Doing our bit towards Granton Going Greener – join the Hub to Station Litter Pick on Saturday 25th September at 11am.
Join us under the Granton Goes Greener feather flag outside the Granton Hub at Maldevic House – We’ll provide the equipment if you come and provide the enthusiasm!
Together let’s clean up our community space.
We’ll be picking litter on the route from Granton Hub along past Caroline Park and up to the old Granton Gasworks Station.
Lothian MSP and Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater has hailed the party’s influence on the Scottish Government programme for the year ahead.
The First Minister laid out an agenda heavily influenced by the Scottish Greens, in her first programme for government. This follows the historic cooperation agreement between the two parties.
The transformational programme will see the Greens in government for the first time; benefiting communities across Edinburgh by laying the foundations for a just transition to a low carbon economy, securing a new deal for tenants, increasing funding for home energy schemes and tackling fuel poverty.
Lothian MSP and Scottish Greens co-leader, Lorna Slater, said: “This is a historic programme for government that will deliver huge benefits for communities in Edinburgh.”
“The investment announced today will allow us to begin the work of improving the energy efficiency of public buildings, an important measure as we bid to tackle the climate emergency, end fuel poverty and reduce energy bills.
“This bold and ambitious programme for government paves the way for a just transition for workers by creating jobs too, as we move to a renewables powered future.
“I’m particularly proud of our new deal for tenants. This programme commits us to delivering a new strategy within the next year which will ensure stronger rights and include a system of rent controls to tackle the spiralling costs for those renting a home in Edinburgh.”
Foundation Scotland have worked with Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) to produce a final evaluation of their Response, Recovery and Resilience (RRR) Fund.
The evaluation offers insight into the difference the RRR Fund has made to groups and communities across Scotland and the challenges that lay ahead. By the time the fund closed in April 2021, it had supported 1190 organisations across the country. Thanks to the National Emergencies Trust and the generous support of our donors, more than £7.4 million was distributed.
This report is the second evaluation of the RRR Fund. The first Rapid Evaluation of the RRR Fund was published in May 2020 and focussed on the first few weeks of the Response phase.
The July 2021 evaluation focuses on organisations who received funding in the Recovery and Resilience phases and includes survey data from more than 150 grantees plus detailed feedback from several focus groups.
The evaluation includes 14 recommendations and learning points within the following headings:
Impact on communities and project beneficiaries
Impact on community projects/organisations
Impact on Community Infrastructure
Challenges and Opportunities
The evaluation also includes several case studies from North Edinburgh’s Fresh Start, the Village Storytelling Centre in Glasgow, Headway in East Lothian, Clifftops Project in West Dunbartonshire and the Whitburn and District Community Development Trust in West Lothian.
Joyce Cattanach, Development Officer for Headway East Lothian, said:”Our Funders were wonderful in their response to the pandemic and the impact social isolation and loneliness would have on our already disadvantaged community.
“We sourced additional funding streams that had set up emergency responses; built up a strategy; and changed our outcomes and activities to respond and enable us to continue to work in a different way.”
The survey data, focus group feedback, and SCDC recommendations within the evaluation will help shape future funding and service development at Foundation Scotland.
To read more, view or download a copy of the full report using the link below:
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is today urging young people to check if they have a hidden pot of gold – in the shape of a Child Trust Fund (CTF).
It is now one year since the first account holders started turning 18 and around 55,000 CTFs mature every month. This means their owners can withdraw funds or transfer savings into an adult ISA. Hundreds of thousands of accounts have been claimed so far, but many have not.
CTFs were set up for all children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 with a live Child Benefit claim.
Parents or guardians set up these accounts with Child Trust Fund Providers – usually banks, building societies or investment managers – using vouchers provided by the government. If an account was not opened by the child’s parent, HMRC set one up on the child’s behalf.
Between 2002 and early 2011, about six million CTFs were opened by parents or guardians, with a further million set up by HMRC.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said: “It’s fantastic that so many young people have been able to access the money saved for them in Child Trust Funds but we want to make sure that nobody misses out on the chance to invest in their future.
