Celebrating our Care Homes: Strong support for Open Week

  • Social Care Minister and MPs of all parties are supporting Care Home Open Week, celebrating care home workers, residents, and their role in local communities
  • With support from the Department of Health & Social Care & partnerships with National Citizen Service, Silver Sunday and Intergenerational Music Making, organiser Championing Social Care hopes to connect communities to their care homes

To find a participating care home in your area, please see the participation map at:
https://championingsocialcare.org.uk/care-home-open-day/what-is-happening-in-your-area/

Care Home Open Week, taking place this week from June 28th – July 4th, will encourage communities to celebrate and thank care workers for their work during the pandemic and showcase the positive role care homes have in their communities.

Events at over 500 participating care homes around the UK will include virtual tours, fundraising dance-a-thons, karaoke, fashion shows, art projects, community service days and much more.

Some 40 MPs from across all political parties are taking part in Care Home Open Week, including Helen Whately MP, Minister of State for Social Care, Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Mental Health.

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) will be participating in the Week with staff across the Department’s Adult Social Care team joining in a number of virtual events, including virtual tours of Majesticare and CareTech plc care services throughout the Week.

DHSC civil servants will also participate in opportunities to discuss the experience of key roles in care homes, including home managers, activity coordinators and care workers from across the sector. Care teams will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more of DHSC’s role in the sector.

Additionally, Championing Social Care has partnered with the National Citizen Service – the flagship programme for young people, Silver Sunday – the national day for older people, and Intergenerational Music Making to hold virtual events throughout the week.

See our Care Home Open Week video below:

Hallmark Care Homes will support Care Home Open Week and Championing Social Care with a live virtual event on Thursday, 1 July.

Event organisers have planned this year’s Care Home Open Week to be virtual, recognising that safety must be a top priority and have asked participating care homes to adapt their events to ensure they are COVID – safe and in line with government guidance.

Mitesh Dhanak (above), Founder of Precious Homes and part of the organising committee for the event, said: “We want to further enrich the lives of the UK’s care home residents by reminding the community that those individuals who live in care homes are unique individuals supported by dedicated, caring and professional teams.

“As we move ahead in the planning of Care Home Open Week, our top priority is, of course, to keep everyone safe. Our aim is still the same though: to showcase the incredibly valuable services that care homes provide at the heart of every local community.”

Many events held during the week will work to connect communities further to their local care homes.

Championing Social Care partnered with the National Citizen Service and consulted the organisation’s Youth Voice Forum for advice on how Care Home Open Week programmes can be successful and more engaging for young people.

The National Citizen Service has also encouraged the many thousands of young people it supports to get involved in volunteer opportunities for Care Home Open Week.

Examples of community engaging events include Precious Homes in Milton Keynes which will be holding their “Precious Festival” on July 1st and 2nd and will be providing outside, COVID-safe educational discussion opportunities between community members, support workers and people the home supports to speak about their experiences with Autism, sensory disorders and mental health.

Ashleigh Calder, Operations Manager – Central Region of Precious Homes, said: “We are extremely excited to be involved in Care Home Open Week. It has been a tough year and this will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get together and share awareness of the great work we do with the local community.

“We are hopeful our event will enable the people we support to share their experiences and for our staff to be acknowledged for their continuous hard work and dedication – and have fun of course!”

Carl Roberts, Sales and Marketing Director of TLC Care, which is providing free breakfasts on Tuesday the 29th to emergency and healthcare workers at their locations in North London, Cambridge, Hertfordshire and Surrey, said: ““Here at TLC Care we are so proud to be able to launch this group wide event series to acknowledge and reward the amazing work of the emergency services and health care workers across our communities.

“This is our little way of sharing some Truth, Love and Compassion with the health care heroes.”

Jonathan Freeman, CEO of the CareTech Foundation, Founding Patron of Championing Social Care, said: “Social care is provided in so many settings up and down the country, playing a key role in the fabric of local communities.

“Care Home Open Week is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the contribution of care homes and connect local people with them.”

This year’s Care Home Open Week is organised by Championing Social Care, a volunteer-led organisation that aims to ensure a wider and deeper public understanding, appreciation and respect for social care.

The week is sponsored by Civitas Investment Management (https://www.civitasim.com/) and Virgin Money (https://uk.virginmoney.com/).

