those who test positive for Covid to self-isolate, as long as they’re fully vaccinated.
However, the use of face coverings is still required in some public spaces and people are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by getting tested regularly. Leaders have also urged everyone aged over 16 to take up their offer of a vaccination if they have not done so already to help protect one another and limit the rise in case numbers.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “The move out of level 0 of the Covid restrictions framework signalled a return to some sense of normality in many areas of our lives but we have to remember that this virus has not gone away, as rising infections demonstrate.
“It’s great to see businesses reopening, people meeting up with friends and loved ones more easily and schools at full capacity. However, we must not be complacent – as the First Minister said, the recent surge in cases is a cause of real concern.
“We really need everyone who’s eligible, especially those in the youngest cohort aged 16 and over, to take up their offer of a vaccine. Covid has the potential to make patients of any age very ill, including, in some cases, long Covid.
“The only way we can avoid that, and truly beat the virus, is through vaccinating everyone who’s eligible, as well as sticking to the basic hygiene, distancing and mask-wearing guidance to limit its spread.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We’ve all worked so hard over the last year and a half to do everything we can to limit the spread of this virus – there’s no reason to stop now, particularly as cases continue to rise steeply. This is the moment we all need to do our bit, take care to stick to the rules and get tested regularly, if we are to get through this without restrictions being reintroduced.
“We’re glad that the First Minister has confirmed plans to open a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid pandemic in Scotland. The lessons learned from this will be essential if we are ever to face a pandemic like this again.”
The Scottish Government has published its NHS Recovery Plan, committing more than £1 billion of targeted investment for the recovery and renewal of Scotland’s health service.
It sets out key actions for the next five years to help address backlogs in healthcare and increase capacity by at least 10%.
The plan outlines a range of reforms across primary and acute NHS services to help recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and get everyone the treatment they need as quickly as possible.
A key aim in primary care is to restore face-to-face GP consultations as quickly and safely as possible, while ensuring everyone can continue to make use of eHealth services like NHS Near Me, if that is their preference. We are also bolstering the NHS Pharmacy First scheme to enhance the range of services patients can access from community pharmacists without having to go to their GP.
In acute care we are increasing capacity for inpatients, day cases, outpatients and diagnostics. Prior to the pandemic, Scotland’s NHS carried out approximately 270,000 inpatient/day cases per year, and approximately 1.4 million outpatient appointments. Through this Plan we will work to increase NHS capacity substantially beyond these levels.
A priority within the Plan is to focus on the health and wellbeing of NHS staff who have given so much, particularly during the pandemic.
Actions include:
increasing investment in National Treatment Centres (NTCs) to more than £400 million, contributing to delivery of over 40,000 additional elective surgeries and procedures per year
raising primary care investment by 25%, supporting GPs, community pharmacists, dentists and optometrists
investing £29 million to target diagnostic backlogs, providing 78,000 additional procedures in 2021/22 rising to 90,000 per year from 2025/26
providing £8 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce
investing £11 million in new national and international recruitment campaigns to produce an additional 1,500 staff over the next five years for our NTCs, 1,000 mental health link workers in communities, 800 more GPs, and boosting paramedic numbers through the £10,000 Paramedic Bursary.
delivering £23 million to redesign urgent care – with rapid access to a senior clinician via a telephone or video consultation where possible, reducing the pressure on A&E
devoting £130 million to deliver our National Cancer Plan and Detect Cancer Early Programme
ensuring at least 10% of frontline health spending will be dedicated to mental health, and recruiting 320 additional Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) workers
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was joined by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to launch the NHS Recovery Plan during a visit to the new national Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) which will play a key role in supporting improvements in outpatient and inpatient capacity as well as diagnostics.
She said: “This Plan will drive the recovery of our NHS, not just to its pre-pandemic level but beyond.
“As we maintain our resilience against COVID-19 and other pressures, the Scottish Government is providing targeted investment to increase capacity, reform the system and ultimately get everyone the treatment they need as quickly as possible.
“Tackling the backlog of care is essential and will be a priority. But we want to go further than that and deliver an NHS that is innovative, sustainable and stronger than ever before.”
