“You could get Pension Credit” – Week of Action to drive take up

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to launch Pension Credit Week of Action to boost take-up of vital benefit

  • Joining forces with charities, broadcasters and a range of partners, the campaign will encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and apply
  • Up to 880,000 pensioners could be missing out on this cash boost worth on average up to £3,900 per year

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are being urged to apply for a benefit that could be worth on average £3,900 per year as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is launching a campaign to increase Pension Credit take-up on Monday 2 September.

With as many as 880,000 pensioners missing out, the Pension Credit Week of Action aims to spread awareness and increase claims for Pension Credit, which from this year will also automatically passport eligible pensioners to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

Joining forces with charities, broadcasters, Local Authorities, and a range of partners, the campaign will tackle myths that may prevent people applying, for instance having a small private pension, savings or owning their own home.

Families, friends and neighbours are being encouraged to reach out to retired family members to encourage them to check their eligibility and apply. 21 December is the last possible date to make a successful backdated claim in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

While around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit, up to an estimated 880,000 households are eligible for the support but are not claiming it.

Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said: “The £22 billion blackhole inherited from the previous governments means we are having to take tough decisions now to fix the foundations of our economy – including making the Winter Fuel Payments available to those most at need.

“1.3 million pensioners are already going to get help with fuel bills this year because they’re claiming pension credit – but thousands more are eligible. So, if you know someone who could get pension credit and help with their fuel bills, now is the time to help them apply for pension credit.”

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall said: “Thousands of pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit worth on average £3,900 per year. That needs to change.

“It’s easier than ever to check if you are eligible, including with our online calculator, and if your circumstances have changed since the last time you looked – I urge you to check again.

“Friends, families and neighbours can also encourage their loved ones to apply, so that they are not missing out on this vital benefit.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The legacy of failure on energy policy we have inherited means energy prices are set to rise in autumn. We must ensure that pensioners in the greatest need get access to help with rising bills.

“We will do everything in our power to increase take up of Pension Credit to the 880,000 households who are yet to claim – opening the door to other vital support such as the Winter Fuel Payment.

“The government will also continue our mission to deliver clean power by 2030, helping to finally give families the energy security they deserve and our country the energy independence we need.”

Pensioners whose weekly income is below £218.15 for a single person or £332.95 for a couple should check to see if they are eligible for this support which is worth £3,900 a year on average, using DWP’s online calculator.

People with a severe disability, carers and those who are responsible for a child or young person who lives with them could get more. Pension Credit can also include extra amounts for certain housing costs, such as ground rent or service charges.

This work is part of a wider plan to ensure economic stability for pensioners by protecting the Triple Lock and supporting households with their energy bills through the £150 Warm Home Discount and the Warm Homes Plan – upgrading millions of homes this Parliament. 

Over the next five years, more than 12 million pensioners could see their State Pension increase by over a thousand pounds as a result of the commitment to the Triple Lock.

Applications for Pension Credit can be made:

  • On the How to Claim page  
  • Over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)  
  • By printing out and filling in a paper application form  
  • For more information visit the Pension Credit GOV.UK page. 
  • The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over. Households with someone aged 66-79 will receive £200.
  • We will work with Local Authorities to bring together the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit as soon as operationally possible.
  • People who have reached State Pension age before September 23, 2024 and are in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based JSA, Income related ESA, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, will be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment – subject to eligibility conditions.
  • The regulations to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment will be laid on 22 August 2024. The qualifying week in 2024 for Winter Fuel Payments will be from 16 to 22 September.
  • Pensioners need to be entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day in week September 16 to 22 to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.
  • 21 December is the last date for backdating a claim for Pension Credit to 22 September, assuming the claimant met the Pension Credit entitlement conditions throughout the previous three months.
  • Anyone who is entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day of the Winter Fuel Payment qualifying week will have automatic entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment. There are some exceptions which are detailed on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility
  • People do not have to do anything extra to backdate their claim. If they make their application online, they will automatically be asked if they would like to backdate it. If they make their application over the phone the advisor will talk them through this. 
  • Around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments due to some other pensioner households being eligible and expected extra Pension Credit take up due to this reform.

Pension Credit recipients by region (as of February 2024):

North East73,883
North West175,179
Yorkshire and The Humber118,633
East Midlands95,767
West Midlands130,427
East of England110,017
London190,496
South East147,763
South West111,251
Wales80,927
Scotland125,136

Arts funding crisis: Ben Macpherson’s letter to Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison

BEN MACPHERSON writes:

For clarity and completeness, this is the full letter I sent on behalf of many affected constituents who wrote to me. The Scottish Government is very strongly committed to supporting the arts and culture and, in a constructive spirit, I hope this particular fund can be restored.