UK’s first compost packaging recycling scheme trail launched

71% of residents in Scotland make a conscious effort to recycle

 Waste-aware gardeners in and around Edinburgh and Milngavie will now be able to recycle compost packaging thanks to a trial scheme from the country’s biggest garden retailer. 

Dobbies Garden Centres and Evergreen Garden Care are partnering on the initiative which will see garden furniture created from the recycled material and donated to Greenfingers, a charity that creates green spaces for terminally-ill children. 

Launching this week, trial will run in 10 stores for an initial three months, including Dobbies Garden Centres at Edinburgh and Milngavie.  

Most plastic packaging of the sort used for compost bags ends up in landfill because very few local authorities collect polythene sacks as part of kerbside collections or at recycling centres. 

In a survey conducted by Dobbies, in collaboration with Censuswide, 71% of respondents in Scotland make a conscious effort to recycle*. Dobbies will also be encouraging more people to recycle with instore and online information to make it as easy as possible for customers. 

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Greenfingers said: “We believe that time outdoors can bring significant benefits to children with life-limiting conditions.

“By supporting our work through their unique initiative, Dobbies and Evergreen will help us provide more children with the valuable opportunity to spend more time outside enjoying the therapeutic benefits of being close to nature.”  

Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director at Dobbies, said: “All that people have to do is bring any compost packaging, no matter what brand or where it was purchased, and return it to one of the recycling bins in our plant areas.

“It will then be collected by Veolia for recycling at Berry BPI Recycled Products before used as part of the raw material blend to produce garden furniture becoming a valuable asset for those children’s hospices working with Greenfingers Charity. It’s a great win for the environment, for customers in Edinburgh and Milngavie, and for the community, and an important next stage of our #sustainabledobbies mission.” 

Jane Hartley, Sustainability Marketing Manager said: “Evergreen is delighted to be working with Dobbies and their customers. Evidence suggests that consumers want to take the right action when it comes to recycling so our new Miracle-Gro Bring Back Compost Bags bins will create strong visibility in store to encourage people to recycle. 

“We want to reduce the amount of single use plastic used within our business and compost bags are key to delivering this, we have already increased the amount of recycled content in our compost bags which for Miracle-Gro, now contains 80% recycled content. However, we have so much more to achieve, this is the first of a number of initiatives we are working on.” 

Stores included in the trial are: Edinburgh, Milngavie, Woodcote Green, Altrincham, Morpeth, Cirencester, Milton Keynes, Atherstone, Keston and Brighton. 

Also in these stores are pot recycling bins, in collaboration with Elho, as well as a plastic pot and tray return service, which is available in every Dobbies store.   

Follow and support Dobbies sustainability campaign using the hashtag #sustainabledobbies 

For Dobbies sustainability policy: https://www.dobbies.com/sustainability-policy 

For Dobbies Sustainable podcast: https://www.dobbies.com/podcasts 

*Statistic obtained through combining ‘strongly agree’ and ‘somewhat agree’ answer options for question: ‘I make a conscious effort / go out of my way to recycle’ 

Napier University announces Will Whitehorn as its next Chancellor

Space industry pioneer and leading business executive Will Whitehorn has been appointed as the next Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University.

The Edinburgh-born President of industry group UKspace takes up his post at the University on August 1, taking over from current Chancellor Dr David Eustace.

A former executive at the Virgin Group, Whitehorn also holds boardroom roles at The Scottish Gallery Employee Ownership Trust, Scottish Event Campus, Craneware, Good Energy and ÅAC Clyde Space AB. His business interests include travel, technology and communication as well as leadership, marketing and product design.

As Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier, he will become the titular head of the institution and will confer degrees and other awards of the University.

Educated at Edinburgh Academy and the University of Aberdeen, Whitehorn enjoyed watching aircraft at Edinburgh Airport as a youngster and spent his early career as a crewman on North Sea search-and-rescue helicopters.

After stints at Thomas Cook, TSB Group and Lombard Communications, he was recruited to Virgin to boost the Group’s image in the City, and became a key lieutenant to Sir Richard Branson.  As Brand Development and Corporate Affairs Director, he was at the heart of the entertainment, media and travel giant’s relentless quest for new business opportunities.

Will Whitehorn worked on a series of major Virgin projects, including the Pendolino train, and later took up the post of President at Virgin Galactic, which saw him play a central role in developing the concept of commercial space travel.