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has today announced the shortlist for the 2022 Bookbug Picture Book Prize. Now in its sixth year, the shortlist includes Alastair Chisholm, Catherine Rayner, David Roberts, and Zoë Ingram.
The award was established to celebrate the most popular picture books by Scottish authors and illustrators and to encourage reading for pleasure.
The shortlist is selected by an independent panel of experts including Primary 1 teachers, a children’s librarian, children’s bookseller and Bookbug coordinator as well as experts from Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years Team.
The winner is then chosen by thousands of children across the country who can cast their votes online either at school with their teacher or at home with their families, via the Scottish Book Trust website.
THE BOOKBUG PICTURE BOOK PRIZE 2022 SHORTLIST IS:
Arlo the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep by Catherine Rayner
Inch and Grub by Alastair Chisholm and illustrated by David Roberts
My First Book of Woodland Animals illustrated by Zoë Ingram
The 2022 shortlist features an exhausted lion who meets an owl friend; competitive cavemen; and a beautifully illustrated wild animal spotter guide.
Catherine Rayner is an author and illustrator of children’s picture books. She studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art where, for her final degree show, she created what would go on to be her debut picture book.
Originally from Yorkshire, Catherine fell in love with the city of Edinburgh and still lives there. She was winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for Harris Finds His Feet. In 2010, she was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Catherine Rayner said:“I’m so excited to be on such an amazing shortlist. “I’m a huge supporter of Scottish Book Trust and all they do so this is an exceptionally special honour. Arlo is extremely excited too!”
Alastair Chisholm is an award-winning children’s author and puzzle creator. He’s the author of the sci-fi middle-grade adventures Orion Lost and Adam-2, and children’s picture books The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears, as well as books of Sudoku, Kakuro and other puzzles, including the Kids’ Book of Sudoku and Kids’ Book of Kakuro series. Alastair lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two children.
David Roberts is a children’s illustrator originally from Liverpool. He has illustrated a large number of books in both black and white and colour. He has worked with such well-known authors as Philip Ardagh, Peter Bently and Julia Donaldson.
His sister Lynn Roberts is also a writer and the siblings have collaborated on several retellings of fairy stories, including Rapunzel: A Groovy Fairy Tale, which was shortlisted for a Blue Peter Book Award, and Little Red: A Fizzingly Good Yarn, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Alastair said:“It’s a joy to see Inch and Grub shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize, and especially to be included in the Bookbug bag!
“This is a brilliant and vital project, and one my own daughters benefited from when they were younger – it’s wonderful now to think of my and David’s book becoming part of it. Thank you so much!”
Zoë Ingram is an artist & illustrator based in Edinburgh. With a printed textile design degree under her belt and a career in the creative arts spanning over twenty years, Zoë now focuses on client commissions and personal work.
Zoë primarily works with mixed media and digital applications, often combining traditional and digital techniques. Zoë has also recently written and published her first book, Oh My Gouache!, a beginner’s guide to painting with opaque watercolour.
Zoë said:“I’m so thrilled to be shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize.“It’s such an honour to be chosen and I just hope that everyone who reads My first book of Woodland Animals has as much fun finding out about all the lovely animals and insects in the book as I did when I was illustrating them.”
61,000 pupils across Scotland will receive a free copy of each of the three books on the shortlist, which are given to every Primary 1 child during Book Week Scotland (15 November – 21 November), in the Bookbug P1 Family Bag.
The winner of the Bookbug Picture Book Prize will be announced in an exclusive video to all registered groups on Wednesday 26 January. The winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy and £2,000 while shortlisted authors and illustrators receive £500 per book.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“Congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize. We encourage schools and families across Scotland to read the shortlisted titles and vote for their favourite.
“We hope the children receiving their Bookbug P1 Family Bag will enjoy sharing these stories at home and with their classmates.”
Katalina Watt, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland, said:“The Bookbug Picture Book Prize is such a special award with its focus on reading for enjoyment and placing young readers at the heart of the selection process.
“Warm congratulations to all the authors and illustrators who submitted their stories and to those making up such a rich and varied shortlist.”
