The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3153 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

A fairer deal for Scotland’s workers

Tackling low pay and zero hours contracts: new guidance will promote fair work

The Scottish Government will today formalise its commitment to making Scotland a fairer place to work with new statutory guidance for public sector procurement. The move has been welcomed by the STUC.

The document represents the first time any administration has gone as far, and ensures that public sector procurements can take account of the fact that employers whose staff are treated fairly are likely to deliver higher quality services.

Those bidding for public contracts will now be expected to adopt fair work practices, which may include –

paying the Living Wage
no unnecessary use of zero hours contracts
giving workers an active voice in the workplace

The Scottish Government is prevented by EU procurement law from making the Living Wage mandatory in contract agreements, but the new statutory guidance means that companies who want to secure business with public bodies are now obliged to sign up to these fair work conditions for anyone working on the contracts.

Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown will launch the new guidance in his speech to the Procurex national procurement conference in Glasgow this morning.

He said: “The commitment to making Scotland a fairer place to work is a key tenet of this government, and our new statutory guidance for public sector procurements sees us nail our colours to the mast.

“Our model of procurement, putting the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability at the heart of all we do, remains the foundation of our approach.

“Employers must now recognise that they cannot adopt exploitative practices in relation to their workers and expect to be rewarded with lucrative contracts in the public sector.

“If you want to do business with the public sector in Scotland, you have to be a responsible employer and value your workers. You have to do your bit to make Scotland a fairer and more equal society.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to promote that ethos.”

The news has been welcomed by those representing workers throughout Scotland.

Grahame Smith, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said: “The STUC welcomes the Statutory Guidance on Fair Work Practices being introduced by the Scottish Government, a move that once again highlights the different approach taken by the Scottish Government in tackling poor employment practices and low pay in the Scottish economy.

“The Scottish Government has taken the lead in driving forward the real Living Wage as have local authorities and we believe it is right that companies wishing to receive public contracts should demonstrate that they treat staff fairly by paying a living wage, recognise the benefits of trade unions and collective bargaining and treat their workers with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“The Fair Work Agenda and the approach taken by the Scottish Government to promoting positive industrial relations as being key to economic success is thankfully at odds with attacks on trade unions at UK level and these statutory guidelines provide public bodies the opportunity to ensure contractors understand what is expected from them, as part of the public procurement process, and their role in delivering fair work and good terms and conditions for Scottish workers.”

The Fair Work Convention was set up last year to ensure there are more good quality, well-paid jobs at all levels throughout the public, private and third sectors.

Fair Work Convention Co-Chair Anne Douglas (above) said: “The Fair Work Convention believes it is vital that work which provides individuals with opportunity, fulfilment, security, respect and effective voice and balances the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees. In doing this we can generate real benefits for individuals, organisations and for society more widely.

“It is therefore important that the Scottish Government uses all its levers to promote fair working practices and the Convention welcomes these being reflected in statutory guidance.

Linda Urquhart, the Convention’s other Co-Chair, continued: “The Fair Work Convention is currently engaging across Scotland, with business, employees, union, third and public sectors as well as society more generally to help evidence fair work and the basis from which the Fair Work Framework for Scotland will be created.

“Following the publication of their Framework in March the Fair Work Convention will welcome an opportunity to work with the Scottish Government to further this approach.”

All the fun of the fair

Scotland’s biggest volunteer recruitment fair takes place in Edinburgh tomorrow

For most people at this time of year thoughts are turning to pumpkins and fireworks, but for Volunteer Edinburgh there’s only one thing on our minds – and that’s the annual Volunteer Recruitment Fair at St Paul and St Georges Church!

As usual the hall will be filled with stalls from charities and volunteer involving organisations from across the city representing the wide range of volunteering opportunities Edinburgh has to offer.

There are environmental groups; arts organisations; opportunities to work with people from both ends of the age spectrum; charities who deal with poverty and exclusion both here and abroad; animal welfare groups as well as organisations campaigning to raise awareness and funding for a variety of health issues.

With over 50 diverse groups taking part the chances of finding something to get involved with are pretty good and the opportunity to speak to directly to volunteers and organisers helps develop a much greater understanding of the organisation’s work and passion and commitment involved.

As well as the stalls, volunteer advisors will be on hand to help you with any questions you might have about volunteering and, for those looking to volunteer as a step towards employment, there will be workshops to help improve employability skills, C.V. writing and job hunting techniques.

There will also be special workshops on equality rights, and volunteering opportunities for older people.

And If all this information gets too much there will, as always, be delicious food and (non-alcoholic) drink on hand in the café, so you can rest and digest!

So if you want a break from thinking about ghosts, bonfires and premature tinsel and you’re looking to give a present a little more substantial than a pair of socks, then here’s the perfect opportunity to give some very grateful organisations the gift of you!