After moving on from Virgin Galactic as it entered a new stage of development, he returned to brand and communications work, also holding board positions at Purplebricks, Stagecoach and Transport Systems Catapult. 

Will Whitehorn, 61, said: “I am deeply honoured to have been chosen as the new Chancellor of this great University in the city I was born and raised in. I have a lot to thank Edinburgh for and I have a lot to thank my own good fortune for in achieving a place at the University of Aberdeen in 1977 and I never forget it. My career has been founded in my education.

“University should be an adventure and Edinburgh Napier does a better job of fulfilling that dream for students than many educational institutions around the country can even dream of and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to play my small part in taking the achievements of the University to new heights. 

“But there are great challenges for education in Scotland in the political and economic minefields that lie ahead, and I am also mindful of the great responsibility I will also have in helping students and academics alike to navigate that future.”

Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “I am delighted that Will is taking on the role of Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University.

“His exciting and varied business background will serve as inspiration to our students, who will be keen to engage with him on campus and find out what makes him tick as they set out to make their own mark on the world.

“His enthusiasm and passion for innovation and entrepreneurialism will equally inspire our staff, and all who align with our values. He will be a worthy successor to David Eustace, who brought deep commitment and energy to the role during his six years at the University.”

EU settlement scheme Hub opens on Pennywell Road

DEADLINE is 30th June – Book your slot NOW

EU citizens living in Edinburgh, your attention please!

From today until deadline day – Wednesday 30th June, Citizens Advice Edinburgh are running an EU Settlement Scheme hub, to offer you a safe reassuring space to complete your application.

Register here👉https://bit.ly/3haNgo2

Social distancing measures will apply.

Concerns raised over support to vulnerable children as spending is slashed

  • Cut in spend of £1,052 per pupil with ASN since 2012
  • ‘Postcode lottery’ of spending between local authorities on ASN
  • Increase of just under 100,000 in the number of pupils with ASN since 2012
  • Cut in the number of ASN teachers to an all-time low

An alliance of leading independent and third sector organisations, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), has called for greater resourcing to support children and young people with additional support needs (ASN), such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems.

The call comes as new figures contained in a parliamentary answer reveal that spend per pupil with ASN has slumped dramatically, while the number of specialist teachers supporting them has dropped to a new low and the number of pupils with ASN has escalated dramatically.

The figures highlight that average spend per pupil on additional support for learning by local authorities in Scotland (primary, secondary and special education) has fallen from £4,276 in 2012 to £3,224 in 2020 (in cash terms).

This amounts to an overall cut in spending of £1,052 per pupil, representing a 24.6% drop.

Spend per pupil ranges from £1,737 in Edinburgh to £5,849 in the Shetland Islands, pointing to a ‘postcode lottery’ in spend across local authorities (see Notes to Editors for figures per local authority). 

This fall is against the backdrop of an 82.9 per cent increase since 2012 in the number of pupils identified with ASN, from 118,011 to 215,897, amounting to 97,886 individuals. Those with ASNcurrently represent just under a third of all pupils (30.9 per cent).

Between 2012 and 2020 the number of full-time equivalent ASN teachers (publicly funded primary, secondary, special and centrally employed) has fallen from 3,389 to 2,836, a decrease of 553 teachers, representing a cut of 16.3 per cent and an all-time low.

Against the background of Covid-19 and its disproportionate impact on those with ASN, the SCSC has called for greater resourcing from both the Scottish Government and local authorities to ensure that those with ASN in Scotland’s schools receive the care and support they need.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need, especially during and as we come out of the current Covid-19 crisis. This is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap as we know that those with ASN disproportionately come from lower income families and areas of deprivation.

“Such a situation is clearly challenging in an environment of austerity and evidence of cuts in spending per pupil with ASN and in the number of specialist teachers supporting this group.

“It is vital that the Scottish Government and local authorities work together to provide the necessary resourcing to address the needs of those children and young people with ASN, who represent some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. “

Self-registration vaccination portal for all over 18s

Every adult can sign up for a Covid jag

Anyone aged 18 and over who has not received a first coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment or has missed their first dose for any reason is being invited to self-register for an appointment.

The portal will be open from 8am today (Monday 28 June) until this initial vaccination programme ends in September. The online system, which was used successfully to encourage unpaid carers and 18-29 year olds to come forward, will be available to every adult in Scotland.