The deadline for voting is Friday 10 December 2021 at 5pm.
Covid cases continue to climb in Scotland – record numbers recorded
People who test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) are being encouraged to securely list details of their close contacts when asked by Test and Protect.
Information collated from the online contact tracing form means Test and Protect staff can quickly identify people who have been in a higher risk setting, such as in a hospital or on a foreign holiday, and focus on contacting them by phone.
They can then be given speedy advice to help break the chain of transmission and slow the spread of the virus. Lower risk cases, and their contacts, are sent public health advice by SMS.
As case numbers increase, changes are also being made to the contact tracing system to ensure it is fully equipped to cope with continuing fluctuations in volume including:
Test and Protect contact tracing staff prioritising phone calls to high risk cases to ensure the system delivers maximum benefit as case numbers increase
ongoing recruitment in local contact tracing teams
additional surge workforce capacity introduced at the National Contact Centre, with 100 extra staff trained and deployed in July.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Our Test and Protect workforce continue to play a vital role in the battle against this pandemic and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for all their efforts.
“Case numbers have increased recently and we have taken a number of steps to ensure the Test and Protect system continues to operate well under increasing pressure.
“We have supported recruitment processes in local health boards and bolstered the number of staff in the National Contact Centre. Our Test and Protect teams are also prioritising calls to cases deemed to be high risk and this is where the public can play their part.
“We are also asking anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to provide details of their contacts as soon as they are asked by Test and Protect, using our online tracing form, so that our teams can work quickly to offer advice to those most at risk.
“The majority of people comply when asked to self-isolate and we are thankful for the important role they continue to play in stopping transmission of COVID-19.
“While we are in the process of emerging from the pandemic, case rates at the moment underline the fact that this virus is still with us.”
Still with us – and for the moment at least, it’s looks like it’s winning the battle …4,323 new cases of COVID-19 were reportedyesterday – the highest total yet.
US President Joe Biden says troops are on track to meet 31 August deadline
A joint statement on Afghanistan was released by the G7 Leaders last night:
Today, 24 August 2021, under the Presidency of the United Kingdom, we the Leaders of the Group of Seven met virtually to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. We were joined by the Secretaries General of the United Nations (UN) and NATO. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the people of Afghanistan, and support the UN Security Council statement of 16 August.
We express our grave concern about the situation in Afghanistan and call for calm and restraint to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable Afghan and international citizens, and the prevention of a humanitarian crisis.
We call for adherence to obligations under international human rights law, including the rights of women, girls, and minority groups, and that international humanitarian law is upheld in all circumstances. We honour the significant sacrifices made by the Afghan people, people of our own countries, and countless others, who have worked toward a more peaceful, just and secure future for Afghanistan.
The Afghan people deserve to live in dignity, peace and security, reflecting the last two decades of their political, economic and social achievements, in particular for women and girls. Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism, nor a source of terrorist attacks on others.
Working with partners, in particular NATO allies, we will continue to fight terrorism with resolve and solidarity, wherever it is found. Any future Afghan government must adhere to Afghanistan’s international obligations and commitment to protect against terrorism; safeguard the human rights of all Afghans, particularly women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities; uphold the rule of law; allow unhindered and unconditional humanitarian access; and counter human and drug trafficking effectively.
We call on all parties in Afghanistan to work in good faith to establish an inclusive and representative government, including with the meaningful participation of women and minority groups.
We affirm our enduring commitment to the people of Afghanistan, including through a renewed humanitarian effort by the international community. To this end we support the UN in coordinating the immediate international humanitarian response in the region, including unfettered humanitarian access in Afghanistan, and will contribute collectively to that response.
As part of that, we will cooperate together and with neighbouring and other countries in the region on supporting Afghan refugees and host communities as part of a coordinated long-term regional response. We call on all partners of Afghanistan to support this effort and wider regional stability through multilateral channels.
As part of this, our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan. We will continue to coordinate closely on this, and we expect all parties to continue to facilitate this, and to ensure the safety of humanitarian and medical personnel, and other international service providers.
