Tag: Charter

Charity invites Edinburgh’s community organisations to sign charter helping Scotland to become a tobacco-free generation

ASH Scotland is encouraging organisations and groups in Edinburgh to sign up for Scotland’s Charter for Tobacco-free Generation and help their communities and the country progress towards reducing smoking rates to 5% or fewer by 2034.

Since launching in 2015, more than 500 supporters Scotland have endorsed the health charity’s Charter through taking positive action in their communities to tackle the harms caused by tobacco and related products such as e-cigarettes.

Groups in Edinburgh interested in signing the Charter are asked to support its goal by pledging to take a two or more actions available under the themes of raising vital awareness about the harms caused by tobacco and related products; supporting stop smoking opportunities for staff, volunteers and service users; introducing a smoke and aerosol free environment; preventing tobacco companies’ promotions of their harmful products or helping to reduce youth uptake of tobacco or vapes.

There is also an option to make a higher level of commitment to become a Charter Champion and gain access to the charity’s engaging resources, special events and networking opportunities.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “With 10 years to go for Scotland to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2034, we are inviting community groups across Edinburgh to sign up to support our Charter and play a vital role in reducing the harms caused by tobacco and related products.

“We look forward to welcoming local organisations in Edinburgh, especially those working with children and young people, who are committed to improving health and wellbeing in their communities to work with us towards a tobacco-free future.”

To sign up for ASH Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation and receive a welcome pack, visit www.ashscotland.org.uk/charter

Bereavement Charter for Scotland launched

Scotland’s first Bereavement Charter for Children and Adults has been launched.

https://scottishcare.org/bereavement/

The Charter describes what good bereavement care and support should look like – even more important now with COVID-19.

People who are bereaved may not have been able to be with a person as they approach the end of their life and may be isolated from their usual networks of support.

It has also changed the traditional ways we are able to mark our grief. Traditional bereavement rituals and funerals have changed with many people now unable to attend funerals in the way that they might have in the past.

Many deaths have become sudden with little or no time to prepare.

Every death is unique and that the way we each come to terms with a death is individual. This Charter describes the difference good bereavement support can make.

#becausegriefmatters

International Fair Trade Charter launched in Edinburgh

Many people use the term “fair trade”, but what does it actually mean? The Scottish Fair Trade Forum has united with 250 organisations around the world to launch an International Fair Trade Charter that sets down the fundamental values of Fair Trade and defines a common vision towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Continue reading International Fair Trade Charter launched in Edinburgh

Charter gives voice to adults with additional support needs

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Over sixty adults with additional support needs have come together to tell support services what measures they would like to see taken to improve the support they receive through a Charter for Involvement. The group is now calling on organisations to commit to putting their recommendations into practice and has produced a special animated film to promote the Charter. 

Known as the National Involvement Network (NIN), the group have been working for over two years to produce the Charter for Involvement, which to date has been signed by 32 support organisations.

Most of the adults involved have received support services their whole life and believe together they could have a stronger voice on how their services are delivered. Supported by independent charity ARC Scotland, The Charter not only gives these adults a voice but also a way for  support services to involve the people they support more in the work of the organisation.

The newly launched animated film accompanying the Charter describes how the 12 Charter statements help to improve the lives of people who get support. It sets out how people want to be more involved in the services they receive. The film was launched today at the Thistle Foundation earlier this week to an audience of NIN members and support organisations.

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Chair of the National Involvement Network, Lynette Lynton said: “We all use support services in various ways and wanted to have more of a say in our services and be more involved in the way they are run.  Who better to advise support services on how well they are doing than the people that use them day-to-day?

“The launch of the Charter film is a huge occasion for everyone involved.  For those of you who have never seen it, it features an animated tiger to show how the Charter has helped make us feel strong and bold.

“The tiger also features on the cover of the Charter for Involvement and many people have now come to associate the tiger with our work.

“As chair of the National Involvement Network, I hope that the film will inspire people who receive care and support services to become more involved.

“The National Involvement Network and the Charter for Involvement have been made possible through the hard work and dedication of ARC Scotland.  They have supported the NIN through this process and it is their policy of bringing organisations and people together to find solutions that has made this possible.

“I would like to think that our work with the Charter has improved services and the experiences of service users nationally and I would urge other organisations who would like to know more about the Charter or to receive a copy to get in touch with Association for Real Change Scotland for more information.”