For more about the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, visit the Volunteer Edinburgh’s website, orFacebook page. You may also want to have a look at the photos from last year’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair here.

IT & Tea tonight

A free informal learning event for older people this evening

Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes is back tonight

The third series of RBS: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes returns to STV tonight to celebrate people whose tireless effort, resourcefulness, and kindness has improved local communities across Scotland.

The series, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, begins with a special launch show tonight at 8pm – RBS-How to be a Real Hero, where actors Jayd Johnson and Ron Donachie catch up with four winners from the 2014 series to see how being voted a winner has changed their lives, and the projects they work with.

The show also gives advice to viewers on how they can get involved in helping in their local communities and become real heroes themselves.

The series continues on Monday 26 October featuring the individuals who have been nominated by the public and selected by a special jury. Across the five episodes, a line up of ‘star reporters’ including Richard Wilson (One Foot in the Grave), actress and singer Clare Grogan and Commonwealth Gold medallist swimmer Hannah Miley will visit each of the nominees and interview them about their work in the community and their thoughts on the nomination for an award.

This year’s shortlist includes deserving Scots from across the country, from Stonehaven to West Calder, and Nairn to Cupar. Categories including RBS Community Project of the Year and Hero Animal of the Year will return again this year as well as two new additional award categories including Hero Mum or Dad and Fundraiser of the Year.

At the end of each programme, viewers are invited to vote for the nominees they believe most deserving of an award, with the overall winners being announced at a glittering, star studded televised awards ceremony later in the year.

Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “The time has come to highlight the outstanding work modestly carried out by each of this year’s nominees. We look forward to celebrating the enormous achievement of each of these individuals who make a real difference in their local community. Each story tells of a remarkable accomplishment and is very moving – all the finalists are considered to be most deserving however it is the STV viewers that decide who will receive an award.”

Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland said: “Everyone at Royal Bank of Scotland is looking forward to finding out more about this year’s incredible finalists. We think it’s important to celebrate those people who go that extra mile for their community. Each one of the finalists is deserving of recognition and we are all looking forward to seeing who the public choose.”

Power to the People: autumn update

The Power to the People group has been busy …

Power to the People is a group for adults in North Edinburgh who are interested in social history, current affairs and the arts.

We have been meeting together since 2012 and enjoy getting together to learn about things we are interested in and getting involved in issues which concern us. The group is friendly, informal and free and new members can join any time.

Over the last year, we have been learning about North Edinburgh’s early history through studying archive material, visiting exhibitions, watching films and inviting guest speakers to our group.

We are currently working on a heritage leaflet and a short film for STV’s history programme documenting key aspects of North Edinburgh’s history which will allow us to share the area’s fascinating history with a wider audience.

We also enjoy getting out and about and going to different places of interest. Last week we went on a visit to Wester Hailes to learn about their social history project.

Over the last few years, the project has been involved in digitising and publicising back copies of the Wester Hailes Sentinal and have established a local blog and Facebook page.

The project have also been involved in developing social history walks in the area in conjunction with Wester Hailes Health Agency and has installed Scotland’s first digital totem pole (above) which contains QR codes which allow people to access further information about the area’s history via a smart phone.

We have recently developed a new programme of information and discussion sessions dealing with issues we are concerned about such as fracking on the Forth, the proposed abolition of the Human Rights Act and the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP).

The first of these sessions will take place tomorrow – Tuesday 6 October, from 10am – 12.30 – in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

The next session will take place early in November and will be held in the evening to allow people to attend who are unable to get to day time sessions. A free crèche will be provided by Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to allow people with children to participate.

We have also organised a screening of the Glasgow Girls, (see above), the true story of a group of school pupils from Drumchapel, who led a successful campaign to save their friend from deportation. The film developed into a powerful human rights movement which resulted in changes in immigration practices in Scotland.

Following the screening of the film, we will be joined by Roza Salih, one of the Glasgow Girls, for a discussion about the issues raised. The screening will take place this Thursday 8 October at 6.30 in North Edinburgh Arts. There is no charge for attending this event and transport and a crèche have been organised. Please call 552 5700 to book.

For those of you who enjoy getting out and about and enjoy the company of others, our next visit will be to the National Library of Scotland on Tuesday 27 October. We will be viewing an exhibition on the life and times of Thomas Muir, a radical political reformer known as ‘the father of Scottish Democracy’.

Anyone wishing further information about the group or any of the activities planned this term should call Lynn McCabe, on 552 5700 (Tuesday – Thursday) or email Lynn at lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk

Balancing the books: your city, your say

It really doesn’t seem like a year since the last consultation, but here we are again …

Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on how the Council spends and saves money as part of public engagement on proposals for the 2016-20 budget.