Those who sign up will receive a text or email with details of their appointment which they can change if the time or location is unsuitable.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are absolutely delighted at the success of the roll-out in Scotland and the high-uptake among the adult population.

“I want to thank everyone who has been involved in the incredibly successful roll-out and of course, all those who have taken up their offer of a vaccine.

“Whatever the reason anyone aged 18 and over has not yet received a vaccination appointment, we invite them to take the opportunity to self-register as soon as possible. The self-registration system is open to all adults, whether you are registered with a GP or not, and will enable anyone who is new to Scotland or did not have an up-to-date registered home address to come forward.

“The evidence shows that vaccination is helping to protect people from serious health harms and there is no doubt it is vaccination which offers us the best route out of this pandemic.

“The vaccination programme is available for every adult in Scotland I urge everyone to take the opportunity to protect themselves, their families and their community.”  

Self-registration portal

Morrisons serve up Tennis Treats!

With fewer spectators allowed to sit on centre court this year, Morrisons is making it easy for customers to get into the spirit of the sport at home.

For a limited time only, customers can get their hands on The Tennis Treats Box which contains everything they need to serve up an ace Wimbledon party.

It contains essential British refreshments including Pimms, strawberries, cream and of course, Robinson’s. What’s more, you’ll receive a complimentary water bottle and tournament chart courtesy to track the matches.

It costs £32 which includes nominated day delivery by courier.

For a complete hassle-free experience customers will receive a text message in the morning with an hour delivery slot, so they know exactly when to expect it.

Joint call for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting

The TUC, CBI and Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) yesterday issued a joint call for the government to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting. 

In a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, the heads of the three organisations say: “Introducing mandatory pay reporting on ethnicity would transform our understanding of race inequality at work and most importantly, drive action to tackle it where we find it.” 

The letter – signed by TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, CBI Director General Tony Danker and EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner – urges ministers to set out a clear timeframe for introducing ethnicity pay gap reporting to help “ethnic minorities reach their full potential in the workplace.” 

TUC General Secretary  Frances O’Grady  said:  “Everyone deserves the chance to thrive at work, and to have a decent, secure job they can build a life on. But the sad reality is that even today race still plays a significant role in determining people’s pay and career progression. 

“This problem isn’t going to magic itself away. Without robust and urgent action many BME workers will continue to be held back. 

“Unions stand ready to work with employers, regulators and government on practical steps to tackle inequality and discrimination in the workplace. 

“Mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting is an obvious first step in helping to improve transparency and bring about change. 

“We need ministers to commit to introducing ethnicity pay reporting now and to bring forward a clear timetable for getting it into law.” 

The full letter reads: 

Dear Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 

The case for mandatory ethnicity pay reporting 

We are writing to set out our shared priorities to the inter-ministerial group established to consider the recommendations of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. Respectively, we represent millions of workers, thousands of businesses, and enforce the Equality Act 2010 in Britain to ensure that people have equal access to and are treated fairly at work. 

We agree with the Commission’s statement that the report comes at a pivotal moment for the country, at a time when the inequalities facing ethnic minority people are under scrutiny. Outcomes at work are no exception. However we believe the report’s recommendations, in particular those related to pay disparities, could go further in order to effectively increase the participation and progression of ethnic minorities in the workplace and create a fairer Britain. 

Introducing mandatory pay reporting on ethnicity would transform our understanding of race inequality at work and most importantly, drive action to tackle it where we find it. This has been a longstanding goal for all of us. It will enable employers to identify, consider and address the particular barriers facing ethnic minorities in their workplace, and will complement and enhance the work many already do to address gender pay gaps under existing regulations. 

Together we’re asking the Government to make it mandatory for employers to report on their ethnicity pay gaps, building on the successful framework already in place for gender. Reporting, done well, can provide a real foundation to better understand and address the factors contributing to pay disparities. To further enable this, we also support the Commission’s recommendation that pay gap data should be supported by a narrative – comprised of key data, relevant findings and actions plans to address race inequalities. 

Some employers are already voluntarily reporting on their ethnicity data and taking action to address race inequality in their workplaces. While this is welcome and should continue to be supported in the interim, introducing mandatory ethnicity pay reporting will put greater focus on race at work, contribute to a greater number of employers reporting their ethnicity pay gap figures, and achieve the change across the labour market that is required. 