The Creative Scotland Fund for individuals has now closed.

On behalf of Out of the Blue and our studio artists we’ve written to First Minster John Swinney, MSP Ben Macpherson and Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.

You can read the full statement below:

To Ben Macpherson, Angus Robertson & John Swinney: 

Out of the Blue is an arts and education social enterprise that provides studio space to over 200 artists in four buildings across Edinburgh. We have been working with artists and arts organisations for thirty years.

Throughout that time we have been witness, time and again, to the vital contribution they make to communities. Artists produce inspiring work and bring creative opportunities to many people, improving the quality of life in cities, towns and rural areas. Economically, artists, arts organisations and creative enterprises contribute more than £5 billion to the Scottish economy every year. 

However, in working with artists we are constantly reminded of the precarious position in which so many are trying to create new work. Working from project to project, uncertain of how much income they will make from month to month, struggling to find and rent space in which to create.

Yet despite this, our artists remain committed to creating art, and to enriching lives. Artists have always created more value for Scotland than what it has cost Scotland to support them. The least we can do is to treat artists with the same dignity and respect that is afforded to other workers. In a country committed to fair work, this should go without saying. 

Cutting grants to individual artists will have a major impact on their ability to make a living and decimate the plethora of creative projects they undertake individually and with others. Without access to Creative Scotland grants many artists will not be able to continue with their creative practice, which in turn will have a huge impact on the organisations, communities and individuals they work with. 

With local Government spending on the arts also decreasing rapidly we are facing a tipping point. The devastation that this lack of funding will cause to the cultural sector in Scotland may take a generation to recover from. Pursuing a career as an artist will be for the few, not the many, and the lives of every person in Scotland will be poorer because of it. 

We call on you to urgently release the outstanding funding to Creative Scotland and set out a clear timeframe by which you will deliver your commitment to increase funding for culture by £100 million. Each day you delay, more artists will abandon hope and with it their careers. 

Regards 

Rob Hoon – Out of the Blue CEO 

Professor David Stevenson – Chair, Out of the Blue Board

And signed by the following Out of the Blue studio artists: 

Ailis Mundin (Strange Town) 

Alison McConachie 

Ally Hill (The Bongo Club) 

Andres Perez (Urban Works) 

Aoife O’Callaghan 

Beck Elphinstone 

Bethany Thompson (Out of the Blueprint) 

Blyth Mackenzie (Little Yellow Scribbles) 

Bob Giulianotti (Out of the Blue and Strange Town Youth Theatre)

Calum Duncan (Calum Duncan Architects) 

Cameron Murdoch (Cam Life Designs) 

Caroline Grevers 

Casey Campbell 

Catherine Lazcano – Thornton (Catherine Giselle) 

Clare Duffy (Civic Digits) 

Cosimo Damiano Angiulli 

Daisy Crooke (Take One Action Film Festival) 

Daniel Murray (Daniel Murray Artist) 

Dee Thangden 

Duncan Jones (Knockwood Studios) 

Elaine Wilson 

Felicity Inkpen 

Fiona Fraser (Fi Fraser Production Management) 

Frances Priest 

Francesca Grech 

Graeme Walker 

Helen Miles (Helen Miles Mosaics) 

Holly Summerson 

Ian Gonczarow 

Jen Byrne 

Jennifer Paterson (All or Nothing) 

Johnny Gailey (Out of the Blueprint) 

Jolon Yeoman (Knockwood Studios) 

Judy Clark 

Julija Pustovrh (Emporium Julium Ceramics) 

Kate Livingstone 

Kelly Zou 

Kuluna Yoga 

Leanne Bell Gonczarow 

Leigh Robieson-Cleaver (Curious Seed)

Louise Lacaille 

Mairi MacSween (Mairi MacSween Designs) Mark Whyles (Mark Whyles Management) Matthew Shepherd 

Max Machen 

Meg Buick 

Megan Chapman 

Nicole Lambeng (Out of the Blue) Pierre Forissier (Biomorphis) 

Pippa Lobban 

Rabiya Choudray 

Remode Collective 

Robin Paine 

Sandy Lobban 

Sheena Walker (The Clarsach Society) Snap Elastic 

Solen Collet (Solen Collet Photography) Steve Small (Strange Town) 

Susan Scarth 

Tim Licata 

Trista Yen 

Wendy Ball

Charity SANE supports new film aiming to “shine a light” with on life living with an eating disorder

A NEW film which will “shine a light” on the battles people living with eating disorders face is being supported by one of the country’s leading charities. SANE say they are proud to support A Day With An Eating Disorder which is being produced and co-written by author and counsellor Lynn Crilly. 