This year people will also get the chance to contribute ideas of their own on how city services are provided, using the online ‘Your City, Your Say’ dialogue page.

The web page will form part of a ten-week engagement period, beginning today, allowing the public to feed back on proposals for the Council’s 2016-20 budget, which aim to address an overall shortfall of £126m.

People will be able to submit suggestions and views on topical issues, creating solutions to challenges and ideas for better serving the public and saving money. Users can also rate and comment on others’ posts, helping the Council to gather opinion on where it should invest in future.

If successful, the resource will be extended after the budget is set, crowdsourcing public opinions on different matters on an ongoing basis.

A new online planner will also seek views on how the Council should deliver services, including the way parking is charged and how the Council works with voluntary and third party organisations.

By prioritising some services using the planner, the public can see how this impacts on other services, and how saving in one area can allow additional spending in another.

Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Finance Convener, said: “We really want to hear how people want the Council to invest and save money – your views will always help us to deliver services in a way that will benefit and improve lives.

“By doing things differently and introducing our new online engagement tools, we’re making it easier than ever for people to contribute their views and ideas, and to understand the different challenges there are in setting the budget.”

Councillor Bill Cook, Finance Vice Convener, added: “Everything you say will be taken into account when we draw up the final budget proposals to be put to the Council in early 2016, so we are extremely interested in hearing your views. Whether it’s via the planner, ideas forum, survey, phone, letter, email or social media we welcome all feedback.”

At a meeting of the Finance & Resources Committee on Thursday 24 September, councillors approved a report on the draft budget, along with a set of budget proposals for public engagement over the coming months.

The full budget proposals, the budget planner and forum tools can be accessed at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/budget.

You can have your say by:

going online to comment on proposals atwww.edinburgh.gov.uk/budget
completing the budget planner to have your say on what services you would spend or save money on in 2016 to 2020
submitting your ideas to the dialogue page
commenting on the 2016-20 proposals

You can do this by:

phone on 0131 200 2305 (8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 3.40pm Friday)
writing to us at Freepost, RSJC-SLXC-YTJY, Budget, Council Leader, City Chambers, High Street Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
speaking to your local councillor

App-solutely fabulous support for Sick Kids charity!

Game on for Sick Kids Foundation

App development company NN4M has decided to celebrate its 10^th anniversary by raising funds for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) – the charity which provides £1.5 million each year to support the work of Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Edinburgh-based developers NN4M will take part in the sixth Sick Kids Save Point – the biggest annual fundraising games event which will see volunteers take on a 24-hour video game marathon between 9 and 11 October.

The team of NN4M gamers will participate in this year’s event in a relay-style, playing both online and board games from 8am to 8pm on Friday 9 October. All 30 employees will take part, with employees gaming every 30 minutes in between their usual work tasks.

Harriet Phimister of NN4M, said: “We wanted to do something really special to celebrate our 10^th anniversary and felt this is something that would get everyone excited whilst raising money for a fantastic cause. One of our developers participated in the marathon previously and so suggested that we all give it a go.

“We thought we would combine our love of traditional board games and computer games to bring an added dimension to the challenge and can’t wait to complete the marathon. We’re all very excited to participate and raise funds for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.”

Since it was established in 2010, the 24-hour video gameathon has raised more than £70,000 with more than 300 gamers completing the challenge from all around the globe.

This year, funds raised will allow the charity to fund KIDSnet Wi-Fi throughout the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

KIDSnet is a safe internet provider within the hospital that allows to keep in contact with each other, as well as family and friends. SKFF invests £25,000 each year in this service to help children feel less isolated in hospital and ensuring their lives are less interrupted by illness. The Wi-Fi also provides a distraction in the form of games and films – essential to combating the boredom children experience in hospital.

The event continues to grow in popularity, having gathered support from a number of Scotland’s top games companies including Rockstar North and Blazing Griffin, as well as industry giants Codemasters UK, Playstation Access, Paradox Interactive and Capcom UK, who have donated prizes for entrants.

Edinburgh actor Tom Freeman, organiser of the event, said: “With plans afoot to transfer services to a flash new hospital in Little France, the work of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation will be vital in smoothing the transition from a building many people across the country will have strong emotional ties to. That’s why this year Sick Kids Save Point is pushing to have our best year ever.

“Sick Kids Save Point is the biggest charity gaming marathon in the UK. I’m proud we’ve raised around £72,000 for our local children’s hospital. This year we want to get that figure to £100,000 and show the world games are for everyone.

“Don’t believe the naysayers: playing games for 24 hours is not easy! It’s not too late to sign up and take on this unique marathon challenge, playing games past the fun barrier and raising money to support sick children and their families.”

Rachel McKenzie, head of community fundraising at SKFF, said: “I’m thrilled that the developers at NN4M have decided to join our community of fundraising gamers and taking part in our sixth SKSP gameathon.