We will cooperate together, and with neighbouring and other countries in the region hosting refugees, on a coordinated approach to safe and legal routes for resettlement.
We will work together, and with our allies and regional countries, through the UN, G20 and more widely, to bring the international community together to address the critical questions facing Afghanistan.
As we do this, we will judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words. In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.
The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.
First Minister calls for more UK action on Afghanistan crisis
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging the UK Government to agree to resettle more than the current commitment of 20,000 Afghan refugees in the long term and 5,000 in the first year.
The First Minister says a substantial increase in numbers is required and urgently seeks further information on how many civilians, especially women, girls and others in need of refuge, will be protected – as well as further detail on the new Afghan Citizens Resettlement Programme.
The First Minister also seeks further details on a proposed four nations summit on the Afghanistan crisis, to which the Prime Minister indicated agreement in the House of Commons on 18 August.
Her letter reads:
Thank you for your letter of 20 August seeking Scotland’s continued support in resettling vulnerable Afghans in the UK and your recognition of the role Scotland is already playing under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
I want to take this opportunity to re-iterate that Scotland is committed to playing our part in welcoming and supporting people fleeing Afghanistan, through both the programme supporting locally employed staff and resettlement of refugees.
We will work with the UK Government, COSLA, local authorities and other partners in Scotland to support these programmes and provide people with the safety and security they need to rebuild their lives.
I recognise the incredibly difficult circumstances in which UK officials and service personnel are operating in Afghanistan. Their work is invaluable for those that they are able to assist, and it is crucial that the UK makes every effort to support people to reach a place of safety.
It is imperative that these urgent evacuation operations should support as many people as possible. I ask in particular that you seek to ensure those who have worked to support British interests in Afghanistan are able to benefit from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, whether or not they were directly employed by the UK Government. We must do all we can to support people who are at risk because of the help and assistance they have given to us.
Scotland is proud to play our part in supporting people arriving from Afghanistan who worked in support of the UK. I commend the work of Scottish local authorities who have received families through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and those preparing to do so.
The Scottish Government also welcomes your announcement of a refugee resettlement programme to support Afghan nationals. I am pleased that this will be in addition to Afghans arriving through relocation and the UK’s existing commitments to global refugee resettlement. Refugee resettlement is about meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, and I note your approach to prioritise women and girls, as well as those at risk of human rights abuses.
While recognising the pressures on accommodation capacity, we are concerned that the commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees in ‘the long term’ and just 5,000 in the first year is not sufficient in the context of the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding. We believe a commitment to a substantial increase in numbers is required and urgently seek further details of how civilians, especially women, girls and others in need of refuge will be protected.
As you will be aware, all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities participated in the Syrian Resettlement Programme, with over 3,500 refugees welcomed into communities across Scotland under both that programme and the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme.
We want our local authorities to be able to continue to provide strong support for refugees. To do that, we need more detail about the new Afghan Citizens Resettlement Programme, including timescales for arrivals and funding to support local authority participation, as well as wider services which are essential to support people to settle and be able to begin to rebuild their lives.
People across our communities, including Afghans with family and friends who are still in Afghanistan, are distressed and concerned about how people will be able to leave and find a place of safety.
I am keen to know more about options for humanitarian routes for people in Afghanistan. In the current situation, many people will find it extremely difficult to directly reach a place of safety. We must work to reduce the risk of people being forced to make perilous journeys or becoming vulnerable to the exploitation of traffickers.
During the Westminster debate on Wednesday 18 August you indicated agreement to a summit with devolved nations. I would be grateful for more detail on plans for this.
I also welcome the commitment you made during the debate that the UK will not return Afghan nationals who have sought asylum in the UK. Given the drastic situation in Afghanistan, I expect the Home Office to consider asylum applications from Afghan nationals quickly and compassionately. Any cases which are in the asylum appeals process, or where people have previously been refused asylum on the basis that Kabul is safe, should also be urgently reviewed.
I look forward to receiving further detail about evacuation, safe routes and resettlement from Afghanistan as soon as possible. Scotland is committed to playing our part, and I am keen that communities across Scotland are able to be involved in the humanitarian response in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