The film, which will be released next year, comes as new figures show rising numbers of young people are being diagnosed with eating disorders.

In the past school year there were 10,606 children beginning treatment for an eating disorder, compared with 5,240 patients in 2016-17.

Waiting times for treatment are also rising, and 12 per cent have to wait more than three months for an appointment, compared with one percent three years ago, according to information disclosed by the House of Commons Library.

Film-maker Lynn, who is an ambassador for SANE, said the figures were deeply shocking and underlined the extra support young people need. She said: “We hope the new film will shine a light on the battle which sufferers and their carers face on a daily basis.”

Praising the project, Joanna Christophi, Chief Operating Officer of SANE said: “SANE are proud to support ‘A Day with an Eating Disorder’.

Lynn is passionate about helping young people with mental illness from eating disorders to depression, including their families, as her work stems from personal experience with her own twin daughters.

This coupled with extensive life experience both personally and professionally within the mental health space, gives her a multi-skilled approach to the support she gives which is also reflected in her books and films.   

For several years, Lynn has been raising awareness of SANE’s activities and we are both committed to campaigning to improve services for those affected by mental ill-health, as well as their families and carers. SANE is proud to have Lynn as an ambassador.”

A Day In The Life With An Eating Disorder, will feature Lynn’s daughter Samantha, who has battled an eating disorder and still suffers with OCD.

A number of actors and actresses have also agreed to appear for free to raise awareness. Among them is Susannah Page, the daughter of legendary singing, screen and comedy icon Joan Turner. 

Susannah, who will play a woman battling an addiction to alcohol in the film, said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be a part of this very important film. I’ve been impressed and deeply inspired by the work Lynnand Samantha are doing in this area. 

“I’ve learned a lot myself about how this condition impacts the sufferers and their families, and I am sure this will film will help many others who might be struggling and need support.”

The project is also being backed and supported by Debbie Arnold, the former Eastenders actress. 

She said: “I’m delighted to be supporting this film as it is focusing on such an important set of issues. As the mum of two daughters I’m acutely aware of the struggles many people can have with mental ill health, anxiety and other related disorders.”

“It’s very important that this film is shining a light on them and I’m sure it will help lots and lots of people.”

Gender Pay Gap: Free workshop to empower women to negotiate their worth

With new research laying bare the gender pay gap crisis across local authority areas, it’s evident there is a long way to go to ensure gender parity.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on wages and gender pay disparity has revealed that East Dunbartonshire officially has the biggest gender pay gap in Scotland, with men earning 30.6 per cent more than women in the area – over five times the Scotland average gap of 6.3 per cent.

It is followed closely by West Dunbartonshire, which has the second biggest gender pay gap in Scotland, more than triple the average, with men earning 19.6 per cent more than women in the area. 

The City of Edinburgh was also found to be below the national average, with a gap of 7.8 per cent.

Aiming to help empower women to negotiate for themselves and work to stem the tide of the imbalance, negotiation expert Florence Rolland is offering a free online workshop on September 11 designed to tackle the most important issues that women have when negotiating. Based on research into how and why women negotiate the way they do, it will cover problems women face and aims to give confidence to shine in any negotiation situation.

Florence said: “The figures that emerged this month sadly emphasise what we know to be the case, that the gender pay gap is unfortunately alive and well – and flourishing across not only the UK, but globally.

“Women are equipped with the necessary interpersonal skills to make great negotiators but tend to neglect negotiating for themselves due to a lack of confidence in their own abilities and self-worth. Fear of negative backlash can also make women more apprehensive to ask for more. Negotiation training can be a critical tool in combating this.

“I want to help empower women by improving their confidence and giving them the skills they need to improve their negotiation performance and in turn, be paid their true and deserved worth. I would encourage anyone who wants to learn how to negotiate better for themselves to sign up to this workshop.”

To book a space please visit: https://www.negotiate.co.uk/about-us/events/

PY’s Autumn Programme launched

Download a copy of our new Autumn Programme today: https://pycp.co.uk/…/2024/08/autumn-2024-pro_64937965.pdf

Remember every child needs a NEW consent form for the start of the term.

You can pick them up from the project to complete or email info@pycp.co.uk and ask for online forms to be sent to you.

Remember we need you to complete one for EACH child so tell us hwo many you have wanting to come to clubs and groups.

PLEASE SHARE with all your family and friends.