We urge Government to set out a clear timeframe to implement this and encourage you to work with us to develop the tools and resources required to ensure that employers are supported, and that workers are confident in disclosing data in advance of making reporting mandatory. 

In so doing, we firmly believe that this will help ethnic minorities reach their full potential in the workplace, make business more inclusive, and ensure Government has a rich source of robust evidence to inform future labour market and industrial strategies. 

Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC 

Tony Danker, Director General, CBI 

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chairwoman, EHRC 

Smashing AVA strawberry recipes: the perfect serve for Wimbledon

Scots are expected to spend over £20 million on strawberries over the next few weeks as the nation gets ready to watch the world’s tennis greats compete at this summer’s Wimbledon Championships. 

The Scottish strawberry industry provides a fifth of all berries eaten in the UK and has an unsurpassed reputation for taste and quality. 

AVA Berries are extraordinary varieties of strawberries that offer the best flavour, sweetness and quality and are grown by an exclusive group of growers based across the north-east coast of Scotland, Perthshire and Fife, which have the ideal micro-climate for producing the perfect strawberry, enjoying warm days, cool nights, and just the right amount of daylight hours.    

AVA Berries was the first brand of strawberries to be sold as premium lines in UK supermarkets and are currently available in M&S stores and as part of Aldi’s Specially Selected, Morrison’s The Best, Co-op’s Irresistible, and Sainsburys’ Taste the Difference ranges. 

With Wimbledon fever gripping the nation, why not try these three, delightful recipes and enjoy the tournament from the comfort of your own home?  

Macaroon Cake with Mixed Berries 

The perfect serve for guests during the Wimbledon final weekend 
 
Fed up with sponge cakes? Why not try this moreish meringue cake flavoured with ground almonds and toffee flavoured muscovado sugar and luxuriously filled with ruby summer berries and whipped cream.  

Serves 6 

Preparation time 30 minutes 

Cooking time 35-40 minutes 

4 medium egg whites 

¼ tsp cream of tartar 

150g/5oz caster sugar 

75g/3oz light muscovado sugar 

1 tsp white wine vinegar 

50g/2oz ground almonds 

For the filling 

250ml/8fl oz double cream 

150g/5oz Greek yogurt 

350g/12oz AVA strawberries, sliced 

100g/4oz raspberries 

50g/2oz blueberries 
 

1.     Whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with an electric whisk until stiff but still moist looking peaks. Gradually whisk in the caster sugar, then muscovado sugar, a teaspoonful at a time until they have all been added, whisk for a minute of two more until the mixture is thick and glossy.  

2.     Fold in the vinegar and ground almonds with a large metal spoon then divide the mixture between two, lightly oiled 20cm/8in sandwich tins that have been base lined with a circle of non-stick baking paper.  

3.     Bake in a preheated oven set to 150°C/gas mark 2 for 35-40 minutes until lightly browned and crisp. Loosen the edges of the cakes carefully with a knife then leave to cool in the tins.  

4.     Loosen the edges of the cakes once more then turn out on to a sheet of non-stick baking paper. Peel off the paper from the bases.  

5.     Whip the cream until if forms soft swirls, then fold in the yogurt. Transfer one macaroon cake to a serving plate, spread with two thirds of the cream mixture. Arrange two thirds of the fruit on top then add the second macaroon cake. Decorate the top with the remaining cream and berries and serve within 30 minutes of assembly.  

Cook’s tip 

The macaroon cake can be made the day before and then turned out on to a tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Cover with a second sheet of paper and store in a cool dry place. The cakes are very fragile so handle with care, you may find it easier to transfer them to a serving plate by sliding the base of a loose bottomed cake tin underneath them rather than using a palette knife or fish slice. Decorate with cream and summer fruit at the very last minute.  

AVA Strawberry trifle with Pimms 

Who can resist trifle? This lighter more modern version is made with Pimms soaked strawberries and topped with reduced fat custard and a lighter, reduced fat creamy yogurt layer flecked with citrusy lemon and orange rind. If you have time leave the strawberries and Pimms to soak for 30 minutes or more so that the flavours seep into the sponge base before topping with the custard and cream.   