“Sick Kids Save Point has helped raised a tremendous amount of money over the last five years and we’re extremely thankful to the individuals – and teams – who are getting involved this year as we try to raise a further £30,000 for our KIDSnet equipment.”

To support NN4M visit https://www.justgiving.com/GameathonNN4M/.

For more information about Sick Kids Save Point visit www.sickkidssavepoint.org or follow the event on twitter@SKsavepoint or on facebook at @SickKidsSavePoint.

Lloyds Bank shares to go on sale next Spring

We bailed it out and basically bought it – and now we can can buy it all over again!

HM Treasury has announced today that a retail sale of Lloyds shares will be launched next spring, with applications available online and by post.

The taxpayer – you and me – saved Lloyds from collapsing at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 with a £20.5bn bailout, leaving the UK government with a 43% stake.

The Treasury has since recouped almost three-quarters of public funds used to rescue the bank by selling shares to institutional investors, and now it has announced plans for a public sell-off.

In a statement, HM Treasury said: “It is the government’s intention to fully exit from its Lloyds shareholding in the coming months, and as part of this at least £2bn of shares will be sold to retail investors. Members of the public will be offered a discount of 5% of the market price, with a bonus share for every 10 shares for those who hold their investment for more than a year. The value of the bonus share incentive will be capped at £200 per investor. People applying for investments of less than £1,000 will be prioritised.

All proceeds from share sales are used to pay down the national debt.

Military personnel and their spouses stationed overseas will be able to participate in the sale, where possible. This is in line with the government’s armed forces covenant, which ensures that members of the armed forces should not face disadvantage in the provision of public services.

HM Treasury has also launched a dedicated campaign webpage for potential investors, where members of the public can pre-register and receive email updates about the sale. This can be found at www.gov.uk/lloydsshares.

As always, share sales are dependent on market conditions.”

Dads Rock are having a party – and you’re invited!

Dads Rock Halloween Party

Saturday 31 October from 4 -6pm

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Our Free Halloween party is on Saturday 31 October (4 – 6pm) at Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre. We’ll have … a bouncy castle, fancy dress, food, games, live music, mad scientists and potions!

The party is open to all Dads/Granddads and kids aged 0-5, even if they’ve not yet come to our playgroups. Our Glasgow dads are coming through to join the party as well.

If you know anyone who’d like to join us, ask them to get in touch to put their names down!

Reading’s right for our preschool children

Study reveals growing popularity of using books with very young children

Hundreds more parents and carers in Scotland are using books to play, read to and engage with their very young children, according to a major Scottish Government-funded study carried about by ScotCen Social Research.

Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) – which has followed the lives of two groups of children from across Scotland for the last 10 years – shows a significant increase in the number of parents and carers who use books when engaging with their children at the age of 10 months.

Extensive research has highlighted the positive impact of reading to children in their pre-school years. Previously published GUS data has shown that children who are frequently read to in the first year of life score higher in assessments of cognitive ability at age 3-4.

The PlayTalkRead campaign was launched by the Scottish Government in 2009. It aims to encourage parents and carers to play, talk and read with their children from birth to boost their development and learning. The campaign uses advertising and social media and provides free items to support parents with the website receiving more than 130,000 visits in 2014-15. The roadshow features three buses which travel across Scotland delivering face-to-face sessions to parents and carers, offering them advice and support.

The Scottish Government-funded scheme Bookbug, which promotes reading to children, including babies, launched in 2010.

A new paper published to the mark the 10^th birthday of the landmark GUS study shows that the number of parents and carers using books when their child was 10 months old grew from 66% before the launch of Bookbug to 69% after the start of the scheme – the equivalent of more than 1700 babies being read to every year.

It will be published at an event at Edinburgh University tomorrow.

Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell said: “Improving literacy in our children and young people is a key priority for this Government and we know that learning begins long before school.

“Therefore it is extremely heartening to learn that hundreds more parents and carers across Scotland have embraced the crucial role books can play in helping children to develop and acquire important pre-school skills and attributes such as speaking, a sense of curiosity and a life-long love of books.

“In June this year we committed a further £2.7 million for pre-school programmes to improve literacy in children. This included the record-breaking PlayTalkRead campaign – whose website and outreach buses attracted 160,000 visits in 2014 and book gifting scheme Bookbug. We are also piloting plans to make every child in Scotland a member of their local library.

“Such valuable work, combined with the good progress reflected in the GUS report, leaves me in no doubt that the number of parents and carers using books to give their children the best start in life, will only continue to grow.”

‘Tackling Inequalities in the Early Years: Key Messages from 10 years of the Growing Up in Scotland study’ will be published in full on Tuesday, October 6.