PY Staff Team

Step back in time and celebrate 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection

Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection 

National Galleries Scotland: Portrait 

26 October 2024 – 16 March 2025 

Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection | National Galleries of Scotland 

Free 

This October the National Galleries of Scotland is partying like it’s 1984 with Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection, at the Portrait gallery from 26 October 2024 – 16 March 2025.

Step back in time to the 1980s when the National Galleries of Scotland officially began its world-class photography collection. Explore over 100 art works from Scotland’s national photography collection, dating from the 1840’s to the present day in this free-to-visit exhibition.

Marvel at historic photographs, visit some famous faces and discover an exciting range of what makes a photograph in this eclectic celebration of the nation’s photography collection.

Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection marks this magnificent milestone, reflecting on all that has been accomplished in the last four decades and looking to the future. In the 1980s recognition of photography as an artform was growing rapidly as museums and galleries around the world were looking to establish and grow their collections.

National Galleries of Scotland were no different. Having begun collecting photography in the late 19th century, it was in 1984 that the National Galleries of Scotland collection was formally established.

A world-renowned photography collection it is regarded as one of the best in the UK, its breadth and quality matches those of London institutions such as the V&A and National Portrait Gallery, London.

Due to its original remit to collect the very best of Scottish and international photography, the collection has developed over the last 40 years to have global reach.

Now over 55,000 artworks strong the ever-growing collection is showcased in this lively exhibition which explores the major themes, subjects and processes from throughout the history of photography.

Including works by major photographers such as Julia Margaret Cameron, Robert Mapplethorpe and Annie Leibovitz. Highlighting the enticing and universal nature of photography, the exhibition will include six themes; portraiture, landscape, documentary photography, archives, inclusion and experimentation.

Find portraits of famous Scots such as, Andy Murray, The Proclaimers, Jackie Kay and David Tennant as well as fun and vibrant portraits such as Viviane Sassen’s In Bloom.

A newly acquired work consisting of photographs, film and performance by Glasgow-based artists Beagles & Ramsay will be on display for the first time.

The Sanguis Gratia Artis (Black Pudding Self-Portrait), is a performance piece alongside photographs where the artists make black pudding out of their own blood to explore the boundaries of the self-portrait.

Celebrating the connectivity and nostalgia that photographs bring to people worldwide, the exhibition looks at how this incredible artform can be traced through generations of Scottish photographers and schools of photography.

Embracing the eclectic nature of photography, vibrant displays will create interesting contrasts and connections between historic and contemporary images.

Discover how the ideas and subject matters that started with David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson in the 1840s continues to be photographed centuries apart with different and modern cameras.

Take pride in the influential alumni of Scottish photography schools whose connections extend around the world, making Scotland a significant home to photography.

Explore the idea of what makes a photograph, reflecting on changing technology and taking a look at artists who are pushing the boundaries of what we might have traditionally thought of as a photograph.

Get a deeper understanding of how photographers have explored the themes of landscape and environment change including a new acquisition by American, Sant Khalsa combining photography and sculpture.

Displayed alongside early Scottish photographs by John Muir Wood, showcasing the beautiful shapes created by trees. This offers a fascinating look at how these two artists explore the same subject matter in completely different ways.

Discover works by revered international photographers, with exceptional photographs from the ARTIST ROOMS collection, jointly owned by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate.

The exhibition draws a selection of works by globally renowned artists, such as Robert Mapplethorpe and Diane Arbus.

This will also be the first time the National Galleries of Scotland has shown work from the ARTIST ROOMS collection by Don McCullin, one of the world’s greatest photojournalists.

Scotland is known as a centre for documentary photography and the exhibition will celebrate this with a medley of the best documentary photographers who have made work in Scotland.

Weaving in some old favourites and new acquisitions this will highlight photographers such as Alfred Eisenstaedt, Eve Arnold, David Hurn, Joseph Mackenzie and Bert Hardy.

A wall of Hill & Adamson’s fisherwomen will mark an important moment in the development of documentary photography not just in Scotland but in the history of the medium.

In the years immediately following its establishment, National Galleries of Scotland received a number of significant bequests which quickly grew the collection.

The exhibition will explore some of these major archives, such as The Riddell collection which joined the collection in 1985, ARTIST ROOMS, established in 2008 and jointly owned by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate, and the MacKinnon Collection that was jointly acquired with the National Library of Scotland in 2018.

Viviane Sassen

Throughout the decades, the collection continues to grow and each year new additions are made, with an increasing focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Looking to the next 40 years, the exhibition also focuses on acquisitions from the last decade which address issues such as equality, inclusion and diversity.