Serves 6 

Preparation time 25 minutes 

Chilling time 2 hours 

4 trifle sponges, about 100g/4oz in total 

350g/12oz AVA strawberries, sliced 

4 tbsp caster sugar 

4 tbsp Pimms, undiluted 

425g/15oz can reduced fat custard 

200ml/7fl oz double cream 

150g/5oz low fat natural yogurt 

Grated rind half orange 

Grated rind half lemon 

To decorate 

3 AVA strawberries, halved lemon and orange rind. 

1.     Break the trifle sponges into pieces and arrange in a single layer in the base of a 1.2 litre/2 pint glass dish. Arrange the strawberries on top, sprinkle with 2 tbsp sugar then spoon over the Pimms.  
 

2.     Spoon the custard over the top of the fruit and spread the top into an even layer.  
 

3.     Whip the cream in a bowl until it just forms soft swirls then fold in the yogurt and fruit rinds. Spoon over the custard and chill until required. Decorate with halved strawberries and lemon and orange rind curls made with a zester just before serving.  

AVA Strawberry and Raspberry Ripple Eton Mess 

Make up the AVA strawberry swirled meringues and fruit puree the day before, then just layer with whipped cream and extra fruit in recycled jam jars and screw on the lids, take out to the garden in a basket or pack into a cool box for a picnic pud.  

Serves 6 

Preparation time: 35 minutes 
Cooking time: 1¼ -1½ hours 

225g (8oz) AVA strawberries, hulled 
100g (4oz) raspberries 

Meringues 
2 egg whites 
100g (4oz) caster sugar 

To finish 
300ml (1/2 pint) double cream 
200g (7oz) 0.1% fat fromage frais 
225g (8oz) strawberries, hulled, roughly chopped 
50g (2oz) raspberries 

1.     Preheat the oven to 110°C (225°F), Gas Mark ¼. Line a large baking sheet with non-stick baking paper.  

2.     Puree the strawberries and raspberries in a liquidiser or food processor then press through a sieve.  

3.     Whisk the egg whites in a large clean dry bowl until they form stiff moist looking peaks and you feel confident that if the bowl was turned upside down the egg whites wouldn’t fall out! Gradually whisk in the sugar a teaspoonful at a time then continue whisking for a minute or two until really thick and glossy.  

4.     Add 2 tablespoons of the berry puree then very briefly mix until marbled. Spoon into a large piping bag fitted with a 1.5cm (¾ inch) plain piping tube, pipe small rounds on to the lined baking sheet. Bake for 1¼  -1½  hours or until the meringues may be easily lifted off the paper. Leave to cool.  

5.     To serve, lightly whip the cream until it forms soft swirls then fold in the fromage frais. Crumble the meringues then layer in jam jars or plastic containers with the remaining berry puree and diced strawberries. Decorate with the raspberries.  Add the lids and keep in the fridge until ready to serve or transport to a picnic in a cool bag with a frozen ice block to keep them cold. Serve within 1½ hours or the meringues tend to lose their crunch. 

Supporting care-experienced young people

The Promise Partnership Fund extended

A £4 million per year fund to help improve the lives of care-experienced young people will continue up to 2024-25.

The Promise Partnership Fund enables organisations to better support children and young people in or on the edges of care, as well as families who need it.

The fund is open to private, public and third sector organisations and care-experienced people will help make the final funding decisions.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has also welcomed publication of The Change Programme, which sets out what needs to happen over the next year to ensure Scotland keeps its Promise to improve the lives of children and young people in care.

Mr Swinney said: “The Promise Partnership Fund is an important because it provides additional resources to help organisations make the changes needed to enrich the lives of children and young people in or on the edges care.

“I have written today to Fiona Duncan, chair of The Promise Scotland, welcoming publication of The Change Programme and committing to using that document as a lever to accelerate real and meaningful change to #KeepThePromise.

“We will continue to work with The Promise Scotland, with service partners and importantly children and families to ensure we drive forward the transformational change that is required to make Scotland the best place to grow up where all children are loved, safe, respected and realise their full potential.”

change-programme-one-pdfDownload

The Promise Scotland publishes Change Programme ONE

Today The Promise Scotland publishes Change Programme ONE. It is a plan of action for the coming year and follows on from the publication of Plan 21-24 which mapped and sequenced the 80+ calls to action in the Independent Care Review’s conclusions and identified five priority areas for the coming three years.