“If you’re unsure if you have an account or where it may be, it’s easy to get help from HMRC to track down your provider online.”
Some young people may not know they have a CTF – or some parents or guardians may have forgotten who they set the account up with. To help them find their accounts, HMRC created a simple online tool.
Any young people unsure about whether or not they have a CTF should first ask a parent or guardian if they remember setting one up. Once they know who their provider is, they should contact them directly – and either request to withdraw the money or transfer the funds into an adult ISA or other savings account.
For those who cannot access the tool, HMRC will provide alternative, non-digital routes to finding a CTF provider upon request. HMRC will send details of the provider by post within three weeks of receiving their request.
The accounts were set up to encourage positive financial habits and a saving culture among the young account holders. HMRC is working with the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) and the CTF providers to continue to provide financial education to the beneficiariescation to the beneficiaries.
At 16 years, a child can choose to operate their CTF account or have their parent or guardian continue to look after it, but they cannot withdraw the funds. At 18 years of age, the CTF account matures and the child is able to withdraw money from the fund or move it to a different savings account.
On September 11th, 2001 families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks in the USA will mark the 20th anniversary of that fateful day.
This will include a private gathering organized by the September 11 UK families support group (S11UKFSG) at the September 11th memorial garden in Grosvenor Square, London.
The September 11th UK families support group represents relatives of both the 67 British victims and other nationals with strong links to the UK.
The memorial garden (above) is the only UK memorial specially designed in consultation with the bereaved families.
It was created in memory of all those who lost their lives in the atrocity and houses a pergola with the inscription: “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
Service of Remembrance
On Saturday September 11th 2021 families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks in the USA will mark the 20th anniversary of that fateful day with a special Service of Remembrance for bereaved families.
This private gathering organised by the September 11 UK Families Support Group (S11UKFSG) will take place at the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square, London.
The focus of our commemoration will be the reading of the names by family members and the laying of white roses on the inscription stone within the Garden. We shall observe a one minutes silence during the service.
Candlelight Memorial
After sunset on September 11th 2021, an installation of 67 LED candles will be lit within the September 11 Memorial Garden in memory of the 67 British victims who perished that day.
We shall remember the lives of those taken, mourn the beautiful souls no longer with us and celebrate the love they brought into our lives.
The Square will remain open until 8pm.
The memorial garden will be closed to members of the public from 1pm – 5pm on September 11th . Outside these hours the garden is open to the public as usual.
The latest Emergency Department performance figures for Scotland published by the Scottish Government yesterday for July 2021 show that performance has deteriorated once again with four-hour performance reaching its lowest since records began, and the number of patients delayed in major Emergency Departments continues to rise steeply.
In July 2021 there were 114,392 attendances to major Emergency Departments across Scotland. This is a three per cent decrease compared to June 2021, an 18% increase when compared to July 2020.
Four-hour performance reached its lowest since records began, having deteriorated for the third consecutive month. 79.5% of attendances to major Emergency Departments in Scotland were seen within four hours. 23,493 patients were delayed by four-hours or more in a major Emergency Department, this is the highest figure since records began.
This is equal to more than one in five patients delayed by four hours or more in a major Emergency Department. The number of patients delayed by four-hours or more reached its highest ever figure having increased for the fifth consecutive month.
In July 2021, 755 patients spent 12-hours or more in a major Emergency Department, this is the highest figure since February 2020. This is nearly a 50% increase on the previous month, June 2021. It is a 3,000% increase compared to July 2020 and it is a 200% increase compared to July 2019. The number of patients delayed by 12-hours or more increased for its third consecutive month.
Data also show that 3,477 patients spent eight hours or more in a major Emergency Department. This is the second highest figure since records began. It is an increase of 50% compared to the previous month, June 2021.
It is an increase of over 1,000% compared to July 2020, and it is an increase of 200% compared to July 2019. The number of patients delayed by eight-hours or more increased for its third consecutive month.
Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “These figures show an ongoing deterioration in performance. Current pressures are equal to or worse than normal winter pressures – but these figures are for July.