National Galleries of Scotland actively seek opportunities to broaden representation across the collection and the exhibition highlights this as a priority area for collecting in the future.

Representation of female photographers has been a recent priority, with work by artists including Chrystel Lebas, Wendy McMurdo, Chloe Dewe Mathews and Arpita Shah entering the collection.

Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ‘Photography is a cornerstone of the National Galleries of Scotland, accounting for almost half of the entire collection.

” It is with great delight that we celebrate the medium with this impressive and engaging exhibition drawn entirely from the vast holdings of the nation’s collection.

“Over the course of the last forty years many photographers, collectors, donors, curators, and enthusiasts have contributed to this important world-class collection which belongs to the people of Scotland.

“We are excited to celebrate this anniversary with our visitors through such a dynamic display.’

Louise Pearson, Photography Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ‘The 40th anniversary is the perfect moment to draw from the full breadth of Scotland’s photography collection.

“This vibrant and fun exhibition includes photographs of famous Scots and works by photographers who have become household names. It opens many possibilities in making connections across our country’s photography collection, sharing highlights as well as celebrating lesser-known works.

“We want visitors to join us in celebrating the collection and take pride in Scotland’s contribution to photography worldwide.’

This exhibition is funded by The Morton Charitable Trust and the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

North Edinburgh Arts: Family Cycling

FREE MONDAY MORNING SESSIONS FOR NORTH EDINBURGH FAMILIES

🚴‍♀️ Join our new family-friendly cycling group in North Edinburgh! 🚴‍♂️

Explore the local area on short rides led by two qualified cycle leaders on Monday mornings. We’ve still got places for our next session on Monday 2 September at 10am.

We have a limited number of bikes available to borrow – just let us know your needs when booking! All children must be 8+ and accompanied by an adult.

These sessions are FREE for residents of Muirhouse, Pilton, Granton, and Drylaw. Priority will be given to local community members and NEA Members.

Find out more and book your place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/932360925627

RoSPA calls for urgent action on hidden dangers during Scottish Child Health Week

As Scottish Child Health Week begins next week, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging families across Scotland to take immediate steps to protect their children from three significant but often overlooked household hazards: blind cords, small magnets, and stair gates.



Philip Le Shirley, Product Safety Advisor at RoSPA, warns: “Blind cords, small magnets, and stair gates can pose serious risks to young children, and tragically, they have caused fatalities, so we’re calling on all parents and caregivers to take action now. 

“Securing blind cords out of reach, storing small magnets safely, and ensuring stair gates are properly installed and used could prevent these potential disasters.”



Blind Cord Safety

Blind cords are a hidden but deadly hazard in many homes. Since 2001, over 30 young children in the UK have died as a result of becoming entangled in blind cords. These cords, which are often within easy reach of toddlers, can lead to strangulation within seconds.

“To prevent such tragedies, it’s crucial to keep all blind cords out of children’s reach,” advises Philip. 

“This can be done by tying them up, using a cord safety device, or choosing blinds with built-in safety features like tensioned or cordless designs. Additionally, parents should regularly check that cords are securely fastened and never leave furniture that children can climb on near windows with blinds.”

Magnet Safety

Small, powerful magnets, particularly those used in toys, can be extremely dangerous if swallowed. These magnets can attract each other through the walls of the intestines, leading to serious injuries such as blockages, perforations, and even death. 

“Even one loose magnet can pose a severe threat if ingested,” says Le Shirley. 

“Parents should be vigilant about inspecting toys for loose or missing magnets, especially in toys designed for older children that may still be accessible to younger siblings. It’s also important to keep small magnetic items like fridge magnets, building kits, and certain household tools well out of reach of young children. If you suspect a child has swallowed a magnet, seek immediate medical attention—don’t wait for symptoms to appear.”

Stair Gate Safety

Stair gates are essential safety devices for children under 24 months old, to prevent dangerous falls. However, they can only protect if installed and used correctly.

“A stair gate that is improperly installed or left open is essentially useless,” Philip emphasises. “Ensure that gates are securely mounted at the top and bottom of stairs or at the entrance to rooms and that they fit tightly without gaps. Pressure-mounted gates should not be used at the top of stairs due to the risk of displacement.

“It’s also important to teach older children and visitors how to operate the gate correctly to ensure it remains closed when needed. Regularly check the gates for signs of wear, such as loose fittings or weakened locking mechanisms, and replace them if necessary.”

RoSPA remains dedicated to reducing accidents in the home and raising awareness of these preventable dangers. For more detailed advice on keeping your children safe, visit RoSPA’s website.