The collective buy-in to the change demanded by the Independent Care Review created an authorising environment for this approach to sequenced, collaborative implementation across multiple sectors and agencies towards a single, shared long-term vision.

This is new territory for Scotland.

The content of the Change Programme comes from the engagement The Promise Scotland is having with the organisations that have responsibility to change shape first or most for Scotland to #KeepThePromise.  They are referred to in the Change Programme as ‘lead organisations’. 

Many of the meetings to discuss the promise included multiple agencies, reflecting the joint working taking place across local partnerships to support children and families, demonstrating a sustained, shared commitment for doing things differently.  The focus of the conversation was: what is happening now, what is planned and what is getting in the way of progress.

The Promise Scotland has made an assessment of the work against three categories. In nine areas, work is underway; in fifteen areas work is underway but does not yet appear sufficient; and in one area there is little or no work underway.

This is the first Change Programme and it was produced in the shadow of COVID-19, but it clearly shows there is a lot to do. The Promise Scotland Oversight Board will consider it, review mismatch and lack of alignment between national and local, system and service, practice and culture, etc.

This is the tricky part. When folk have to stop saying they support change and ACTUALLY change.

Some may feel criticised by the Change Programme, bruised by their report card. Others would like to have been more involved in its creation, but for them to operate radically differently commissioning, policy etc. has to change.  And others saying they are doing what they can but the limitations of the operating environment won’t let them do more. The Oversight Board has to consider all of this.

Navigating this new territory has never been more important.

Many of the children and families who weren’t previously well served by public services have been the hardest hit over the last fifteen months, feeling even more acutely the effects of poverty, abuse and neglect, the impact of poor housing, the challenges of loneliness and addiction.  And suffering the greatest loss of life.

The pandemic intensified, but did not create poverty and trauma.  These families, as well as many others who were previously coping but due to changes in circumstances outwith their control, may now need help. So too might the thousands of new parents, as COVID-19 chronically restricted their access to social and professional support networks.

A profound risk of these consequences is that more children enter Scotland’s ‘care system,’ when, with support, families could stay together and thrive. They cannot be fearful of asking for help and it must be there when they need it.

The long-term impact of the last year on our children and young people is, as yet, unknown. Not being able to get out to play with friends or see family, instead worrying about loved ones whilst trying to keep up with schoolwork, sometimes without the kit needed to learn and in accommodation not conducive to learning, has been devastating. There have been too many lost opportunities to take part in activities like sport, music, art, sleepovers, with volunteering and work experience placements vanishing.

But here’s a difficult truth: those circumstances are not far from the everyday, pre-pandemic reality of children and young people who experience the very worst of Scotland’s ‘care system’. Eighteen months on from the Care Review there is no excuse for that ‘care system’ not to be gone for good.

The Change Programme is not an exhaustive list of all that is happening across Scotland. Everyday people and organisations are supporting children and families, caring for the children in Scotland’s care, championing their rights and helping make sure they go on to have a fulfilling life. They are doing what they can right now.

So, when you read it – and I hope you do – please think about your role, your responsibility and do what you can. Today, tomorrow and everyday.

We are more likely to get to where we all want to if we travel together and towards the same vision.

Change Programme One is live!

Read it here: https://thepromise.scot/change-programme-one/

On 31 March 2021, The Promise Scotland published Plan 21-24, the first of three overarching plans, outlining five priority areas of change, each with actions.

Those actions must be completed by 2024 for Scotland to stay on track to #KeepThePromise it made to its children and families, in full, by 2030.

The Change Programme will ensure these actions are taken. Between now and 2024, a Change Programme will be updated regularly to capture the work underway to #KeepThePromise, in each priority area of change.

It will record change as it happens, monitor progress, identify gaps and risks. Change Programme One tells us:

  • What is happening now
  • What is happening next &
  • What needs to happen

Change Programme One will be used to:

  • Identify, celebrate and amplify positive change
  • Link up siloed groups, services and individuals so they can work together
  • Provide extra support to organisations that need it

By March 2022 The Change Programme will be fully online, reflecting change in (as close as possible to) real time, providing a single window onto the cross-sector, multi-agency approach to collaborative implementation that is required.

Change Programme ONE is a live plan of actions that will constantly adapt and change over time and when needed, to best #KeepThePromise.

The Change Programme includes commitments made by organisations from all across Scotland, reflecting what they are doing differently, based on what matters most to children and families.