“Among staff there is serious concern and low morale, winter is fast approaching and quite simply there is low confidence that our hospitals and staff are going to be able to cope.
“The number of patients delayed in Emergency Departments has risen steeply for three consecutive months, the pressures on this trajectory could lead the health service into a crisis.
“It is unacceptable that patients are delayed for so long, in one Emergency Department a patient was delayed by 48 hours – these are dangerously long waits that are likely to adversely affect patient outcomes.
“We have a duty to keep patients safe and treat them quickly and effectively. The current challenges are hindering our ability to achieve that, and for both patients and staff alike it is incredibly difficult.
“The entire health service is under severe strain. Our primary care colleagues are facing record demand, the elective care waiting lists continue to grow, all departments and specialties are facing these unprecedented challenges.
“Yet, while demand is high, the numbers of patients are not the challenge – the challenges stem from capacity issues, across-the-board workforce shortages, and the limitations and deterioration of hospitals and equipment – resourcing has not met demand for some time.
“It would be irresponsible to look on these consistently decreasing monthly performance figures and not recognise the potentially looming crisis fast approaching this winter. Now is the time for an appropriate response.
“We need the Scottish Government to take action, to develop and communicate a joined-up plan on how the health service is going to manage ongoing demand and prepare the workforce, hospitals and Emergency Departments for the upcoming winter.”
A new Peer Support group for parents caring for a young person (11-25years) experiencing mental health issues is available.
The group will be run as part of the new Parents Carewell Partnership meeting online, fortnightly on a Friday from 10-11am.
The group aims to – • Provide parents/carers with a safe space to share their experiences and hear from other carers in similar situations • Help improve wellbeing • Support parents/carers with ways they can help their child • Navigate complex systems such as social work assessments and welfare benefits • Help parents/carers find out more about their rights as a carer
If you’d like to find out more or to wish to attend a session, email Megan, VOCAL’s Parent Carer Support Practitioner at mcopley@vocal.org.uk
The Carewell Partnerships are Edinburgh-wide initiatives which support carers
Yesterday saw the first of Police Scotland’s events to mark World Suicide Prevention Day which is on Friday (10th September).
We are grateful to Veterans First Point Lothian and Ithrive Edinburgh who joined us at Whitefoord House and also at the Gyle Shopping Centre to raise awareness of the support available to people affected by suicide.
Police are holding two events today, both of which run from 11am until 2pm:
Nearly two years ago, Carnegie UK first convened a Kindness Leadership Network (KiLN), made up of members from different sectors spread across England, Scotland and Wales, with the stated aim of supporting and challenging organisations to move kindness ‘off the page’ and into practice.
As with many things, COVID-19 changed the nature and timetable of this programme of work, but it also presented opportunities for embedding kindness in organisational responses to the pandemic.
Today, we are delighted to launch a set of materials that tells the story of KiLN which we hope will inspire and support other organisations to join this growing movement in seeking to put kindness at the heart of their practice.
1. Our main report, Leading with kindness, narrates the journey we’ve been on since 2019: how KiLN members adapted to COVID-19, and what we learnt about what is possible when kindness becomes an operating principle.
2. The report culminates with a Commitment to Kindness, which distils the collective experience of KiLN members into six goals designed to enable organisations of all kinds and in all places to sustain and deepen their focus on kindness.
3. Alongside this, we worked with Simon Anderson and Julie Brownlie to produce Getting the measure of kindness– a guide that aims to support organisations to develop their approach to the persistent challenge of measurement.
4. Finally, over the next week we’ll be releasing a number of digital stories that aim to communicate the value and importance of kindness in a new way for people within organisations, and people interacting with organisations (look out for these on social media).
However, we don’t just want to share this learning; we want it to lead to action that improves wellbeing.
Therefore, if these reports resonate with the journey that you and your organisation are on, we invite you to endorse the Commitment to Kindness, to use it as a framework to enhance your organisation’s approach to implementing kindness, and to join a growing movement of ‘kind organisations’.
Finally, we would love to hear your thoughts and reactions, which you can share with the team via ben.thurman@carnegieuk.org and with others at @CarnegieUKTrust
